Bulgari: Octo Finissimo Dual Time X Vianney Halter

Travel Companions: Bulgari and Vianney Halter Team Up for the Octo Finissimo Dual Time

By: Roger Ruegger

Bulgari has partnered with independent master watchmaker and AHCI member Vianney Halter “for a collaboration that transcends the boundaries between two worlds that seem, at first glance, to be opposites.”

Vianney Halter stands apart in haute horlogerie: Passionate about aviation, mechanics and graphic novels, this independent watchmaker with an immediately recognizable style creates pieces that are as much mechanical sculptures as timekeepers. His first model, The Antiqua Perpetual Calendar, was described as a “relic of the future”. His aesthetic – composed of industrial details, multiple displays and three-dimensional architectural complexity – has made him one of the most watchmakers of his generation. Halter: “I enjoy partnerships like this one – they force my mind to adapt to another party’s imperatives. It is an exercise I rarely get to experience when creating for myself, as I design the movement and the case simultaneously. The Octo Finissimo, with its specific aesthetic and technical mastery, made the challenge even more compelling. Adapting to Bulgari’s essence while integrating my own style and mechanical ideas is a stimulating exercise, especially when the dialogue is fluid and engaging. This experience is the perfect definition of a collaboration!”

“Collaborations are always interesting from a creative and personal perspective. You must decide what you are willing to give and what you are willing to receive, and in this regard, the personal relationship that develops is one of the key elements. With Vianney Halter, we found common ground immediately. We discussed from the outset what would be interesting to create together from both a technical and creative perspective, and the result merges two universes while keeping both instantly recognizable. The rigorous geometry of the Octo Finissimo case enhances the construction of independent dials, characteristic of Vianney Halter; the ultra-thin movement integrates new functions while preserving the distinctive qualities that have earned its reputation among watch enthusiasts.” – Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Product Creation Executive Director at Bulgari.

The Octo Finissimo Dual Time × Vianney Halter features four opaline white dials, characteristically shaped hands in blue, a red arrow seconds hand, and a rotor engraved with Vianney Halter’s signature. The 40.5 mm case comprises more than 50 components. The watch is manufactured in-house across the workshops of Bulgari in Saignelégier and Le Sentier and powered by the BVL 200 (based on the BVL 138) using specific modules developed for this collaboration to integrate GMT, Date and Day/Night functions. Despite the project’s complexity, the final result manages to preserve the Octo Finissimo’s signature proportions: a 40.5 mm diameter for 9.70 mm of thickness.

The automatic movement features a micro-rotor and delivers 60 hours of power reserve. It is decorated with vertical Côtes de Genève, brushing and perlage. The platinum micro-rotor is colored in rose gold and engraved with Vianney Halter’s signature. Thickness: 5,49 mm. Frequency: 21’600 VpH (3Hz). Functions: Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, GMT, Date, Day/Night.

Two Interpretations

This collaboration comes in two limited versions: The first, in brushed titanium (Ref. 104356 shown here), is limited to 30 pieces and paired with a brushed titanium integrated bracelet with deployant clasp. The second, in polished satin pink gold, comes with a brown alligator bracelet and is limited to 15 pieces (Ref. 104355).

The titanium version retails for $80,000, rose gold for $123,000.