Bulgari aims to carve its presence in marble at Only Watch 2023

Unveiled in early June to a select group of collectors from around the world and a few journalists, the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon model sculpted from marble made a sensation. As a unique piece created exclusively for the 2023 edition of Only Watch, the watch surprised enthusiasts with its entirely marble execution. The case, composed of 110 facets covered with a thin layer (0.4 - 0.5 mm) of green marble from the Aosta Valley, is a challenge to rationality. Bulgari's craftsmanship is fully showcased in the intricate cutting of the thin marble slabs. The dial also features a thin layer of stone measuring 0.6 mm, while the production of the bracelet, the most delicate part, required nearly 190 hours of work to set each link and leave the back in black DLC-coated titanium.

This idea, conceived five years ago within Bulgari's watchmaking workshops in Neuchâtel, required numerous trials and technical research before successful development. Marble, a noble material that has marked the history of art from Ancient Greece and Rome to the present day, is also part of Bulgari's history. It was adopted by the House as early as 1934 during the expansion and renovation of the Bulgari boutique on Via dei Condotti in Rome, by the renowned architect Florestano Di Fausto.

Antoine Pin, CEO of Bulgari Watches, said: "This unique model created exclusively for Only Watch required a high level of mastery in the know-how of the house, whether in watchmaking or jewelry. It was a lengthy and delicate process to achieve the result we have today. The marble adorning the watch comes from the Aosta Valley, not far from our manufacture, and symbolizes a link between Switzerland and Italy, our two historical birthplaces. Bulgari is proud to have created it for Only Watch, the event spearheaded by Luc Pettavino since 2005, with the sole objective of raising funds for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy."

Only Watch has become, over the course of its editions, the event awaited by collectors worldwide for the great creativity and uniqueness of the models presented by numerous brands. To date, all the Only Watch auctions have managed to raise nearly 100 million Swiss francs.