I still distinctly remember the moment I stepped into Bvlgari’s booth at the 2014 Basel fair and the world changed. That’s how seismically powerful my reaction to the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo was. But it wasn’t because it was, in the words of Monty Python (cue John Cleese’s French waiter accent), “waah-fer theen.”

Sure, the manual wind Octo Finissimo Small Seconds measured just 5mm in thickness, but for years, numerous brands had already been trying to bring back the Jean Lasalle-era of ultra thin watchmaking — efforts that collectively elicited little more than a massive yawn from the collector community. Because no one really cared about thin round watches — and, honestly, even now, no one does. What was so powerfully evocative about the Octo Finissimo was its dynamic contrast — that when viewed up-close, it could be so architecturally aggressive and exude such faceted linear velocity that it felt downright sculptural, yet when turned to the side, it was so lithe, elegant and ineffably stylish. I loved it. It was simultaneously modern and reminiscent of an era long gone … I immediately felt that if you were a gentleman of irrepressible élan and longed for that halcyon era between the ’50s and the ’70s — before the Côte d’Azur was overrun by oligarchs and priapically winged orange Lamborghinis that looked like mobile fertility symbols, before the era of champagne bottle wars and influencers, when culture, taste and money still aligned and you had to dress in a certain “tailored” way — this would be your watch.

Bvlgari × Revolution Octo Finissimo XX Anniversario — a homage to Singapore expressed through its elegant burgundy dial, a reference to the city-state’s national color (Image: ©Revolution)

OK, I know that’s a lot to take in, but that’s exactly what ran through my mind. For two years, the Octo Finissimo became the object of my fascination and even obsession, with images of its eight-sided dial inside a round bezel counterpointed by its aggressive stepped case haunting my waking and sleeping moments. Then, Bvlgari introduced the minute repeater version in full sandblasted titanium and my desire for the watch went into overdrive.

In particular, I loved the skeletonized hour markers that functionally allowed sound from the striking mechanism to pass through. But I had one big problem: I could not afford the minute repeater. I then came up with a solution — I proposed to my friends Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani the idea of a small seconds version of that watch but with the same pierced dial as a limited edition collaboration.

The new XX Anniversario with the watch that began our collaborative journey, the 2016 Bvlgari-Revolution Limited Edition (Image: ©Revolution)

In 2016, the Bvlgari-Revolution Octo Finissimo Limited Edition emerged in a 50-piece series of timepieces that sold out immediately. We followed this up with two luminous versions of the Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT in 2020 and 2021, the “White Light” and the “Nuclear Option.” But the very first watch still remained, from both an emotional and aesthetic perspective, my favorite.

Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT “White Light” (right) and “Nuclear Option,” from 2020 and 2021, respectively

A Tribute to Our Origins

It was clear that when the opportunity arose to collaborate on a timepiece for Revolution’s 20th Anniversary, or XX Anniversario in Italian, we would go back to the original timepiece with its skeletonized hour markers.

Said Stigliani, “But much time has gone by and we cannot simply repeat the past — we must push ourselves creatively.” As he said this, an idea coalesced in my mind. 2025 is not just Revolution’s 20th Anniversary, but it also happens to be Singapore’s 60th year as an independent nation. As Revolution was born here, I thought, what if we could incorporate Singapore’s national colors of red and white into the watch? We could potentially create a version with a red pierced dial and a white ceramic case.

The pierced dial concept on the XX Anniversario echoes a dial design first seen in the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater (Image: ©Revolution)

Stigliani tried multiple experiments before he replied, “The white ceramic is not visually rich enough for me for this watch. But I have another idea.” What he would say next blew my mind. He continued, “We have been experimenting for some time with mirror polishing Grade 5 titanium. As you know, we used this mirror polishing effect on the collaborative timepiece we made with the architect Kazuyo Sejima, which has a steel case. What we realized was that we could mirror polish Grade 5 titanium, but the process is so expensive, unforgiving and time consuming that we can only do it for a micro-series of watches. So I propose to you that, for the first time in Bvlgari’s history, we will create a mirror-polished Grade 5 titanium case and bracelet for Revolution, because you were one of the earliest supporters of the Octo Finissimo. However, we can only make 20 watches to represent your 20th Anniversary.”

The Caliber BVL 138 offers 60 hours of power reserve (Image: ©Revolution)

I, of course, immediately agreed with him, but then the decision came down to the dial with skeletonized hour markers. Eventually, rather than a bright optic red, Stigliani and I decided on a darker, more subtle burgundy color that is actually the exact hue of Vosne-Romanée wine, which is my favorite appellation from Burgundy. Because it was important to both of us that the watch retains its innate elegance, the dial had to be rendered in a darker color.

Said Stigliani, “Already with the high polished case and bracelet, the watch is impossible not to notice. So the dial had to provide the contrast. This is also why there is a subtle dégradé effect where the dial is darker at the perimeter. Yet when you view it in sunlight, it really comes to life beautifully.” Interestingly, when placed next to the steel Sejima Edition, the case and bracelet of the titanium Bvlgari × Revolution Octo Finissimo XX Anniversario appears subtly warmer. Finally, because of the titanium case, our timepiece is effortless to wear. Anyone who tries on an Octo Finissimo in this material will be amazed — you will virtually forget you have this timepiece on, because of its perfect combination of ergonomic comfort and ephemeral weightlessness.

The watch marks the first time that Bvlgari has created a mirror-polished titanium case and bracelet (©Revolution)

That is, until you look at your wrist and marvel at the high-impact design married with groundbreaking ultra thin watchmaking that results in this incredibly cool watch. With just 20 pieces made, we are almost fully allocated, but please contact us with your interest.

Tech Specs: Bvlgari × Revolution Octo Finissimo XX Anniversario

Movement: Self-winding Caliber BVL 138; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds
Case: 40mm × 5.15mm; mirror-polished Grade 5 titanium; water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Red fumé; skeletonized hour markers
Strap: Mirror-polished Grade 5 titanium bracelet
Price: CHF 17,140 (excl. VAT)
Availability: Limited edition of 20 pieces, exclusive to Revolution