Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Revamped Bvlgari Bvlgari – Slimmer, Bolder and with New Materials
A 1970s icon redesigned for the 21st century.
The Bvlgari Bvlgari has been one of the brand’s most emblematic watches for over 40 years. The model was born in 1975 when the Bulgari brothers decided to create a watch as an exclusive gift for their 100 best clients. What started as a gift became an enduring Bvlgari design, reinventing itself over the years. Inspired by ancient Roman coins, the watch features pure, simple but powerful lines. With no logo on the dial, the Bvlgari logo is engraved twice on the bezel, earning the timepiece the nickname “BB”. And to bring it up to date, this icon has just received a discreet facelift.
Renewing the genre, the new Bvlgari Bvlgari is presented in a slimmer and enlarged 41mm cased. It is fashioned out of bronze, black DLC-coated steel or black DLC-coated steel with a bronze bezel. The bronze crown incorporates a ceramic insert. These new metals for the collection give the model a more contemporary style. And patina fans will love the modern-vintage feel of the bronze versions. The case features the model’s signature round design. It is topped with a cylinder-like bezel with the double-engraved Bvlgari logo and it is extended by short, straight lugs.
The dial retains its clean, pure design with no logo. It is finely grained and black lacquered, featuring distinctive numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock paired with baton-style hour markers – all applied and with contrasting gold colour to match the bronze details – and simple straight hands.
The new Bvlgari Bvlgari is powered by the in-house calibre BVL191 with automatic winding. Measuring 25.6 mm in diameter, it features a cross-wide balance bridge and it operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour. A stop-seconds mechanism allows for precise setting. The winding is bi-directional and it can store up to 42 hours of power reserve. Turning the watch over, the calibre BVL191 can be admired through the sapphire exhibition caseback. It is decorated with thin Geneva stripes and polished bevels.
The Bvlgari Bvlgari is worn on a chestnut brown calfskin leather strap for the bronze version, a black calfskin leather strap for the DLC-steel-and-bronze version and a rubber strap for the DLC-steel version. It is fitted with a quick-release spring bar system to easily remove and exchange it. It is delivered with a grained leather pouch containing a complementary leather strap.
These new Bvlgari Bvlgari watches retail for EUR 4,100 for the DLC-coated steel version, EUR 4,390 for the DLC-coated steel with bronze bezel version and EUR 5,450 for the full bronze version. For more information, please visit www.bulgari.com.
6 responses
Was this the one designed by Genta?
*tumbleweed*
No the one designed by Genta is the Octo
I’ve had a bit of time to answer my own question, and from a little research it looks like Genta did indeed design the Bvlgari Bvlgari – influenced by Roman coins – according to numerous watch sites and blogs.
The Octo was also later created by him, originally as the stunning ‘Octo Bi-Retro’ when he was designing watches with his name attached while Bvlgari ‘owned’ his output (after Bvlgari purchased these rights from the Hourglass group). Shortly before Genta’s death Bvlgari made their own Octo Bi-Retro (the main difference was the name on the dial becoming ‘Bvlgari’, instead of ‘Gerald Genta’, and some bolts added to the bezel); then after Genta’s death Bvlgari released the Octo as a full line, reverting to Genta’s bezel without the bolts – unfortunately the Bi-Retro not being part of that line.
I think.
@GIL – you’re right on all points 🙂
Phew!