Bvlgari returns to Watches & Wonders 2026 with a decisive evolution of its iconic Octo Finissimo. The Maison unveils a new 37mm solo tempo model powered by an ultra-thin automatic movement, alongside a titanium minute repeater. The novelties of the brand with a dual jeweler and watchmaker identity, are grounded in Roman architectural harmony and the concept of Italian sprezzatura.
Bvlgari marks its second consecutive year at Watches & Wonders in Geneva, an event that has become the essential stage for the Maison to express its unique duality. As Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of Bvlgari, noted, the brand is solidifying its presence by celebrating an avant-garde watchmaking that marries Swiss micromechanical mastery with unrivaled Italian creativity. The exhibition space itself reflects this ethos, drawing inspiration from kinetic art and sartorialism to invite visitors into a world where marble and precious materials converge.
At the heart of this presentation lies the Octo Finissimo, a timepiece that has redefined the codes of ultra-thin watchmaking over the last decade. The 2026 collection focuses on the “Art of Shape,” refining the silhouette to achieve a perfect aesthetic balance. The new 37mm models are not merely smaller iterations but represent a recalibration of the collection’s internal construction and external aesthetic. They preserve the iconic octagonal geometry while adapting to a more versatile wrist presence, embodying the Italian concept of sprezzatura.
The term Sprezzatura was popularized by Baldassare Castiglione in his 1528 treatise The Book of the Courtier, describing the art of making difficult things appear effortless. Octo Finissimo integrates complex movements into thin cases, offering casual elegance that hides the immense engineering involved. The design avoids ostentation, favoring a clean, architectural purity that resonates with the Roman heritage of the Maison.
Octo Finissimo Automatic 37
The headline novelty of the 2026 lineup is the introduction of a new automatic movement, the BVF 100, which enables the launch of a perfectly balanced 37mm solo tempo model. The caliber employs serious miniaturization, featuring a micro-rotor that allows for an ultra-thin profile while maintaining a robust 72-hour power reserve. The 3 Hz movement with hours, minutes, and small seconds functions is a mere 2.35mm in thickness.
The Octo Finissimo Automatic 37mm comes in three distinct finishes, each highlighting the versatility of titanium and gold. Reference 104351 features a satin-polished titanium case and bracelet, offering a sleek, modern look with an opaline titanium dial and rhodium-plated hands. For those seeking a warmer tone, reference 104120 presents a satin-polished yellow gold case, bringing a classic luxury feel to the ultra-thin form factor. The third option, reference 104089, is again titanium but sandblasted on both the case and the bracelet, providing a matte, textured aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the polished bezel.
Despite the reduction in diameter, the watch retains the distinctive character of the Octo family. The case thickness stands at 6.45mm for the titanium models, ensuring the timepiece sits flush against the wrist with remarkable comfort. The integrated bracelet, with its folding buckle and push-buttons, mirrors the case finish, creating a seamless visual flow. The dial, whether opaline or gold-toned, is kept minimal, allowing the geometry of the case and the play of light on the surfaces to take center stage.
Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater
While the automatic models focus on everyday elegance, Bvlgari simultaneously explores the extreme limits of complication with the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater. It is powered by the BVL 362, a manual-winding ultra-thin movement with a thickness of 3.12mm.
The BVL 362 is decorated by hand with radiating Côtes de Genève and perlage. It drives a minute repeater complication with two hammers in a slender profile. The movement beats at 21,600 vph (3 Hz) and provides a power reserve of 42 hours. The case, crafted from sandblasted titanium, measures 37mm in diameter and 6.85mm in thickness. The dial is an opaline titanium creation with open-worked indexes and rhodium grey plated hands, allowing a glimpse of the intricate mechanics beneath.
The timepiece demonstrates that the pursuit of thinness does not necessitate a compromise on horological complexity. The sandblasted finish of the case and bracelet gives the watch a contemporary, almost industrial edge, contrasting with the traditional artistry of the minute repeater.
Bvlgari Digital Passport
A few months after Bvlgari introduced the Connected Jewelry in 2025, the company introduces Bvlgari Digital Passport for watches. Since 2020, a Datamatrix code has been engraved on the caseback of every Bvlgari watch for traceability. Now, this code serves as a gateway to a comprehensive digital identity for the timepiece.
Accessible via the Bvlgari Touch application on iOS and Android, the Digital Passport provides owners with instant access to technical specifications, warranty information, authenticity confirmation, and traceability data. Powered by Aura Blockchain technology, the system ensures the integrity of the record over time. The experience is designed to be secure, private and seamless, requiring no login and collecting no personal data.
The 2026 37mm Octo Finissimo addresses a growing demand for versatile, elegant timepieces without sacrificing the technical DNA that defines the Octo. The simultaneous release of the ultra-thin titanium minute repeater reinforces Bvlgari’s position at the forefront of high horology.
Bvlgari presented other highlights in the Serpent collection this year, the new Serpenti Tubogas Studs capsule and the continued metamorphosis of the Serpenti Aeterna. Read more here.
Photo credits: Bvlgari, Loupiosity.
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