Italian luxury brand Bulgari has created the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, the Octo Finissimo Ultra, which is only 1.8mm thick!
In terms of thickness, a 50-cent coin is 1.92mm thick, and two Touch n’ Go cards stacked together are 2mm. Therefore, wearing it feels more like wearing a thin bracelet than a real watch.
-From SoyaCincau-
The Octo Finissimo Ultra, which is limited to 10 pieces, is priced at US$440,000 each; how did Bulgari overcome the durability of this 1.8mm watch?
It’s made from sandblasted titanium to prevent bending of the 40mm-wide octagonal case, and for further structural support, the back is made of tungsten carbide, the same material used for armor-piercing rounds in firearms.
-From SoyaCincau-
Furthermore, in order to fit the 170 parts that make up the watch into a body that is only 1.8mm thick, Bulgari’s watchmakers had to integrate all the parts as part of the body itself, making it a whole.
This is different from traditional mechanical watches, where each mechanical part is installed in the case one by one.
-From SoyaCincau-
Another problem to be solved is the vertically mounted crown, which is used to adjust the time and to wind the spring of the mechanical movement. If it’s too small it can be difficult to hold, so Bulgari opted to use thin thumbwheels on each side of the case.
In the case of full winding, the Octo Finissimo Ultra can run for 50 hours.
-From SoyaCincau-
Also, to keep up with the pace of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a unique QR code is printed on the ratchet of each watch barrel, ensuring that every buyer gets an exclusive piece of NFT art .
At the same time, the owner of each ultra-thin watch can access an exclusive digital world through a QR code, which includes digital content such as access clips, watch production clips, and a three-dimensional tour of the virtual movement.
But is it necessary to put the QR code directly on the panel? The numbers in the QR code do not match the overall model and mechanical nature of the watch.
I think Bulgari’s watchmakers didn’t print the QR code on the back because sweat and skin abrasion might corrode the QR code over time.
Regardless, QR codes are an eyesore for anyone who appreciates beautiful watchmaking. However, for those familiar with NFTs, they will get a watch that is a marvel of craftsmanship and even appreciate all the intricate details that make the watch work.
Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept -摘自SoyaCincau-
Before Octo Finissimo Ultra, the thinnest instrument watch in the world was made by Swiss luxury watchmaker PiagetAltiplano Ultimate Conceptwhich is only 2mm thick, impressed the watch industry as early as 2018 and goes on sale in 2020, two years following its release.
While smartwatches are growing in popularity, they cannot be considered family heirlooms like mechanical watches, like the slogan of watchmaker Patek Philippe — “Nobody really owns Patek Philippe, it’s just for the next generation.” Just keep it.”
