Bvlgari embodies decadence.
When a jeweller enters the watchmaking industry with a view to excel, one can be certain that the watches will be intricate, carefully designed, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Though Bvlgari had introduced watches from the 1940s, being wildly successful with its much-loved Serpenti collection, it only introduced a dedicated section to watches several decades later.
Founded in 1980, Bvlgari Haute Horlogerie SA, is the company’s Swiss subsidiary that is responsible for its watch production. It only made sense for Bvlgari to look to Switzerland when it began to look into timepieces. After all, the Swiss are the finest watchmakers around.
Bvlgari watches, like their jewellery, are works of art. Italian design combines seamlessly with Swiss craftsmanship. The watch components and calibres are developed by the company itself, and each of the watches has highly complex workings and movements.
A Bvlgari watch is one that is truly unique in design and functioning, and all the better for it.
There are a number of collections that the company produces, and they are all luxury watches. Just to emphasize the kind of opulence it stands for, we’ve put together a list of the 5 most expensive watches produced by Bvlgari that are available online on Ethos.
- Bvlgari Diva Pink Gold
The Diva is one of Bvlgari’s most striking collections, and naturally, one of their most expensive. Their timepieces for women have a long legacy, having been around since the 1940s. The Diva collection was designed to embody Italian femininity, and does it with flair.
This particular watch has a white mother of pearl dial covered with scratch-resistant sapphire glass. The accuracy of the watch is ensured with its quartz movement.
The simplicity of the dial is to offset the ornate bezel, which is the metal around the dial.
The Diva Rose Gold has a floral inspired bezel set with round-cut diamonds along the inner rim and brilliant-cut diamonds at intervals, between the ‘petals’, which are made of mother-of-pearl. The affixed rubellites are also round-cut; all of this is set in a case that measure 39mm across.
The case and the buckle are made of 18ct pink gold, and the strap is made of gorgeous satin.
- Octo Retrogradi 43mm
Among Bvlgari’s more avant-garde designs, the Octo Retrogadi is a break away from their traditional selection of high-end watches for men. Named ‘Octo’ because of the eight sections that make up the watch case, this collection is precisely calibrated to give the impression of a man of substance.
The Retrogadi is strongly inspired by automobile dashboard, and true to this, has a retrograde indicator that passes over the pre-defined section at the bottom of the dial. This is co-ordinated with the jumping hour feature that shows the time in digits in the window at the 12 o’clock position. This alone makes it one of Bvlgari’s more complicated watches.
Antique gold finishing, a black ceramic bezel and transparent case back makes this a visually interesting watch. This is only compounded by its lacquered dial and steel, folding buckle. From its form to its function, the Octo Retrogradi is an arresting watch.
- Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas Pink Gold
The Serpenti Tubogas combines two of Bvlgari’s most iconic collections.
The first of the Serpenti watches were designed in the 1940s while the Tubogas collection, using the ‘gas-pipe’ technique, was revived in the 1970s. Both were incredibly popular and coveted.
Bvlgari’s decision to combine the aesthetics of the two leads into a watch shaped like the eternally mesmerising snake with all the flexibility of the Tubogas design is ingenious. Its classic design made contemporary and exquisite.
This model works on a quartz movement, and has a steel, curved case that measures 35mm. The bracelet is coiled 18ct pink gold and steel, while the bezel and crown are plain 18ct pink gold. The crown is topped with cabochon-cut pink rubellite that adds an interesting splash of colour to an otherwise sleek watch.
The dial is silver opaline with hand-applied indexes.
- Octo Maserati
In collaboration with Maserati, this watch from the automobile inspired Octo collection is a limited-edition model.
It has the unique Velocissimo caliber that lends it a precision unmatched by other models, and its workings can be viewed through the semi-transparent back case. The inscription on the back reads “1 OUT OF 1914”.
The blue dial is lacquered and polished with hand-applied indexes, and held in place with a tachometric bezel, and the crown is set with ceramic. The integrated alligator strap has a steel, folding buckle.
The watch also has integrated chronograph and date functions.
- Bvlgari Bvlgari 33MM
The Bvlgari Bvlgari collection was launched in 1977, to meet the overwhelming clamour for the Bvlgari Roma watches that were given as Christmas presents to select customers in 1975.
This was the collection where the Bvlgari logo was first utilized as an important design element, and the tradition has continued ever since. Reminiscent of Ancient Rome’s coinage, the design of the Bvlgari collection made them an absolute favourite of watch aficionados everywhere.
This model has mechanical movements with automatic winding set in a 33mm steel case. The bezel is made of 18ct pink gold, and the strap is both steel and 18ct pink gold.
The dial is made of mother-of-pearl and with diamond indexes, and has an understated power to it.
And there you have it! Five of the most expensive watches sold by Bvlgari today, which truly embody luxury and style.
