Bulgari - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Bulgari
    Year: 2021
    Reference No: 103245
    Case No: PO5'535
    Model Name: Octo Finissimo - Tadao Ando Edition
    Material: Titanium
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. BVL 138, 36 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Titanium Bulgari bracelet, max length 210mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Titanium Bulgari deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Bulgari warranty dated January 1, 2021, presentation box and outer packaging, and hangtag.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Instantly recognizable by its modernist form and sleek appearance, Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo has rapidly become a major player in the luxury sports watch market.

    Launched only in 2017 (but based on Gerald Genta’s designs from the 1980s) the Octo Finissimo houses the Bulgari caliber BVL 138 which is one of the world’s slimmest automatic movements only 2.23mm thick but with an impressive 60-hour power reserve. The case itself is a mere 5.15 mm thick.

    The Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando edition is by far the most intriguing iteration of this model. Ando is considered a national treasure in Japan and is renowned for his work with concrete and light, his œuvre has received international recognition, including the UIA Gold Medal in 2005 and the Pritzker Prize in 1995 Ando’s notable works include the Church of the Light in Osaka; 21_21 Design Sight, a design museum in Tokyo; and most recently a lavender-planted hilltop shrine containing a giant Buddha in Hokkaido.

    The present example in titanium is designed with pure geometry throughout, with a spiral motif that ripples out from the small seconds hand, the effect remind one of a zen space.

    Produced in a limited edition of only 200 pieces for the Japanese market, and offered in excellent condition with its full accessories, this is a superb opportunity to own a serenely poetic timepiece that is truly out of the ordinary.

  • Artist Biography

    Bulgari

    Italian

    Originally from Kalarites, Greece, Sotirios Voulgaris emigrated to Rome because of Greece's rising poverty and difficulty separating from the Ottoman Empire. He set foot on Italian soil in 1880 with little money in his pocket and spent the next four years preparing what would go on to become Italy's oldest jewelry company. 

    In 1884, Bulgari opened its doors to the Italian people with its offering of jewelry and accessories. Bulgari's style takes from traditions in Greek and Roman craftsmanship to elegantly balance volume and subtlety. Later, in the late 1960s, Bulgari bridged classicism and modernity by introducing its seductive, now-iconic Serpenti collection of snake-shaped coil bracelets and watches. It is through its meticulous combination of influences that Bulgari has garnered an international and loyal high-profile clientele, which included Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. These Hollywood stars have immortalized the house's unique gem-adorned bracelets, necklaces and earrings in rounded forms. 

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This lot is offered without Reserve

88

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 103245
An attractive ultra slim limited edition titanium wristwatch with bracelet, warranty and presentation box, part of a 200 piece limited edition made for the Japanese market

2021
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF6,000 - 9,000 
€5,600-8,400
$6,500-9,800

Sold for CHF35,280

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021