Image: Bvlgari

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra, with a profile of 1.80 mm, is currently the world’s thinnest mechanical watch of any kind. The Octo Finissimo Ultra watch is once again slimmer than any movement. According to Bulgari, the watch is around the thickness of various types of drawing paper. If that seems insane to you, you’re not alone; at this degree of slimness, the mechanical durability of the watch is called into doubt.

Image: Bvlgari

Of course, Bulgari was well aware that the watch might physically bend out of shape. The watchmakers avoided this by adopting a tungsten carbide caseback, which also serves as the primary plate of the BVL 180 calibre. The watch does not seem flimsy or bendable. The mind definitely reels after witnessing something like the Ultra, which appears to be an impossible object, and not just because only ten will be produced. For watch enthusiasts, the shock factor begins with the absence of the crown…

Image: Bvlgari

To begin with, while this watch is a fantastic achievement and a significant contribution to the advancement of the art and culture of watchmaking, the Ultra’s attraction is based on its distinctive visual components, one of which is the QR code engraved into the ratchet wheel. No other fine wristwatch is linked to a piece of digital technology in this way — in fact, no other watchmaker has come this far in terms of smart contracts and NFTs.

Image: Bvlgari

The QR code isn’t the only unique feature here. Most importantly, the watch’s proportions imply that there is no crown, as previously stated. Indeed, in order to reduce the movement to 1.50 mm, the entire winding stem and keyless works had to be rebuilt. Instead of a crown, there are two steel wheels (one at 3 o’clock for setting the time and one at 8 o’clock for winding the mechanism). Because of this brilliant technique (allowing the movement to contain only horizontally spinning gears), one may engage with the movement directly. Water resistance is surprisingly 10 meters here, which is remarkable given that we believed it would not be water-resistant at all. After all, the movement is entirely revealed here.

Movement Manual-winding ultra-thin BVL calibre 180; 50-hour power reserve

Case 40mm in titanium and tungsten carbide; water-resistant to 10m

Strap Titanium bracelet

Price On application (limited to 10 pieces)