All watchmaking’s Grands Maisons have one, or more if they’re lucky, defining designs, these are the watches that you recognise before you see the brand, that are strong enough to shape a brand’s future. Think Panerai’s Luminor, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso or TAG Heuer’s Monaco: all generate instant recognition and demand decades on from their debut. It’s very rare, however, to see one emerge in real time, but that’s been happening at Bulgari twice over as the latest Octo Finissimo and Serpenti models shown at Baselworld reveal.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT
Fabrizio Bounamassa, head of design for Bulgari’s watch division won’t say it out loud, but five years on from the first Finissimo it’s clear that the design has the longevity to do the same for Bulgari as the Royal Oak did for Audemars Piguet. It’s also a masterclass in how to finesse the surface detail. Aside from breaking another record for slimness, the Chronograph GMT is one of the most usable time zone watches around, but most impressive is the way the dial remains uncluttered despite the extra functions.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori rose gold
The Serpenti descends from the already iconic Tubogas of the 1940’s but has its own distinct character. The 2019 Seduttori version shows just how versatile the design is.
INFORMATION
-
Year in review: top 10 furniture launches of 2024, as selected by Wallpaper* global design director Hugo MacdonaldThe furniture launches that wowed global design director Hugo Macdonald this year
-
Unboxing beauty products from 2024, as seen on the pages of Wallpaper*Wallpaper's 2024 beauty picks included Chanel lipstick, Bottega Veneta perfume and solid soap from the likes of Aesop, Celine, Diptyque, Hermès and Sisley
-
The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
-
Take a look at the big winners of the watch world OscarsThe Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is the Oscars for the watch world – get all the news on the 2024 event here
-
Inside Bulgari and Fender’s unexpected watch collaborationThe Bulgari Aluminium GMT x Fender Limited Edition watch nods to the designs of the luxury house and the guitar brand, and is accompanied by a Stratocaster
-
What are the must-see watch releases at Geneva Watch Days 2024?Get up close and personal with Swiss haute horlogerie at Geneva Watch Days 2024, until 2 September 2024
-
Why are watch designers so drawn to brutalism?Watch brands looking for ways to break the conservative mould look to brutalist architecture and 1970s design codes
-
Dark watches show it’s time to embrace an inky paletteDiscover new dark watches from brands including Audemars Piguet, Omega, Chanel and Tudor
-
Bulgari welcomes BAFTA 2024 with a London show of its era-spanning film-star jewelleryFor BAFTA 2024, Bulgari spotlights its rich cinematic connections in a jewellery exhibition at its Bond Street store
-
Bulgari’s past and future meet as artists interpret Serpenti for Milan exhibitionBulgari exhibition ‘75 Years of Infinite Tales’ (until 19 November 2023) sees artists interpret the Serpenti collection, in mediums from robotic performance to sculpture
-
Classic watch designs to last a lifetimeWhen considering which watch design to invest in, disregard trends and consider classic pieces characterised by timeless design
