Bulgari Has Brought A Line Of Familiar Classics Back To Its Line-Up

Bulgari has brought a line of familiar classics back to its line-up, tweaked this time for the contemporary and discerning watch connoisseur

- Jamie Tan

When Bulgari introduced its first timepiece with an aluminium construction in 1998, the luxury watch industry had a very different landscape. Watch designs back then were still fairly conservative, and the fad to develop increasingly crazier super complications was not due to arrive for nearly another decade.

It took confidence – and boldness – to release a timepiece in such a material. Bulgari was, after all, relying solely on the strength of its designs by doing so; a luxury watch in something as common as aluminium didn’t just lack the inherent value that something else in gold or platinum had, but also demanded a change in mindset to be appreciated. This complete departure was a strong statement from a house that was better known for its usage of precious stones and metals, whether in watchmaking or high jewellery.

With the benefit of hindsight, Bulgari’s decision to do so was a prescient one. The current ubiquity of “alternative” materials ranging from composites to tantalum can be attributed to the experimentations that have taken place over the past few decades.

Bulgari was, of course, one of the pioneers that demonstrated the viability of these avant-garde materials and designs. Far from quitting while it was ahead, however, the house continues to push the boundaries of watch design today with timepieces such as the Octo Finissimo series, which presents different guises depending on its material.

As for aluminium? It remains a staple, with the new Bulgari Aluminium line marking the latest iterations of its usage in the brand’s watches.