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PuristSPro Interviews 2 Bulgari Diagono X-Pro P10 Owners

PuristSPro Interviews 2 Bulgari Diagono X-Pro P10 Owners

PuristSPro members saw several options last year for Special Edition PuristS 10^th watches. Perhaps none was more impressive in terms of case design and construction than the Bulgari Diagono X-Pro PuristS 10^th Watch. Only 50 pieces were made to be distributed throughout Bulgari boutiques around the world.

PuristSPro members were fortunate enough to be the first to see the watch in person at IGOTT 2, an event that took place over the Memorial Day holiday in Las Vegas last year to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of The PuristS. Spanning 3 days and featuring brand exhibitions and presentations, up close in depth discussions with watchmakers and executives, activities and dinners, the event proved to be the ultimate watch enthusiasts’ gathering. Spectators and PuristS community members got to see up close some of the most impressive haute horology timepieces, often right on the wrist of fellow PuristS members or even the watchmaker himself.

Bulgari was the first brand to kick off the festivities showcasing of course the Diagono X-Pro P10 Watch along with some other Basel releases at the time – the Bulgari Daniel Roth Endurer, Bulgari Gerald Genta Octo Bi-Retro and Octo Quadri-Retro as well as the World Premier of Bulgari Daniel Roth Grande Sonnerie Perpetual Calendar. Members of the PuristSPro community were especially enjoying the opportunity to handle and try on the Diagono X-Pro P10 Watch and particularly impressed with its complex construction which does not render in its entirety from the photos and drawings that were released to the public beforehand.

A Technical Triumph in Watch Construction

The Bulgari Diagono X-Pro is an engineer’s dream watch. Sporting a high-tech façade and case design, the watch ultra-sophisticated case construction is composed of 104 separate parts, a highly distinguishable feature alone.  It combines steel, grade 5 titanium, rubber and a DLC-treated (Diamond Like Carbon) steel middle.  The latter high-tech treatment hardens the metal and strongly increases its scratch-resistancey.  The striated rubber coating and the steel pushers and crown ensure an idea grip.  The case is fitted with a screw-down transparent sapphire crystal back enabling one to admire the refined mechanism powering the Diagono X-Pro.

On the front of the watch, a cambered glare-proofed sapphire crystal protects a highly graphic and contemporary dial and ensures the readability of its various function displays.  This black sapphire dial is composed of three superimposed elements, giving it understated elegance and function efficiency thanks to the color contrasts between the PPro blue Superluminova-coated hour markers, the tips of the hour and minute hands, the chronograph-function hour and minute hands, and that of the GMT pointer.  This sandwich construction creates a 3 dimensional effect on the dial – as though the numbers are floating. The look is highly unique and along with the intricate case, greatly raises the watch’s desirable appeal.

Aside from the uniqueness of the notched bezel, the substantial case also consists of an innovative additional feature in the form of perfectly ergonomic lugs that can be adjusted along a seven-degree angle in either direction. This complex device comprises shock-absorbers, thus enabling the watch to easily adapt to any type of wrist while ensuring an optimal and eminently comfortable fit. It is fitted with a rubber strap fastened by a pin buckle with steel inserts guaranteeing a perfect combination of rigidity and suppleness.

Without a doubt the Bulgari Diagono X-Pro P10 Watch is an incredible technical achievement for a mechanical sports watch. Attendants of IGOTT2 had the opportunity to purchase the watch before it was released to Bulgari boutiques around the world. They were able to pick it up right from the Las Vegas Bulgari boutique at City Center. PuristSPro had a chance to ask two owners (perhaps the first 2) of the Bulgari P10 a few questions to give us a better idea what it has been like to own the special piece.   

When did you purchase your Bulgari Diagono X-Pro PuristS 10^th Watch?

A)  At the PuristS 10th anniversary in Las Vegas. I was the first to order the watch (having agreed the design with BVLGARI) but some scoundrel called Anthony Tsai was the first to take delivery. Whilst we were all engaged with the IGOTT-2 (International Gathering of The Tribes II) horology lectures, he sent a family member to the BVLGARI boutique to purchase a watch - what a cheat!

B)  I purchased it on the 1st day of ThePuristS' 10th Year Anniversary IGOTT2 in Vegas.

Where did you purchase it?

A)  After I had recovered from the shock of not being first in the world to buy one, I purchase it at BVLGARI Boutique in Las Vegas City Center mall.

B)  Bulgari Las Vegas Boutique inside the Aria City Center

What was your initial reaction the first time you saw the watch in person?

A)  I had an inkling it was going to be good with the advantage of working with BVLGARI through many designs and approving the final version. When I saw the actual watch, I have to admit that it was better than I expected. I'm not into chunky and complex constructions but with the X-Pro PuristS 10th edition, every design feature had a reason and a meaning.  My first reaction from a usually jaded watch collector was "Wow!"

B)  My eyes and wrists immediately fell in love with the Bulgari P10 when I first saw the watch.  I was already lured in when Bulgari sent us the 1st pictures, so I knew how the watch would look like from these pictures but it looked even more amazing in the flesh.  I immediately knew when I saw the watch that I would be buying one of the 50 made.

How do your sentiments about the watch on the day of purchase compare with what they are now?

