Founded in Rome, Italy, in 1884 by the Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari, the house of Bulgari has become synonymous with some of the world’s finest jewels. Bulgari also has a long history of offering fine watches fueled by the same creative spirit and craftsmanship that imbue its jewelry.
From the Art Deco watches made in the early-20th Century to the imaginative snake-like silhouettes found in the Serpenti line and industrial gas pipe-inspired watch bracelets that coil around the arm in the Tubogoas collection, Bulgari has always strived to make beautiful objects that delight and surprise. The 1970s was a particularly important decade for Bulgari watches since it was when the now-famous BVLGARI-BVLGARI timepiece line debuted, inspired by Ancient Roman emperor coins. Thanks to the success of this watch design, Bulgari decided to establish a division entirely devoted to producing watches in the following decade.
The Bulgari Diagono sports watch collection soon followed, as did innovative material choices such as aluminum and rubber. While striking designs will always remain at the forefront of Bulgari and the watches it creates, the brand also sought to master mechanical watchmaking. At the turn of the new millennium, Bulgari acquired a pair of renowned Swiss watch marquees: Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta, along with their facilities. This move paved the way for Bulgari’s shift towards creating high watchmaking pieces, which it continues to do today.
The Bulgari Octo watches are named for their eight-sided shapes, and within this expansive line is the incredible Octo Finissimo collection, which is home to no less than eight world records for the thinnest mechanical watches ever created.
