Mini review Bvlgari Octo Finissimo

Thirdfox

Despite the Bvlgari solotempo crashing and burning in the crowd choice - here's the Finissimo trying to represent higher end horology

As I was saying before - I'm still collecting watches (I'd be sad if I only wore Sólás watches in the future...) - but will be more particular about what I'm collecting - mainly things that Sólás couldn't possible produce (maybe a Zenith Defy Inventor in the future...if they add a date ha...)

The Bvlgari caught my eye because it was the thinnest automatic watch in the world for a while (Piaget brought out a 2mm "movement as part of the watch" altiplano ultimate afterwards). I think even Wibbs will be impressed by the actual thinness - 5.15mm - here's a comparison of the 5.15mm compared to the "chunky" 9.7mm Starlight :



Though it's clearer just how thin this watch is (movement is 2.23mm "thick") here:



The thinness is achieved by a microrotor too (theirs is platinum - apparently even gold wasn't heavy enough to keep the movement wound):


With such a thin movement they had to go horizontal - the movement is 36.6mm wide - meaning that the case is 40mm - probably impossible to build a 38mm version (0.7mm on each side for the case?)






Looking front on - the watch gives a sense of substance - a real sense of cognitive dissonance when you put on the watch:


To me it looks like the case has a real sense of depth - even though those cuts are probably fractions of mm in height.


There are various versions - titanium, gold, steel, ceramic - the newest version is polished steel too - but I prefer the original just to have the thinness and having it fly under the radar (and any cuffs) - titanium is also pretty light which again contrasts with the look of substance/wrist presence.

The bracelet is nicely designed - and the deployant actually tucks into the bracelet so that you don't get deployant marks on your wrist...something that has been noted design-wise

And I've noted elsewhere of the Gerald Genta connection - though GG only released this design after Bvlgari purchased them in 2011(?) I believe:


So an integrated bracelet design watch released by Gerald Genta (the company) - I'd consider there certainly is some pedigree there.

Purchased almost mint - so the initial depreciation is already gone (i.e. much much less than the RRP) - but 1.5 years of warranty left too. I am enjoying this watch immensely (only recently has the Starlight started coming back on my wrist) - I can even forgive the no-date ha.

While it's "only" 30m water resistance people should know my feelings on WR :pac: (I look to taking a dip in the pool with it sometime )

Wibbs

That is far nicer than the Genta version IMHO.

Fitz II

THats a cool watch. Would be very interested in a SOTC from you DIyu.

893bet

Fitz II wrote: »

THats a cool watch. Would be very interested in a SOTC from you DIyu.

Yup. Would like to see why else is on the box!

Thirdfox

Will do - I think there are certainly some interesting stuff that people may not have on their radar in my watch box - will do a SOTC then sometime maybe next week (work is busy on various fronts currently - though it's good to be busy!)

Mitch Buchannon

Ive been a big fan of that watch since its release. Im delighted to see one of them on the forum.

2shea

Beautiful

eljono

Thanks for the review Thirdfox, great to hear first hand experience of it.

Even though I now wear a Seamaster as my daily, I do like a thinner watch, ideally under 9/10mm. I came across a Watchfinder video for the Finissimo towards the end of last year. After watching it I said to my wife, I think I've found my next watch!

I love the engineering involved in getting it so thin and personally think the design is fantastic. Like you said, the case has depth thanks to the clever layered look they have designed. However a quick look online soon quenched my hopes as prices were significantly over my budget for what would be an occasional piece (no-date for me means special occasions only).

Great to hear you got a good deal on one and that you went for the grey titanium, definitely the best looking option. Well wear!

Wibbs

Mitch Buchannon wrote: »

Ive been a big fan of that watch since its release. Im delighted to see one of them on the forum.

What I like most about it is that it's new and contemporary. It's neither an homage to earlier glories or the same model that's been around since the egg.

Fitz II

Wibbs wrote: »

What I like most about it is that it's new and contemporary. It's neither an homage to earlier glories or the same model that's been around since the egg.

A true origional, new and contempory....maybe thats a push. Lovely watch, but to say it draws some inspiration from the other 1970's genta integrated case watches is putting it kindly. VC overseas is suspected of being part of the orgy as well. Dial draws inspiration from Bauhaus and Paneri. Its a mashup, a lovely mashup but in my humble its getting in on the scene quite late in the day to be called original.