A)  Can you love someone more after 25 years? I have and it is the same with this watch. Every time I put it on, I discover something I did not notice before. I guess that is the secret of "I love you long time".

B)  My appreciation for the Bulgari P10 has grown considerably since day of purchase.  Why?  Because I know all the nooks and crannies about the watch since I've had it for almost a year now and haven't found anything I dislike about the watch.

What is the one thing you like most about the watch?

A)  There are so many things and new ones to discover. One subtle feature is the Limited Edition numbering: 'One of Fifty' that reflects the PuristS attitude of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Everyone is just one of fifty and not serially ranked. The PuristS' lucky number is 1-7-8 that in Chinese dialect is a phononym for the phrase 'Together We Prosper'.

B)  The awesome dial.  Bulgari did an excellent job creating visual depth by adding a sapphire dial on top of the dial.  I also love the PuristSPro colors (red, blue, white) on the dial which gives the Bulgari P10 a much more fun and lively look as opposed to the white dial of the regular production Diagono X-Pro.

What do you like least?  If you could change one thing about the watch, what would it be?

A)  If I had been more spatially aware, I would have made more of the modification that BVLGARI made to the chronograph base movement. They added a PVD-coated castellated vertical clutch for better function but we accidentally obscured it with the 'P' of the PuristSPro logo on the caseback. A few mm higher and we could have seen more of it. On the other hand, the logo would have obscured the balance wheel that is the main component moving.

B)  The screw-in crown is the only part of the watch that annoys me.  Sometimes I find it difficult to screw-in because the crown sometimes doesn't snap back all the way in and only goes in half-way when I push it in towards the case.  So that's a design aspect that Bulgari can improve upon.

How often do you wear your Bulgari P10? And when do you wear it?

A)  All my watches compete for wrist time and it's rare to wear one more than a few time a year but for the X-Pro PuristS 10th, I wear it at least 20 times a year. Why? Because I have actually found a watch buddy with the same watch and we wear it whenever we have dinner together. He bought his in Singapore as he did not attend IGOTT-2 in USA.

B)  I've been wearing my Bulgari P10 practically everyday since I bought it.  My other watches have been gathering up dust and probably feel very lonely now.  I especially love to wear it while at the swimming pool since I don't have to worry about getting the rubber strap wet.

What compliments, comments have you gotten about the watch?

A)  Usually, its amazement that there are only 50 pieces available and I turn up with a watch buddy also wearing one. What are the odds? As a BULGARI boutique-only model, there can only be 0.15 piece per boutique since there are more than 330 boutiques globally. The first 10 pieces went to Las Vegas but eventually should have been redistributed through USA. With a population of only 5 million, Singapore was allocated 5 pieces. Since mine came from the USA allocation and I know the identity of my watch buddy, that means only 4 other lucky people in Singapore have the watch and the island-state has the highest per capita allocation in the world!

B)  Many of my watch friends have complimented the watch, whether the hinging lugs or the beautiful dial.  Furthermore, many who attended IGOTT2 were duly surprised at how "good looking" the Bulgari P10 is!

Do you have a specific moment or story that you would like to share regarding this watch?

A)  Originally, I asked BVLGARI for an all black watch to continue the theme of PuristSPro's first watch – the St Gallen All-Black Rescue - and they agreed.. A week later I got an e-mail from Switzerland backing off from that colour. Apparently "something had come up" and we were offered alternative designs. Who could be bigger than PuristS?  It remained a mystery until the launch of the tribute watch to New Zealand Rugby - the All-Blacks Endurer. I had to admit that every member of the All-Blacks team is considerably bigger than wimpy PuristS! Now, I think it was the right decision as our colour scheme is more representative of our logo and unique.

B)  I do have a specific moment about this watch but it's a personal story which I'd rather not share.  However, I do view my Bulgari P10 as sort of a present to myself for all the hard work I put in in helping organize IGOTT2 and also as a reminder of how great the PuristS community is and how large it has grown over the past years.

Since you purchased the Bulgari P10 with your hard earned money, was it your favorite P10 watch?

A)  I set out to buy three of the 10 PuristS 10th Anniversary models on offer but in the end I only managed two. Every model is like a child to me; can there be favourites? Probably not but I can say that I wear the BVLGARI X-Pro 5 times more often than the other one.

B)  Most definitely!  I put my money where my mouth is.

Do you own or have plans to own another Bulgari watch in the future?

A)  We (the current Mrs. MTF and me) had other BVLGARI, Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta watches; I guess they all count to the BVLGARI group total.

B)  I would love to get the Bulgari Endurer Chronosprint.  I absolutely adore that watch immensely. 

Name one thing that you like about the Bulgari brand and explain why - Jewelry, Sunglasses, Watches, Perfume, Ads etc?

A)  Although the brand now resides in the LVMH Group, it had a long history of Italian family-run business. There is something about the Italian style that cannot be defined. It is what my Roman friend calls "proprio cosi".

B)  Bulgari is a huge luxury brand but I like it because you don't see their watches that often on strangers' wrists when walking through malls.  Cartier you see everywhere but not Bulgari - I always like things that aren't that ubiqituous.  I also love Bulgari's association with Egyptian queens and princesses and a perfect example of this is its Serpentine collection.  I don't know about other men, but I seem to fancy the Egyptian princess look

Pictures by K T and Bulgari for PuristSPro