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Bvlgari Octo Roma 41mm Automatic Mens Watch
Ref. 103481
The Octo Roma WorldTimer begins where most world-time watches stop. Rather than layering a complication onto an existing case, Bvlgari developed the BVL257 specifically for this function at its manufacture in Le Sentier — 261 components arranged so that the crown does two distinct jobs: pulled out, it sets local time; pressed to the first position, it rotates a 24-city disc weighted toward Bvlgari's own properties, reading all 23 remaining zones simultaneously. The mechanism is new, but the logic is immediate. The case takes the Octo signature and softens it — rounder and more approachable than the Finissimo line's severe geometry, yet unmistakably from the same family. At 11.35mm, it carries the world-time mechanism without the bulk most comparable complications demand, and the integrated bracelet's mix of satin and polish keeps it composed rather than showy. The blue sunburst dial earns its keep here: concentric tracking rings that could easily read as cluttered instead resolve cleanly under the domed sapphire, each ring legible at a different distance. The caseback opens onto the striped, bridge-braced movement — finishing that rewards the look without performing for it.
- Reference
- 103481
- Brand
- Bvlgari
- Collection
- Octo Roma
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 11.35mm
- Lug width
- 24mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BVL257
- Functions
- GMT
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
Learn more about Bvlgari
Sotirio Bulgari was a silversmith from a village in Epirus who arrived in Rome and opened a shop on Via Sistina in 1884, later moving to the Via Condotti address the company still occupies. The Latinised V in the logo is a deliberate reference to classical Rome, and the house has drawn on Roman architecture and coinage ever since.
Two designs define it. The Serpenti, a coiled snake bracelet watch that first appeared in the 1940s, is the piece most associated with the name. The Bvlgari Bvlgari of 1975, with the brand name doubled around the bezel in the manner of a Roman coin inscription, began as a limited run for clients and became a permanent line.
Watchmaking became serious in 2000, when Bvlgari bought Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth and with them a genuine complications capability. Since 2014 the Octo Finissimo has set a series of world records for thinness across different complications — tourbillon, minute repeater, automatic, chronograph — which is not the sort of thing a jeweller was expected to be doing.
- 1884
- Sotirio Bulgari opens his first shop in Rome
- 1975
- The Bvlgari Bvlgari, with the name doubled around the bezel
- 2000
- Acquisition of Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth brings complications in house
- 2014
- The Octo Finissimo begins a run of world records for thinness
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,084), Automatic Watches (1,759), Blue Dial Watches (840), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (374) and GMT Watches (245).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Bvlgari Octo Roma alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 103481 | Q9008480 | CBE511A.FC8279 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £6,415 | £6,050 | £7,000 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 40 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
24mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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