Bulgari has once again pushed the envelope with its latest release, the Octo Finissimo x Laurent Grasso Edition. A collaboration with French conceptual artist Laurent Grasso, this watch brings an ethereal, otherworldly touch to the Octo Finissimo series, fusing high-concept art with Bulgari’s watchmaking precision. Grasso, known for his surreal explorations of the unseen and intangible, translates his fascination with clouds into a dreamy, iridescent display on the Octo Finissimo’s dial, offering a view that feels as fleeting and mysterious as time itself.
The Octo Finissimo isn’t just a collection of beautiful watches; it’s Bulgari’s triumph in the world of ultra-thin watchmaking, holding a remarkable nine world records for its engineering marvels. Originally launched a decade ago with the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, this model has evolved into a benchmark for contemporary design, blending mechanical mastery with bold geometry. Since 2017, the Automatic model in the Octo Finissimo lineup has been the canvas for creative partnerships, from collaborations with architects like Tadao Ando and Kazuyo Sejima to tattoo artist Mo Coppoletta. Laurent Grasso’s involvement continues this legacy with an aesthetic that moves beyond traditional timekeeping into something more philosophical and evocative.
Grasso’s artistic universe often plays with ambiguous and surreal concepts, from floating eyes to ghostly clouds, challenging the way we perceive reality and time. His fascination with scientific phenomena and the paranormal is evident in his work, which questions how we define space and time. Clouds hold a special meaning for Grasso, often symbolising a bridge between the earthly and celestial. For the Octo Finissimo, Grasso has created a rainbow-like cloud formation on the dial, capturing a moment suspended in time. As Grasso describes it, “The particles in suspension and myriad frozen droplets diffract light, rendering the cloud iridescent with multiple colours.” This poetic vision transforms the watch into a piece of wearable art, where time becomes as elusive as a drifting cloud.
Design is at the heart of the Octo Finissimo, thanks in no small part to Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari’s Executive Director of Product Creation. Stigliani, a master of blending classical Roman architecture with edgy design, has shaped the Octo Finissimo into a modern icon. In the Laurent Grasso Edition, this spirit is preserved and enhanced, with a deep midnight blue colour chosen to emphasise the mysterious quality of Grasso’s cloud. The 40mm sandblasted titanium case, coated in matte blue PVD, carries this midnight tone across the bracelet and dial, creating a seamless flow that feels light and ethereal—a nod to the thinness of the case, measuring just 5mm.
The dial is minimalist, in true Grasso style, with no markers or branding to distract from the artwork. Only the three blue PVD-coated hands float above the cloud formation, which is screen-printed in metallic pigments on the dial’s lower half, resembling the soft tones of a sunset. It’s an elegant choice that lets the art speak for itself, allowing wearers to lose themselves in the details of the cloud’s rainbow-tinted form.
Flipping the watch over, the exhibition caseback reveals the intricate BVL 138 automatic movement, a testament to Bulgari’s engineering finesse. This ultra-thin movement, developed and crafted in Bulgari’s Le Sentier workshop, is visible through a circular opening that highlights the platinum 950 micro-rotor, powering the movement with a generous 60-hour power reserve. The movement is hand-finished with Geneva stripes, circular graining, and bevelled angles, adding a layer of craftsmanship to this already remarkable piece. Grasso’s signature and the silhouette of his cloud add a final touch, making this edition truly one-of-a-kind.
Only 200 pieces of the Octo Finissimo x Laurent Grasso Edition will be available, adding a layer of exclusivity to this already covetable watch. Each piece comes in a matching blue presentation box, a final detail that reinforces the watch’s unique aesthetic. Priced at CHF 18,900 (₹18.2 lakh), this watch is as much a collector’s item as it is a work of art. For those interested, more details can be found on Bulgari’s website—but act quickly, as this edition is bound to drift away as swiftly as Grasso’s evanescent cloud.
