REVOLUTION_International_Vol 54

I should also pause to reflect on the beauty and
pragmatism of Bvlgari’s movement design. First, the
movement is as Buonamassa called it a “full bridge” design,
which means each part of the gear train is retained by a
different bridge, making it much more practical to service.
Further, the balance wheel sits on a bridge fixed on both
sides rather than a cock which is only fixed on one side. This
provides better stability and shock resistance.
I recall the moment I tried on the Octo Finissimo
manual-wind watch in 2014, thinking to myself what an
absolute revelation it was. First, because in a very different
way than Richard Mille, which is all about expressing the
world of motorsport and aerospace technology, Bvlgari had
created the first classic chic timepiece that was unabashedly
forward-looking rather than reaching inexorably into its
past. And while there is nothing wrong with watches that
are almost exact extensions of models created a half century
ago — indeed that is precisely why people love the Audemars
Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin 15202 or Omega Speedmaster
Moonwatch Professional — here we had for the first time
in the sports chic genre something that moved the game
forward aesthetically and technically by light years. The Octo
Finissimo in many ways reminds me of the cars designed
by my friend, Ferrari creative director Flavio Manzoni, in
which he intentionally avoids overtly referencing the past
and wants to create the aesthetic heritage of the future by
taking massive and fearless leaps forward.
The plate on which
the maison’s logo
and hour indexes
are positioned,
with the actual
Octo Finissimo
Petite Seconds.
The small seconds
counteris printed
on the dial,
because the height
clearance needed
for the seconds
hand would not fit
under the sapphire
crystal otherwise.
COVER STORY 31