The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete

As of 4pm CET, 11pm Singapore time, Bulgari has just launched two new luxurious ‘secret’ watches. The two new luxury watches named the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete and the Bulgari Monete Pendant Watch sublimate the antiquity of Mother Rome herself and the provenance of Bulgari.

The new Bulgari Monete Pendant Watch

Bulgari’s latest ‘Secret’ watches, so known for their hidden time display, are part of the Monete collection, a heritage series for the brand – Monete refers to ancient coins used for unique creations and thus, given the brand’s affinity for classical Greek tradition and ancient Roman culture, the  the Roman denarius or plural, denarii or Greek Athenian drachma and the Corinthian stater are often used to great artistic and dramatic embellishment in Bulgari’s high jewellery collection.

New Luxury Watch Launch: Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete and Monete Pendant Watch

Today, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete transcends time, straddling almost two millennia of history: mankind’s Antiquity to our pre-industrial age – an ancient Roman coin bearing the visage of Constantine the Great, also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD, covering the intricate mechanisms of contemporary fine watchmaking.

An ancient Roman coin bearing the visage of Constantine the Great covers the intricate mechanisms of Bulgari’s contemporary fine watchmaking – here the Octo Finissimo Skeleton Flying Tourbillon

In another extraordinary Bulgari creation, high jewellery and the rare Imperator Constantius Augustus denarius joins to create an exquisite High Jewellery pendant watch – interpreting Bulgari’s cherished Monete theme. Together, each new luxury watch distills and conveys both the weight and history of Rome and the storied artisanal crafts of Bulgari.

Ancient Greek (Athenian Drachma, Corinthian Stater, etc) and Roman coins (Denarii) are one of the powerful aesthetic elements for the Rome-based maison. In the 1960s, Bulgari began incorporating these precious antiquities into its jewellery creations as witnesses to culture and history, elevating mere luxury accessories into priceless and timeless objets d’art. Over the decades, Bulgari’s Monete collection has been interpreted in a unique manner symbolising the quintessence of the spirit and the maison’s respect for cultural art and heritage.

Unique narrative objects: Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete and Monete Pendant Watch

High jewellery accessories and watches bearing coins and motifs of Greek and Roman leaders is not just iconic to the brand but in essence, imbues each individual creation with its own history, distinctive affirmations of power and authority,in essence, they become unique narrative objects by virtue of association with something extremely rare and downright exclusive. As an object, it is unique, in retracing entire chapters of ancient human history, the creations transcend their original raison d’etre. Each conveys historical meaning and recounts an epic saga. From an artistic standpoint, the patina of the ages carries with it and transfers the weight of time and adds to the provenance of whatever object it has been joined to, watch or jewellery.

For Bulgari, the sum of modern jewellery techniques and classical watchmaking crafts are enhanced by the antique currency and the end result are symbols of magnificence and opulence.

The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete is covered by an ultra-rare 4th century Roman coin struck to mark the 20-year reign of Constantinus Augustus (307 to 337 AD).

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete is covered by an ultra-rare 4th century Roman coin struck to mark the 20-year reign of Constantinus Augustus (307 to 337 AD). Upon pressing the innovative opening system hidden in the crown, the watch face opens to reveal the world’s thinnest tourbillon movement, skeletonised to expose the fine craftsmanship and finishing that has come to exemplify Bulgari watchmaking. Beyond the extraordinary fine mechanisms and the ingenious opening system also lies the challenging task of setting coin onto the watch bezel itself.

Fittingly, the Octo Monete draws a symbolic line between the power of an octagonal design and the architectural heritage inspired by the emperor Constantine the Great himself, to whom we owe the distinctive construction of the the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome with its octagonal ceiling coffers.

Instead of Constantine the Great, the cover of this companion to the Octo Monete is topped by a tetradrachm depicting Alexander Magnus (336-326 B.C), King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire.

Bulgari Monete Pendant Watch

The Octo Monete’s feminine companion is the similarly octagonal-shaped Monete pendant watch, following the philosophical and aesthetic spirit of the Octo Monete. Instead of Constantine the Great, the cover of this “secret” watch is topped by a tetradrachm depicting Alexander Magnus (336-326 B.C), King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire. More commonly recognised as Alexander the Great, one of history’s most successful military commanders, rumoured to have fallen to his knees in tears when he could no longer find new lands to conquer; the face of the Bulgari Monete Pendant watch opens to reveal an entirely skeletonised gold tourbillon movement.

The gorgeous tourbillon calibre of the Bulgari Monete Pendant watch is itself protected by an octagonal case forming the pendant, crafted in 18kt pink gold and set with diamonds and rubies.

The gorgeous tourbillon calibre is itself protected by an octagonal case forming the pendant, crafted in 18kt pink gold and set with diamonds and rubies. The pendant is suspended from a solid 90-centimetre gold chain featuring geometrical links set with diamonds and rubies.

From Antiquity to the 21st century, the language of symbols has remained universal and unchanging, when wielded by Bulgari, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete and Monete Pendant Watch then transcend their natures as mere accessories and become objects of elegant timelessness.

Technical Specifications of Bulgari’s new luxury watches

OCTO FINISSIMO TOURBILLON MONETE WRISTWATCH

Movement: Mechanical hand-wound movement, Finissimo Skeleton Flying Tourbillon, sapphire baseplate, Calibre BVL 268, tourbillon carriage mounted on ball bearings, 253 components, indication of the hours and minutes, 21,600 vph, 52-hour power reserve; 1.95 mm thick.

Case and dial: 40 mm-diameter octagonal case in 18kt pink gold, fitted with a 4-silica silver coin, of which the front bears the portrait of Emperor Constantine Augustus wearing a diadem, accompanied by the inscription AVGVSTVS; while the back features a laurel branch surrounding the mention CAESAR; water-resistant to 30m, 18kt pink gold crown with black ceramic insert.

MONETE PENDANT WATCH

Movement: Mechanical hand-wound movement in 18kt pink gold, entirely skeletonised, Calibre BVL 208 featuring an hours and minutes segment in red PVD-treated 18kt pink gold; 21,000 vph, 64-hour power reserve; movement components entirely decorated and finished by hand: chamfering, polishing, bevelling and snailing.

Case, dial and chain: 41mm-diameter octagonal case set with brilliant-cut diamonds and rubies, fitted with a silver tetradrachm, of which the front shows Emperor Alexander (Alexander Magnus, 336-326 B.C.), while the back depicts a divinity holding a sceptre and an eagle; transparent sapphire crystal caseback, 18kt pink gold chain set with 1,270 brilliant-cut diamonds ( ~ 36.54cts) and 252 rubies ( ~ 3.29cts).