Wibbs

Certainly, but they were very modernist too. That was their selling point for a time and culture that was still looking to the future as a good thing. Traditional and safe they were not. Today the vast majority of luxury watches are heavily skewed towards the traditional, staid and safe.

I can barely look at Hublots for a few reasons, not least of which they're vastly overpriced for what they are(which is a low bar for luxury watches today), but one thing I would give them is traditional they are not.

Wibbs

Actually the nod should be given to Omega Seamasters of late. Old name, contemporary look.

Fitz II

First Royal Oak was 1972....thats nearly 50 years ago. It might just be that my definition of traditional is different but I am in my mid 40's so I am not all that young. Unconventional might be a better word for it, but it falls squarely into the tried and tested category of integrated bracelet genta watches, a category I have deep love for.

Mr Bean was first aired 31 years ago.

Thirdfox

eljono wrote: »

Thanks for the review Thirdfox, great to hear first hand experience of it.

Even though I now wear a Seamaster as my daily, I do like a thinner watch, ideally under 9/10mm. I came across a Watchfinder video for the Finissimo towards the end of last year. After watching it I said to my wife, I think I've found my next watch!

I love the engineering involved in getting it so thin and personally think the design is fantastic. Like you said, the case has depth thanks to the clever layered look they have designed. However a quick look online soon quenched my hopes as prices were significantly over my budget for what would be an occasional piece (no-date for me means special occasions only).

Great to hear you got a good deal on one and that you went for the grey titanium, definitely the best looking option. Well wear!

I'm a huge date lover - I think this and my Vostok might be the only watches that don't have a date (the Vostok because it doesn't have a quick date set feature). But I can definitely "compromise" on this feature when it's so thin - just need to pay a bit more attention to remembering dates.

As for prices - I think potentially prices will still fall as more pre-owned models become available again (and I think 3ATM will be something that people wrongly care about which may affect its price too) - for me it wasn't worth adding an additional 0.1mm for another 70m WR and a screwdown crown.

...And you know the Starlight is 9.7mm :P - though if you like the Octo stylings/plainer dial have a wait for model 4 from Sólás - aiming to be around 7.5mm or less as an automatic - and won't be at Bvlgari prices



@Fitz:

I think that since it was released as a Gerald Genta branded watch at the start - it would be unusual if it didn't go for a Genta-esque integrated bracelet watch. And yeah - part of the appeal to me was that it was priced lower than AP/VC/PP and a new take on this category of watches.

I guess I find the design different enough and the innovation different enough that it's very much its own watch - if I was a marketer I'd say not breaking the mould but redefining parts of this mould.

And it speaks to me too in that it's Bvlgari - sure a "luxury" brand - but one that wasn't known really for watch chops so they are making a real push at Piaget/holy trinity with the Octo line and various record breaking models... not unlike what Sólás is trying to do at the much more affordable end.

If you recall the reddit post on what your watch says about you - Bvlgari was something like "a more expensive Armani/Fossil watch" - I think the Octo definitely breaks the mould for them on this front (so much so that some people say they'd prefer a different name on the dial ha) - if it was VC/PP/AP I'm sure it would be a lot more popular. So it was also an "investment" of sorts in that if Bvlgari really takes off and prices in the future go to holy trinity levels it wouldn't be so affordable to me anymore.

Only thing is that Ms Thirdfox is not a fan - mainly because this is quite a masculine watch so she can't (doesn't want to) wear it :pac: - it does mean that a Reverso is probably still on the cards some time in the future however :P

She was glad I didn't get a Zenith Defy Inventor instead though - as she said the movement looks like a bug having a seizure and induces anxiety

^ I actually wouldn't mind seeing them put the movement behind a "normal" dial and adding a date feature to it (well and a price drop as we'd all like) - a three hander watch at 14.5mm height is a bit much even with the technical advancement of mechanical movements.

Wibbs

Thirdfox wrote: »

She was glad I didn't get a Zenith Defy Inventor instead though - as she said the movement looks like a bug having a seizure and induces anxiety

I'm agreeing with your better three quarters, though her description is better.