Bulgari Debuts the World’s Thinnest Tourbillon Watch

This technical triumph marks Bulgari’s tenth world record in the realm of ultra-thin watchmaking.

The journey began in 2014 with the launch of the original Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, featuring a hand-wound movement just 1.95 mm thick. That very timepiece set the benchmark for the world’s slimmest flying tourbillon, and ultimately signaled the brand’s commitment to rewriting watchmaking codes.

Over the past decade, Bulgari has consistently advanced the Octo line with ever-more sophisticated iterations— garnering over 60 international accolades along the way, including the coveted Aiguille d’Or (the Golden Neddle award) from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix).

Now, the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon pushes the limits of high-end watchmaking even further. At just 1.85 mm thick and spanning 40 mm in diameter, this record-breaking model is powered by the BVF 900 calibre—a manually wound mechanical movement that operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and maintains a 42-hour power reserve. 

Visually, the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon is an exercise in architectural elegance. The bezel, case middle, and lugs are crafted from microbead-frosted titanium, while the main plate utilizes dense, high-performance tungsten carbide. Two ultra-flat, slightly protruding ‘crowns’—one at 8 o’clock for winding and another at 3 o’clock for time-setting—are fashioned in circular-grained stainless steel. Even the ratchet bears refined detailing, with geometric engravings enhancing its overall visual appeal.

For improved readability, the hour display is fitted with rhodium-plated hands atop a sand-blasted brass dial finished in anthracite DLC. Unlike earlier models such as the Octo Finissimo Ultra and Ultra COSC, which featured dual separated time displays, this version is designed with a more conventional single-dial configuration.

Completing the aesthetic is an integrated bracelet, also in microbead-frosted titanium, which maintains the ultra-slim silhouette. Measuring a mere 1.5 mm in thickness, including the folding clasp, it echoes the watch’s technical and minimalist design codes.

What truly distinguishes this record-setting timepiece is Bulgari’s newly developed skeletonisation approach. Engineered to enhance light interplay across the movement, this architectural design brings clarity and contrast to each visible component. Decorative touches— such as the polished slope of the bezel flange, the finely rhodium-plated tourbillon balance and inertia blocks, and the sunburst-finished tourbillon bridge —add depth and modernity without overwhelming the mechanism’s functionality.

Skeletonisation, by nature, demands an exacting balance. Every component must marry form and function to deliver durability, performance, and aesthetic appeal. Because each structural element is laid bare, there is zero room for error in the crafting, finishing, and assembly stages of the production. Simply put, the exposed architecture of the skeleton movement is where Bulgari’s watchmaking mastery is laid fully, and flawlessly, on display.