Bulgari Reclaims World Record for Thinnest Mechanical Wristwatch
In the world of luxury watches, Bulgari has once again made headlines by reclaiming the record for the world’s thinnest mechanical wristwatch. On Monday, the Italian luxury house, in collaboration with its Swiss fine watchmaking division, unveiled the Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II, a timepiece that measures a mere 1.7 millimeters thick.
This new record-breaking watch is 0.05 millimeters thinner than Richard Mille’s previous record-holder, the RM UP-01 Ferrari, which had snatched the title from Bulgari two years ago with a 1.75 millimeter thickness. The difference may seem minuscule, but it is approximately the thickness of a piece of office printer paper.
Antoine Pin, managing director of Bulgari’s watchmaking division, described the achievement as “sci-fi,” noting that the ultra-thin design not only excites people but also brings global attention to the segment. He emphasized that Bulgari’s goal is not just to chase records for the sake of glory, but to advance watchmaking technologies and push the boundaries of what is possible in the industry.
The Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II is not only thinner than its predecessor but also more accurate, achieving the chronometer mark awarded by Switzerland’s independent Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (C.O.S.C.). Each of the 20 limited-edition pieces will be tested as a unit, as the case and movement are fused together.
Despite its wafer-thin profile, the new watch is said to be robust and wearable, with a 40-millimeter sandblasted titanium case and a 1.5-millimeter-thick bracelet in the same material. Mr. Pin hinted that the micro-mechanics lessons learned from the ultrathin watches could potentially be applied to larger models in the future.
While Bulgari celebrates its ninth world record for thinness, Mr. Pin acknowledged the contributions of other brands in driving innovation in the field. He expressed gratitude for Piaget’s and Richard Mille’s efforts in developing ultrathin watches, noting that there is always room for collaboration and learning from each other.
For Bulgari, breaking the record is just the beginning of a new chapter in the brand’s watchmaking journey. As Mr. Pin aptly put it, “For us, hitting this record, it’s not the end of the story.”
