"Man is both the marble and the sculptor". This quote, attributed to Michelangelo, who lived in Rome, Bvlgari’s hometown, befits Bvlgari’s new marble watches – as well as a human being’s potential of self-transformation. At the opening day of Geneva Watch Days Bvlgari released the Octo Finissimo Marble Tourbillon 104257, a quadruple all-in, when it comes to exquisite materials, elegance, geometry, and haute horlogerie. Let’s start with the dial: A sliver is cut from so-called Blue blu Incanto marble sourced from Italy’s finest quarries. This has been combined by grey applied indexes and grey hands circling the dial, which has a round aperture at six o’clock showcasing a flying tourbillon. All this in a watch that is a mere 5.75 millimetres thin – possibly thanks to Bvlgari’s in-house expertise in ultra-thin movements. The movement inside the marble tourbillon is only 1.95 millimetres thin. This manually wound movement called BVL 268 was first released in 2014, the same year that Octo Finissimo – a combination of Italian elegance and Swiss know-how – came to market.
In its 11 years of existence the Octo Finissimo has become no less than a contemporary icon. Some might argue that 11 years is too soon to be an icon. And if that is your point of view, I think we can agree that Octo Finissimo is an icon in the making? Either way, the stepped case is a geometrical exercise that manages to mix the three shapes of successful watches: Round, square, and octagonal. However, what might come across as a horological design cocktail is, according to Bvlgari’s design team, actually inspired by Roman classical architecture. The example the brand likes to mention is the secular Basilica Maxentius in Rome, which was the Roman Forum’s largest meeting hall when it opened in the year 312 AD.
The space- or ocean-blue marble and the grey tones used atop the dial harmoniously complement the grey-toned platinum case – and if you have followed the trends of 2025, you should not be surprised by yet another platinum release: When it comes to materials, platinum has become the new black in haute horlogerie.
The Octo Finissimo Marble Tourbillon 104257 is the second example we see in 2025 from Bvlgari with a marble dial. On April 1st Bvlgari presented another Octo Finissimo Marble Tourbillon with the reference 104171. Here the brittle sliver of marble called Verde Alpi is of a vivid, jungle-green hue, and combined with a yellow gold case, this watch is a hitherto unseen exercise in classical opulence in a contemporary shape. Using yellow gold (which is back after almost two decades of the pink gold dominance), Bvlgari’s watchmakers were able to make it even thinner. This watch is only 4.85 millimetres, which is 16% thinner than the platinum version.
Both watches that come in a limited edition of 30 pieces have alligator straps in a colour matching the marble, and a transparent case back. Through this you can enjoy mechanical ingenuity decorated with Geneva stripes, circular grains, bevelling, and perlage.
Marble is also used on four models celebrating the 50th anniversary of the BVLGARI BVLGARI model. The aforementioned thin slivers of Verdi Alpi and Blu Incanto hues are also used for three of these models, but it doesn’t stop there. For the fourth model with the engraved bezel Bvlgari also introduces a third marble colour: Azzuro Infinito.This is an ice-blue hue, which could be taken from a sun-bleached polaroid of a perfect day at the beach.
So, Bvlgari as a brand has proven in a practical and elegant manner that man can be both the marble and the sculptor. Now it is your turn. What is your inner marble that should be delicately transformed into a piece of art?
