Bvlgari’s latest watches: Chiming masterpieces, unexpected collaborations, and hidden treasures

Equally impressive is the Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon powered by the BVL 428 calibre, which drives the three‑hammer mechanism that allows the watch to chime the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. As with the Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon, its case, in rose gold and measuring 44mm across, amplifies the richness of the sound, while the intricate tourbillon creates a mesmerising display. It likewise features an openworked dial, treated here with black DLC that contrasts beautifully against the rose gold‑plated hands.

Rounding off the new melodic offerings is the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Carbon, which builds on Bvlgari’s record‑breaking legacy in slim movements. The world’s thinnest chiming watch, it is powered by the BVL 362 calibre, measuring just 3.12mm thick and housed in a lightweight 40mm Carbon Thin Ply (CTP) case. Its sleek design belies the complexity of its minute repeater mechanism, which chimes the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. Despite the timepiece’s ultra‑slim profile, the sound rings out powerfully and resonantly, with the CTP case amplifying the tonal clarity.

Meeting of legends

A daring blend of luxury and rock ‘n’ roll, the limited‑edition Bvlgari Aluminium GMT X Fender celebrates the intersection of two worlds defined by craftsmanship and innovation. 

In honour of the 70th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster, the guitar that revolutionised music, this collaboration with musical instrument and audio equipment manufacturer Fender Musical Instruments Corporation—or simply Fender—is a fresh take on what it means to pay tribute to a legend.

The 40mm watch’s aluminium and rubber construction embodies the lightweight, sporty edge that Bvlgari is known for, while its design nods to the Stratocaster’s distinctive lacquered sunburst colour palette of creamy white and deep brown tones. Further paying homage are the brown rubber bezel, second time zone—with dark brown denoting night hours and creamy white, daytime hours—and polished, rhodium‑plated indices and hands reminiscent of guitar frets. In keeping with the theme, the black DLC‑coated titanium caseback comes inscribed with the Fender logo, with Bvlgari also redesigning the model’s Velcro strap to ensure a perfect fit even during the most intense riffs. Backstage, the Swiss‑made mechanical calibre B192 allows jet‑setters to track different time zones with ease.

But the tribute does not stop at just the watch, which is limited to 1,200 pieces. Fender, in partnership with Bvlgari, will also produce 70 custom Stratocasters at its Fender Custom Shop in California, blending the meticulous craftsmanship of both worlds into bespoke guitars that, like Bvlgari’s creations, are made to transcend time.

Precious time

For a house as adept at crafting high jewellery as it is at high watchmaking, it only makes sense to roll out a wrist adornment that is a captivating fusion of both. Cue the Serpenti Pallini secret watch, where time hides behind the hypnotic gaze of the house’s emblematic serpent. Brought to life by the BVL 100 Piccolissimo calibre, the world’s smallest round mechanical movement, the watch personifies Bvlgari’s relentless pursuit of artistry and innovation. Symbolising the passage of time as a precious secret, the miniature time‑only movement is concealed in the serpent’s head, which is rendered in white gold and comes fully set with diamonds, with two emeralds acting as its eyes.

Meanwhile, the supple body, which sensually coils twice around the wrist, is crafted in yellow, rose or white gold, culminating in a diamond‑encrusted tail in white gold. Inspired by the house’s original Pallini design from 1955, it is adorned with gold beads, diamonds or a combination of both, all individually set on a gold mesh using Bvlgari’s patented en tremblant technique. Developed in 18th‑century Paris and perfected by the Roman jeweller, this unique method allows each bead and/or diamond to move independently, so it quivers with even the slightest motion—just like how the scales on a real‑life snake would, lending the timepiece an enthralling lifelike quality.

Showcasing a playful versatility, the Piccolissimo movement and dial—in mother‑of‑pearl or diamond‑paved, with a diamond‑set bezel—can be swivelled by half a turn, allowing the serpent to grace either wrist. All the wearer has to do is adjust the dial accordingly to display time the right way up.

The result of more than 500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, the new Serpenti Pallini is available in three opulent variants, with its body crafted in white gold and set with diamonds; in rose gold and set with rose gold beads and diamonds; and in yellow gold and set with yellow gold beads. The last is the first contemporary interpretation of the Serpenti Pallini in yellow gold, evoking a touch of vintage glamour.

NOW READ

Zenith Defy: Tracing the evolution of a legendary watch collection

Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative: Leading the charge in ocean conservation with Sylvia Earle and Coral Gardeners

Breguet introduces a Type XX chronograph in gold with a ceramic bezel