In the complex and highly demanding world of watchmaking, Bulgari stands as one of the few companies able to design, construct and assemble its own movements ranging from three-hand automatic movements and extra-thin manual wind calibers to elaborate chiming complications as well as sophisticated tourbillons.
Bulgari’s modern capabilities to support its recent rise to the top of the watchmaking pyramid are spread across the Jura region of Switzerland; its dial making plant “Bulgari Manufacture de Cadrans” at La Chaux- de-Fonds, integrated into the group since 2005, produces exquisite dials in accordance with the highest technical standards and in line with the elaborate designs that have made Bulgari famous with collectors worldwide.
In the same line, due to the ownership of its own case and bracelet making factory, located in the town of Saignelegier, noble raw metals such as gold, platinum and steel are converted into wonderful pieces of wrist art following the amazing Italian design keys and styles provided by in-house head of design Fabrizio Buonamassa and his team. Bulgari is able to interpret with absolute fidelity and in a modern key the history and art of timeless Rome as shown in the many angles and step levels of the Octo case, for instance.
The Crown Jewel of Bulgari’s Haute Horlogerie assets sits in the lovely village of Le Sentier, where using modern technology, represented by complex numerical control machines and spark erosion devices, highly trained technicians are able to transform metal rods into tiny and functional watch components that are later hand finished and assembled using ancestral time honored manual skills. Later, at the dedicated ateliers, these components are used to hand build calibers of great value and complexity, reaching the zenith at the chiming atelier where three of the most respected watchmakers construct and test movements such as the manufacture movement 3300, unique due to the presence of a carillon, capable of producing a melody to express time, along with a 60-second tourbillon. The level of technical dexterity and experience required for the construction of a movement of this type is so high that there are only 10 watchmakers able to perform this artistic expression, Bulgari has three of this select group of watchmakers present at its chiming atelier.
The final element of Bulgari´s Haute Horlogerie strategic investment is its modern facility in Neuchâtel where all final components and subsystems are assembled and cased, with the exception of high-complication watches, by a dedicated team of experts in accordance with Bulgari’s high quality standards. In certain instances, Bulgari Neuchâtel is able to integrate successfully Haute Joaillerie creations with modern watchmaking as special requests from sophisticated clients are carefully built in collaboration with Bulgari’s goldsmiths from its atelier in Rome.
The ability of these assets to work as a unified and well-orchestrated team has been decisive in propelling Bulgari to new heights that allow its creative force to become one of the most important brands in the watchmaking universe in the 21st century.
