Bulgari

Here are the very first pictures of Bulgari's new Octo Watch. In light of Bulgari's Octo line releases so far, you might have been expecting another high complication watch with fine detailing. However, this one resembles the complete opposite - a pared down version of the Octo with only hours, minute, seconds and date functions. The new Octo sports a smaller thinner case at 41mm in size but still retains the same shape as the original.  The polished black lacquer dial has a much more simplified minimal look and as you may notice, no longer carries the Genta name. In this latest release from the Octo line Bulgari shows the strongest integration  between the two brand DNAs thus far.

The Octo is equipped with the BVL 193 Caliber and fitted with twin barrels, a 50 hour power reserve and sapphire caseback. It will be available in Stainless Steel ($8900CHF) and 18 carat Pink Gold ($26,000CHF). The pink gold version is quite a bit more expensive than the stainless. However after seeing the watch in person, it's obvious that the pink gold model will be in much higher demand. Delivery date is expected to be around September-October of this year.

What are your first impressions of the new Octo?

More details and a full report to follow very shortly.  

This message has been edited by pingtsai on 2012-07-13 08:34:23

This will bring more people to the Octo line and I hope we see exciting variants in the future.

With the introduction of a smaller Octo case, does this mean there's a possibility of a smaller Endurer case?  Guess we'll see!

Cheers,
Anthony

They are planning on growing and developing the whole Octo line.    I think a white gold or stainless steel version with a dark blue dial would be nice. 

Thanks for the live posting.

I've always been a little intimidated by the old Bulgari Gerald Genta Octo collection because the case was big.  In my case (sic) it was huge.

So, a slim-down, shaped case with a modest diameter can only win in mass appeal. The case allows more options and instances to wear the watch. It is not limited to just sporty days or picking up chicks at night clubs. It can be worn under a normal shirt cuff too.

In these frugal times, more options empowers more versatility and thus more appeal.

 

I await a closer look at the quality and 'feel' before making a pronouncement but initial glimpse seems promising.....

 

Regards,

MTF

PS. The background view of Rome suggests you were near the Hippodrome where there are no octagons; but what do I know?

This message has been edited by MTF on 2012-07-13 14:38:46

I wasn't quite sure where we were. I just know the restaurant was called Bolognese. They ordered a "Spritzer" for me and being that it was quite warm outside, It didn't take me long to finish

If it was Dal Bolognese near the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, you were at a unusually rare find...a chic restaurant that tourists know but with food that actually lives up to the hype.

Frequented by fashionistas, aspiring actors, gorgeous-licious models and trendy artists, this is the place to watch and to be watched. The best vantage points are the side-walk tables during La Passeggiata time (evening stroll) when corporate account types are eyeing the previously mentioned gorgeous models.

Food is Bolognese and Emiliana-Romagnola cuisine....of course. Yummy for you! 

 

Prego,

MTF

Note for PuristS:

BVLGARI original shop is off the Spanish Steps on via Condotti near the restaurant.

This message has been edited by MTF on 2012-07-15 22:09:22

it seems you have to be in Rome more than once

Oliver

i can't wait to see one for real.  i love the simplicity of it.  white gold seems like a good future option to me.  overall though, this is a very nice marriage of the bulgari genta dna.  a successful hybrid.

chris

And you will find that it is even more attractive in person.

I heard another gentleman say that too during the event. I believe he said that the actual number was too close to the edge of the window. 

Generally, all design aspects seem geared towards bold except for the date. The watch old be better without the date in my view.

it could be a perfect complement to a high end watch collection for the 'italian moments' in life, i.e. moment where you just want to enjoy yourself without thinking about anything else. This could be a watch to go with it.

I agree 100%

Oliver

What happened to the bulgari of old.....with their cool bulgari bulgari collections

is was just updated during the Basel Fair:

there is lots of Bulgari DNA shown in that watch and strong enough to stay against the "bold" Genta case.

12 and 6 on the dial ...

Oliver

Felow Forumners,

 

I see some comments about date display being TOO small?

That set me thinking - why?  Italian designers and particularly BVLGARI ones do not do things arbitarily. There must be a reason and I know that the prototype design meetings go on for days just to discuss a small detail as a date display.

I am sure we will know when we interview the designers or watch franchise executives. meanwhile it is fun to speculate.

 

 

When you look at this Octo, the striking theme is elegant style. In an ideal design paradigm, there would be NO date window!  Look at the simple readable dial and the bold hour numerals at 12 and 6. The other markers are slender batons. For perfect symmetry at 3 and 9, there should only be the baton markers. The date window disturbs the symmetry.

I bet that with perfect sectio aurea and other such philosophy of Phidias, the designer would have preferred no date for purity of design.

I guess, then, the marketing chap chimed in with gobbledeegook about user interface and advantageous broader choice decision (ABCD) to demand a date display.

They tussled for hours until Watch  Boss called a halt to proceedings and assigned the engineering team to fabricate the smallest date disk that still was visible yet not skew the symmetry too much.

I think they should have stuck to their principles and omitted the date window altogether. We get dates from our Blackberry / iPad organisers anyway.  We should get beauty from our mechanical watches...that is their raison d'etre in the 21st century. 

 

Regards,

MTF

 

 

This message has been edited by MTF on 2012-07-15 21:54:59

and I can assure you he is a man of great style ...



... which takes good care of details and not only when it comes to watches. One could say, he is a Purist by heart and not only by heart ... 

By the way, the date looks "bigger" on the sketches ...



More on this later ...

Oliver

+ 1 for date omission.

Even though it looks better on the sketch, the date-window also looks bigger relatively,  just like clearing the ball on the goal-line.
Date is obsolete especially when hyperopia set in

The Octo shape like the ba gua is a powerful symbol in Chinese metaphysics, hope Bulgari knows how to leverage on it for North Asia.

Kong