Released as part of Bulgari’s 140th anniversary celebratory novelties comes one of the coolest watches in the watch industry. Released in 18K rose gold or in stainless steel, the new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch features one of the most unique dials inspired by the hand-drawn sketches of Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani —the industrial designer that has led Bulgari to create some of the most incredible watches since he became the Executive Director of Product Creation for the brand in 2001. These two new models are a sequel to the Bulgari Octo Finissimo 10th Anniversary ‘Sketch’ Limited Edition watches released in 2022 by the brand.

About Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani

Born in Naples, Italy on December 21, 1971, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani began drawing in Rome at the age of 4. In 1998, he graduated at the ISIA —Istituto Superiore per le Industrie Artistiche— in Rome where he studied the history of industrial design, and the culture of design and further developed different techniques of representation. The same year, after a previous one-year internship for the realization of the thesis carried out with the Centro Stile Fiat, he was hired as a designer by the Turin automotive group. In that period he participated in the development of cars for the Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands.

Then, in 2001 he left the automobile industry and decided to deep dive into the watch industry. He sent some drawings to Paolo Bulgari and, in the same year, he got hired as a designer at the Bulgari Design Center in Rome. Between 2001 and 2009 he designed some of the most iconic Bulgari watches including the Serpenti Tubogas —an evolution of the iconic Bulgari Serpenti. Starting in 2011, he asked to relocate the Bulgari Watches Design Center from Rome to Neuchâtel where he gave birth to the Octo Finissimo.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch & Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch

The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch watches are equipped with cases measuring 40 mm in diameter —in 18K rose gold or stainless steel— and with a thickness of only 8.75 mm. While the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch 18K Rose Gold reference 104165 is presented in a limited edition of only 70 pieces, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch Stainless Steel reference 104163 is available in a limited edition of 280 pieces.

The dial on these two pieces showcase what the back of the watch looks like in a hand sketch by Fabrizio. The minute and hour hands are black and skeletonized with a small running seconds hand between the 7 and 8 o’clock positions.

Additionally, Bulgari is also presenting a new limited edition of the Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch in a 140-piece release —the final watch not pictured— where the dial also shows the back of the watch in a hand sketch by Fabrizio. The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch features a stainless steel case measuring 43 mm and is powered by the automatic calibre BVL 318 with a 55-hour power reserve.

All three watches are water resistant to 100 meters and feature integrated bracelets matching the metal of the case.

Powering the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch is the 31-jewel automatic movement calibre BVL 138 with platinum micro-rotor. This ultra-thin movement provides a power reserve of 60 hours while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph. The movement is fully visible via the display case back and the sapphire crystal is imprinted with “EDIZIONE LIMITATA X/280 or X/70” —limited edition and unique serial number— and “1884-2024” in Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani’s handwriting.

Sticker Price 17,800 Euros —approximately USD 19,500— for the Stainless Steel model, 20,800 Euros —approximately USD 22,800—for the Chrono GMT, and 51,000 Euros —approximately USD 55,900— for the 18K Rose Gold. For more info on Bulgari click here.