A one-of-a-kind model created for Bulgari's first participation in the charity auction "Only Watch"

Jul 10, 2021

A world record. An extremely rare metal with a beautiful bluish-gray color. A one-of-a-kind creation.

Bvlgari, participating in the Only Watch charity auction for the first time, has created the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar Tantalum. Only Watch is a watch auction that supports research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and each auction brings together unique creations from exceptional brands. To uphold this tradition, Bvlgari, participating for the first time, is offering the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar Tantalum. This one-of-a-kind model reflects the characteristics of previous Octo Finissimo auctions. The manufacture movement features a perpetual calendar, one of the most intricate complications, displaying all relevant calendar indications until February 2100. The Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar, which set a seventh world record, was released in 2021 and is available in a 5.8 mm-thick titanium or platinum case. However, for Only Watch, Bvlgari has chosen tantalum, a rare metal with unique and special properties. Highly corrosion-resistant and extremely biocompatible, tantalum is used in medical engineering, the nuclear industry, and electronics. With a density of 16.6 g per square centimeter, it is twice as heavy as steel. The tantalum used by Bvlgari for the Only Watch models boasts absolute purity, approaching 100%.

Tantalum is a metal discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg. Its name comes from Tantalus, the son of Zeus and the nymph Pluto and king of Lydia in Greek mythology. In the myth, Tantalus displeased the gods and was sentenced to eternal torment as punishment. This is the "Tantalus Torment," in which one desires something but can never have it.


Tantalum is twice as hard as titanium, and as its name suggests, it is a difficult material to machine. This means that machining tantalum requires careful consideration of the machine program, the tools used, and the milling tool's rotational speed. Incidentally, it takes four times longer to make a tantalum case than a gold one. At the heart of this model is an astonishingly compact caliber, just 2.75 mm thick. This caliber powers all of the perpetual calendar functions, including the hour and minute hands, as well as the retrograde date, day of the week, month, and leap year displays. Three correctors allow adjustment of the date (at 2 o'clock), month (at 4 o'clock), and day of the week (between 8 and 9 o'clock). The Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar Tantalum exhibited at Only Watch features a deep blue dial evoking the color of this metal. The November graphic design, reflecting the purpose of this unique creation, uses the symbolic color to represent the abbreviation "Only Watch." Tantalum watches are therefore extremely rare and highly sought after. Add to that a unique, world-record-holding complication and Torment will see the watch fall into someone's hands...and that is the noblest of goals.

【Product Overview】
Case: 40mm diameter, 5.80mm thick tantalum case, tantalum crown, skeletonized back
Dial: Blue lacquer dial
Caliber: BVL305 mechanical manufacture movement, automatic winding, 2.75mm thick, hours, minutes, date, day of the week, month, leap year retrograde display
Power reserve: Approximately 60 hours
Bracelet: Alligator leather strap, tantalum pin buckle
Water resistance: 30m

Contact: Bvlgari Japan
03-6362-0100
https://www.bulgari.com/ja-jp/



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