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Bvlgari Octo Finissimo 40mm Ceramic
Ref. 103368
The octagonal geometry here traces back to Gérald Genta, whose structural instinct shaped the Octo from its beginning. What Bvlgari did with that inheritance was pursue thinness as a discipline in its own right, and the Finissimo line is where that pursuit became record-breaking. The BVL 138 calibre is the movement that makes it possible: 2.23mm thick, automatic, with a platinum micro-rotor substituting for a conventional central rotor to recover the space one would otherwise consume. Côtes de Genève stripes, circular graining and perlage finish it to a standard that rewards the caseback. At 5.5mm, the case sits against the wrist the way most dress watches only approximate — flush, still, with nothing to catch on a cuff. The all-ceramic construction keeps it lighter than the silhouette suggests, and the bracelet sustains the geometry cleanly to the wrist, alternating between matte sandblasted and polished surfaces in a way that reads differently under different light. The deployant clasp sits low enough not to interrupt the line, and sizing is handled through removable links rather than the more common butterfly arrangement that tends to add bulk at the closure.
- Reference
- 103368
- Brand
- Bvlgari
- Collection
- Octo Finissimo
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 5.5mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BVL 138
- Functions
- Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Ceramic bracelet
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
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 the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo range (14), Automatic Watches (1,759), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (374), All Black Watches (309) and Ceramic Watches (105).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- 5.5mm is unusually slim for a 40mm case
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 103368 | Q4148420 | 1-90-12-03-12-02 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £9,995 | £9,850 | £11,995 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Ceramic bracelet | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 60 hours | 70 hours | — |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
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 60 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb list it at £9,995, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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