Bulgari and Phillips sign an Octo Finissimo capsule collection

Today, the major strategy that occupies luxury houses and particularly the watchmaking industry is to build a solid base of heritage pieces, which it is crucial to know how to enhance. This objective is all the more important when working on iconic models that continue to increase a brand's reputation. In the case of Bulgari, two flagship models occupy the terrain of the icon: the Serpenti model and the Octo Finissimo model. For the past 10 years, the Octo has made its mark on the world of Haute Horlogerie with its horological prowess, its numerous technical records, its recognisable shape and its monochrome style. Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Executive Director of Product Creation, Bulgari Watches, explains: "This watch symbolises the link between Phillips, the world of collector's watches, and Bulgari's design codes, which are resolutely turned towards innovation and the future. (...)"

Joining forces with Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, a prestigious auction house renowned for its watchmaking expertise, is part of this heritage value building. The model co-created by the two houses continues to build on its success: minimalistic, architectural shapes, a matte sandblasted titanium finish and, for the first time, a small seconds counter absent at 7 o'clock, where the BVL 138 calibre usually displays one on the Octo collection.

This is not the first time a watch brand has called on Phillips and its expert Aurel Bacs to co-create a model. Zenith, Piaget and Laurent Ferrier have all produced special collections. For this new collaboration, Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, Bacs & Russo and Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe & Middle East, said jointly: "The Octo Finissimo has become a true icon in just a few years, and to be able to design a piece for Phillips Watches was both a pleasure and an honour. We played creative ping-pong with Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani by suggesting different materials and dial finishes (...)"

The model is equipped with an extra-thin mechanical self-winding movement, micro-rotor in platinum, Caliber BVL 138 (thickness 2.23 mm); power reserve 60 hours; frequency 21'600 vph (3 Hz). It is available in a limited series of 50 pieces.