Bulgari Just Broke the Record for the World’s Thinnest Watch

For years, the title of “world’s thinnest mechanical watch” largely yo-yoed between Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra and the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept. So, when Richard Mille and Ferrari’s RM UP-01 came out of nowhere with an insane 1.75mm effort, it felt like a seminal moment: the binary was broken. It was also amped up by a mega endorsement; Pharrell Williams was seen bouncing about with the slightest watch in the world on his wrist.

“When Richard Mille broke the record, it served as a motivation for Bulgari to fight complacency,” Antoine Pin, managing director for Bulgari watches, tells GQ. “But at the same time, we know what we are doing, where we are going, and what we want to attain—we are thinking beyond just records.”

Enter the new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC, measuring in at just 1.70mm. A product of design ingenuity of Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani (the brand’s product creation executive director, and the owner of the most impressive beard in watchmaking), Bulgari has the unique superpower of making very elite Swiss watches, but still feeling like an Italian brand.

“A record is exciting, it’s fun, it’s challenging. But a record with ambitions of doing better, innovating, surpassing ourselves is priceless. It also creates excitement and a healthy competition within the watchmaking industry,” says Pin. “This latest achievement with the Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC isn’t just another milestone; it represents the epitome of our journey in redefining the limits of mechanical watchmaking. To have reached such a pinnacle, where the Octo Finissimo Ultra Cosc is now thinner than a coin… is truly remarkable.”

Pin says it isn’t just about breaking records though; the brief was to go one step further and shatter expectations. “We didn’t just aim to create a thinner watch; we aimed to redefine what’s possible in the realm of high watchmaking.”

There’s always a delicate balance between minimalism and functionality. This watch does both. Titanium and composites (like carbide tungsten) offer the strength and durability needed for slim profiles without sacrificing the integrity. “Innovations in material science, including new alloys for the movement, further enhance the capability to create watches that are not only thin but also robust and visually appealing,” says Pin. “The integration of design and functionality in our collections showcases Bulgari‘s commitment to producing watches that are not just marvels of engineering but also practical and versatile accessories for daily wear. I have a friend who wears his Octo Finissimo watch to play golf: that’s probably the best proof of resistance and durability.”