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2020: OCTO FINISSIMO AUTOMATIC<br />
SATIN-POLISHED STEEL<br />
Looking back at its staggering number of world records and<br />
skyrocket-like trajectory in popularity and prominence,<br />
it is incredible that Bvlgari’s Octo Finissimo is only six<br />
years old. In that time, it has won innumerable accolades.<br />
These include the 2019 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève<br />
(GPHG) Chronograph Watch Prize; a double win in the 2017<br />
GPHG for Men’s Watch with the Octo Finissimo Automatic<br />
and best Tourbillon and Escapement with the Octo Finissimo<br />
Tourbillon Skeleton; not to mention Revolution Awards in<br />
2014 and from 2016 till 2019 for their world-record-setting<br />
watches. But of all that he has achieved, Jean-Christophe<br />
Babin is perhaps most excited about his latest and apparently<br />
simplest models. These are two new steel Octo Finissimo<br />
models, the first with a black dial and the second with a rich<br />
blue dial. As opposed to the previous rhodium-treated,<br />
sandblasted versions, these new watches feature a charming<br />
use of brushed and polished finishes. They have also been<br />
increased slightly in thickness to 6mm and now feature a<br />
screw-down crown and a corresponding 100-meter water<br />
resistance. What I love about both versions of these watches<br />
is that they are the first to tread boldly into Royal Oak and<br />
Nautilus territory and, at US$12,000 retail, offer up some<br />
very serious competition. But I also love the fact that Bvlgari<br />
avoided doing this for a full six years, first setting five world<br />
records and truly cementing their status as a modern-day<br />
icon before playing this card.<br />
Says Babin, “For me, the complicated watches are like<br />
supercars. These are watches that are more rare and at a<br />
different price category. I feel it is only at this point with the<br />
launch of these two new steel models that we are actually<br />
moving into iconic status. Because now the watch is much<br />
more accessible to a greater number of people. The steel<br />
models are Bvlgari’s GT [grand tourer] models as opposed<br />
to the minute repeater or tourbillon which are our supercar<br />
models, and I feel now that with the Octo Finissimo on many<br />
more wrists, this opens up a new era for us. I am incredibly<br />
proud of what the team has achieved over the last six years.”<br />
The Octo<br />
Finissimo<br />
Automatic in<br />
satin polished<br />
steel with<br />
blue dial.<br />
Finally, with Bvlgari being an<br />
iconic Roman brand, I could not<br />
finish this article without remarking<br />
on their efforts to combat the<br />
COVID-19 pandemic that is<br />
sweeping the world. Says Jean-<br />
Christophe Babin, “We are an Italian<br />
brand and we were profoundly<br />
moved to see how badly the pandemic<br />
had affected Italy. We learned of a<br />
hospital, Lazzaro Spallanzani, that<br />
was doing incredible work. There<br />
are three researchers there — Maria<br />
Rosaria Capobianchi, Francesca<br />
Colavita and Concetta Castilletti —<br />
who managed to successfully isolate<br />
the virus in under 48 hours. But they<br />
were lacking a key piece of equipment<br />
— a 3D imaging microscope that would allow them to<br />
take the next step in combating the virus. We felt that we<br />
should step in and supply them with this. I know that this<br />
is just a small effort in what is a global crisis. But even<br />
at a time when we are facing a great financial challenge,<br />
we understand we must do everything we can. We have a<br />
fragrance factory outside of Milan. At that factory, we have<br />
found a way to manufacture [with fragrance manufacturing<br />
partner ICR] a new hand sanitizer which Italy is badly in<br />
need of. We now have the capacity to manufacture up to<br />
6,000 bottles a day and we are gearing up so that we can<br />
supply that to all the badly affected areas. We love Italy<br />
and we know that Italy is a land of great art, great beauty,<br />
great resilience and great humanity. We will, of course,<br />
get through this terrible time together by helping each<br />
other and inspiring the best from each other.” And<br />
with that, we understand that Bvlgari is a brand that is<br />
innovating not just in watches and jewelry, not just in trade<br />
shows and communication, but also thanks to its leader<br />
Jean-Christophe Babin, innovating where it counts most,<br />
in the effort to help other people.<br />
Opposite<br />
The Octo Finissimo<br />
in satin polished<br />
steel with blue<br />
sunray finished dial.<br />
Stretch cotton<br />
pinstripe poplin<br />
volume trousers in<br />
Panama, Brunello<br />
Cucinelli; light blue<br />
superior cotton<br />
fitted shirt, Emma<br />
Willis; navy double<br />
diamond print<br />
Habotai silk tie,<br />
Drake’s;lapislazuli<br />
and silvered brass<br />
bow cufflinks, Codis<br />
MayaatTheRake.<br />
Below<br />
Bvlgari’s hand<br />
sanitizer that<br />
its fragrance<br />
manufacturing<br />
partner,ICR,has<br />
developed to supply<br />
affected regions.<br />
CEO Jean-<br />
Christophe Babin<br />
presenting the 3D<br />
imaging microscope<br />
that Bvlgari aided<br />
the Lazzaro<br />
Spallanzani hospital<br />
in acquiring.<br />
44 COVER STORY
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