Introducing Bulgari Introduces Two New Octo Finissimos, Now With A Carbon Case

Bulgari is continuing to expand its Octo Finissimo collection, introducing the new "CarbonGold" Automatic and Perpetual Calendar. In a first for the Octo Finissimo, the pair of new releases features a carbon case, topped off with a rose gold crown and carbon dials with matching gold-colored accents. It's just the latest example of Bulgari's willingness to experiment with new materials within its successful Octo Finissimo lineup. 

Bulgari introduced its first Carbon Gold watch in 1993, and now it's bringing a carbon case to the Octo Finissimo in both an automatic and perpetual calendar. Both feature an anthracite-colored carbon case and bracelet with a matte finish. The "gold" comes from the rose gold crown, set with a black ceramic insert. This is complemented by matching rose-colored hands and indices on the carbon dial. Both cases measure 40mm in diameter and, true to the Finissimo name, are ultra-thin. 

The perpetual calendar features Bulgari's caliber BVL 305, the thinnest perpetual calendar in the world since it was introduced in 2021, measuring just 2.75mm in thickness (or thinness). It powers a familiar display, highlighted by a retrograde date arcing over the top of the dial and a retrograde leap year at the bottom. Meanwhile, the CarbonGold Automatic is powered by the micro-rotor caliber BVL 138, with its signature offset sub seconds at 7 o'clock. 

The polished rose gold crown is the only solid gold on either of these new Octo Finissimo CarbonGold watches – the dial and hands are all gold colored. The Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic has an MSRP of $26,800, while the CarbonGold Perpetual Calendar costs $89,000. 

From the Bulgari Aluminum to this new pair of CarbonGold Octo Finissimos, and much further back than that, Bulgari has always shown a willingness to experiment with materials. It's something that's also helped set the Octo Finissimo apart from its competitors as a modern sports watch: Get it in steel, titanium, ceramic, gold (especially yellow gold), and now, carbon. Everyone from Doxa to Hublot to yes, Unimatic and Hodinkee has introduced watches in carbon over the past few years. 

But a carbon case feels especially at home with the Octo Finissimo. As Fabrizio Buonamassa once explained, the pursuit of thinness was not a goal for its own sake, but: "The objective was to enhance the dynamic tension, this unique proposition between having a watch that was, when viewed straight on, very muscular and even aggressive, yet when you turned it on its side, it was really surprising in how thin it was." Carbon – strong, durable, and lightweight – has similar properties. From afar, carbon cases look modern, aggressive, and even brutalist. But pick a carbon case up, and it's surprisingly lightweight. 

Of course, the anthracite carbon is complemented nicely by the rose gold accents in these new CarbonGold models. While the pricing represents a healthy premium over, say, the titanium equivalents – the titanium Automatic has a price of $15,900, while the titanium QP has an MSRP of $71,000 – it's not out of line with the premium pricing seen on other carbon-cased watches. 

Brand: Bulgari
Model: Octo Finissimo
Reference Number: 103779 (automatic); 103778 (perpetual calendar)

Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 6.9mm (automatic); 7.6mm (QP)
Case Material: "Carbongold," carbon case, rose gold crown with black ceramic insert
Dial Color: carbon dial with gold-colored hands and indices
Indexes: gold-colored
Water Resistance: 100m (automatic); 30m (QP)
Strap/Bracelet: Carbon bracelet with 3-blade folding buckle (automatic) or folding clasp in steel with DLC coating (QP)

Caliber: Caliber BVL 138
Functions: Time only
Diameter: 36.6mm
Thickness: 2.23mm
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour
Jewels: 31
Additional Details: Platinum micro-rotor

Caliber: Caliber BVL 305
Functions: Perpetual calendar with retrograde date and leap year
Diameter: 36.6mm
Thickness: 2.75mm
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour
Jewels: 30

Price: $26,800 (automatic); $89,000 (perpetual calendar)
Limited Edition: No