Malachite, a precious stone we know for its shade of deep green, holds many meanings—in 17th century Spain, it was used to protect children from evil spirits and help them sleep. Ancient Egyptians associated stones with the afterlife, representing eternal paradise. Malachite has been used in the most wondrous human creations, such as the “Salon de Malachite” in the Grand Trianon in Versailles, France, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral interior columns or the Catherine Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Often considered “the stone of kings”, Russian tsars often used it in their homes. In high jewellery and watchmaking, the stone is used for its colour and exclusive nature. There is hardly anyone better to bring malachite into a high watchmaking than Bulgari, an Italian high jewellery brand turned record-breaker in watchmaking, which recently released a diamond-set malachite version of its Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire.
Released in 2019 in a sandblasted rose gold and blue version, the Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire now comes in a 44mm platinum case set with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel and lugs. Its middle case, instead of transparent sapphire as with the version from 2019, is now in malachite, as are the hour indexes that stretch out from the calibre, entirely skeletonised. The hour and minute hands are green, as is the alligator leather strap with an 18K white gold folding clasp, also set with baguette-cut diamonds. While the malachite serves as a refreshing and colourful take on this model, the mechanical movement visible through the transparent dial remains the focus, with the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock grabbing all the attention.
The octagonal shape of the Octo Roma is, by now, a very familiar case shape for Bulgari, who still currently holds five world records for thinnest watches in its Octo Finissimo collection. While the Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire Malachite doesn’t itself break any records, it doesn’t exactly need to with its flying tourbillon and malachite stone front and centre—instead, it simply represents with true Italian decadence how Bulgari continues to marry its contemporary design with its high jewellery expertise, backed by watchmaking mechanical knowhow.
Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire Malachite
Case: platinum case set with baguette-cut diamonds (5.69 carats); 18K white gold crown; middle case in malachite
Diameter: 44mm
Movement: Mechanical Manufacture movement with flying tourbillon (manual winding), BVL 206 calibre
Dial: transparent, showcasing 18K white gold calibre decorated with malachite indexes
Functions: hours, minutes
Strap: green alligator leather with 18K white gold folding clasp set with baguette-cut diamonds
