A JAPANESE MASTERPIECE
BVLGARI’S WATCHMAKING JOURNEY WITH THE OCTO FINISSIMO CONTINUES WITH A TOUCH OF JAPANESE SPIRIT
Bvlgari’s Octo Finissimo has definitely made its mark on the haute horlogerie landscape in a very short space of time. After exploring ultra-miniaturization in the fields of automatic movements as well as complications such as the minute repeater, chronograph and tourbillon, the Roman jeweler presents the next chapter in the Octo Finissimo: The 160-piece Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando limited series.
Before we delve into the details of the new timepiece, a short trip down memory lane might be in order. Mind you, this is not the first time that Japanese architect Tadao Ando collaborated with Bvlgari. The very first Octo Finissimo limited series jointly created by the brand and Tadao
Ando happened back in 2019.
At the time, the architect—who has forged an international reputation through the use of cement and glass combined with the creative utilization of light in his architectural projects—was impressed by the Octo Finissimo’s pure shape. He then expressed time by means of a spiral engraved on the dial of the first collaborative piece, as a symbol of the black hole from where time is born.
In this second collaborative edition, the Italian brand and the Japanese maestro created a new model that embodies a different approach. While the theme of time remains central, Tadao Ando picks up the concept of mikazuki, which is an idea that is particularly dear to the Japanese construction specialist.
For one, mikazuki represents the crescent moon, which is the first stage of the next moon that will in due course become full. With the shadow of the Earth partially masking the moon to reveal only a thin crescent, this evolution symbolizes the transitory nature of time.
Furthermore, amid the spiral of the night sky, the crescent moon also represents hope in the night, embodying a prosperous future. Speaking of which, the moon has always embodied time from the dawn of civilization, acting as a clock and calendar for humanity and nature. Japanese culture then expresses temporal contingencies with a specific character that can be read as meaning both month and moon.
And so, this brings us to this year’s Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando limited series. Designwise, the watch takes a minimalist approach to the theme of time on the deep blue lacquered dial. The time spiral is born and uncoils from the base of the seconds hand, while the gold crescent moon is positioned at 5 o’clock. Moving on inside, beneath the aforementioned blue lacquered dial with special pattern and yellow gold moon, the watch is driven by the mechanical automatic manufacture ultra-thin Calibre BVL 138 movement.
To make the watch even more special, in just two essential graphic elements, Tadao Ando expresses his vision of time on a case made from black ceramic and featuring a transparent caseback bearing the architect’s signature. Last but not least, the watch is fastened to its wearer’s wrist with a black ceramic bracelet with a ceramic triple blade folding clasp and sandblasted finishing.
All things considered, it’s safe to say that
Tadao Ando’s architectural creations—from the shapes, volumes, materials and spatial design that guide his work—reveal clear affinities with the Octo Finissimo collection. As such, the new Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando limited series, which is imbued with a resolutely Japanese spirit, successfully constructs and interprets time in the most refined way possible.
“While the theme of time remains central, Tadao Ando picks up the concept of mikazuki, which is dear to the Japanese construction specialist”