Italian luxury brand, Bulgari has created the world’s thinnest mechanical watch. Called the Octo Finissimo Ultra, it measures just 1.8mm thick. To put that into perspective, a 50sen coin is 1.92mm thick while two stacked Touch n’ Go cards come in at 2mm. So, wearing the watch would feel more like a thin bracelet than an actual watch.
Only 10 Octo Finissimo Ultra will be made, with each costing USD440,000 (MYR1.86 million). So how did Bulgari navigate around the durability shortcomings of the watch being 1.8mm thick? Well, to prevent the 40mm-wide octagonal case from flexing and bending, it is made from sandblasted titanium. To further increase structural support, the back is made from tungsten carbide, the same material used for armour piercing ammunition in guns.
Moreover, to fit the 170 components that make up the timepiece into a body that is only 1.8mm thick, Bulgari watchmakers had to integrate all the components as part of the body itself, making it a single piece. This is unlike conventional watches where each mechanical part is installed into the case, one by one.
Another problem that needed to be solved is the perpendicularly mounted crown that is used to adjust time and wind the springs that power the mechanical movements. If it’s too small, it will be hard to grip, so Bulgari opted to go with thin thumbwheels on each side of the watch case. On a full wind, the Octo Finissimo Ultra can run up to 50 hours.
Now, it’s time to address the Non-fungible token (NFT) QR code on the face of the watch. It is linked to NFT artworks which are used as a means to verify the authenticity of each of the 10 pieces. But was it necessary to put the QR code right on the faceplate? The digital aspect of the QR code just doesn’t gel well with the overall analogue and mechanical nature of the watch. I guess Bulgari watchmakers didn’t print the QR code on the back because sweat and abrasion from the skin might etch away the print over time.
Regardless, it is still an eyesore for anyone who appreciates beautiful timepiece craftsmanship. But for those who can get past the NFT QR code, they will be getting a timepiece that is an engineering marvel. You will appreciate all the intricate details that make the watch tick.
Before the Octo Finissimo Ultra came around, the title of the world’s thinnest mechanical watch belonged to Swiss luxury watchmaker Piaget with its Altiplano Ultimate Concept. Coming in at just 2mm thick, it impressed the horological community back in 2018. After two years since its introduction, the watch went on sale in 2020.
Though smartwatches are steadily gaining in popularity, they cannot be considered an heirloom like a mechanical watch can. Watchmaker Patek Philippe’s famous advertising slogan is “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”
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