The Bvlgari Aluminum Gran Turismo Limited Edition Model is crafted to capture the hearts of Gran Turismo fans! [Hands-on Review]

The Bvlgari Aluminium series was released in 1998. This time, we'd like to present a wearable review of the Bvlgari Aluminium Gran Turismo Limited Edition, a collaboration model with the PlayStation® real driving simulator Gran Turismo. Based on the stylishly evolved Aluminium Chronograph, which was updated in 2023, this model has been further refined to become a luxury watch for connoisseurs.

A collaboration that motorsports fans will adore

　One day in early autumn, I received a phone call from the editorial department of Kronos Japan.

　"Would you like to talk to Yamauchi Kazunori?"

　It was as if he was inviting me to a local cafe, but it turned out that Bulgari had arranged an interview with Yamauchi Kazunori to coincide with the announcement of the "Bulgari Aluminium Gran Turismo Limited Edition Model," and asked me to go and cover the story.

　Yamauchi is the creator of the Gran Turismo series and currently serves as the president and representative director of Polyphony Digital, the company that produces the series.

　I have been passionate about motorsports since I was a child, and although I have had little interest in video games, I have played "Gran Turismo" since the first game (1997). To me, Yamauchi is literally like a god.

　There was no way I could refuse, so I accepted without hesitation.

　This was my first encounter with the Bulgari Aluminum Gran Turismo limited edition model.

　For more details about this interview,Launch Feature ArticleYou can read it at:

　Meeting the much-admired Mr. Yamauchi was a priceless and precious experience. However, I had no idea at the time that this experience would eventually put a strain on my finances at the end of the year.

Introducing the "Bvlgari Aluminum Gran Turismo Limited Edition Model"! Comments from Kazunori Yamauchi and others

http://www.webchronos.net/features/104789/

A design that incorporates the "Gran Turismo" feel that only fans will notice

　The biggest highlight of this work is its delicate design, which enhances the motorsport feel while maintaining elegance.

　The base model is the Bvlgari Aluminium Chronograph, which was redesigned in June 2023. It is equipped with the Caliber B381, and the case diameter is 1mm larger than the previous model equipped with the Caliber B130. The increased distance between the subdials allows for a layout that makes full use of the dial.

　In many modern chronographs, where the case diameter has been increased while the movement remains small, the subdials tend to be closer to the center, but the dial of the model equipped with Cal. B381 achieves a layout balance similar to that of chronographs from up until the 1970s, which alone makes it a rare find.

　In addition, this model incorporates a bright yellow color inspired by the dashboards of Italian cars from the 1990s, and includes a tachymeter scale around the outermost edge of the dial, giving it a design that is more conscious of the racing scene.

　However, there is no easily recognizable symbol such as the Gran Turismo logo printed on the surface. At first glance, it may be confusing as to where the collaboration element lies, but what is noteworthy is the font (typeface) on the dial.

　The dial of the regular Bvlgari Aluminum Chronograph combines two fonts: a long sans serif font used at the 12 o'clock position and a square sans serif font used on the inset dial. On the other hand, the dial of this model uses a flat sans serif font for all the printing except for the logo, giving it a more racy impression.

　This is an original font used for the speedometer and shift indicator on the Gran Turismo game screen, and it incorporates the only request that Yamauchi conveyed to Bulgari.

　When it comes to collaborations between the automotive industry and watches, the mainstream format is one in which the double-name logo is printed on the dial, but I personally prefer a subtle design arrangement like this one, which is kept to a level that only fans will notice, as it is easier to wear on a daily basis.

　Turning the watch over, the DLC-treated titanium case back features the "VISION GT" logo, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Vision Gran Turismo program.

　The only place the double name is displayed throughout the entire product is on the case back, which only the owner will see, which is a very clever touch.

High-quality finish utilizing the strengths of in-house exterior production

　The only Bulgari watch I've ever touched is the Octo Finissimo series, and the exceptional exterior quality seen in this series is still present in this model.

　What particularly caught my eye was the detailed construction of the dial.

　The matte black dial of the standard Bvlgari Aluminium Chronograph has been replaced with a metallic dark grey with vertical lines. Rather than the shallow, short hairlines typical of more affordable watches, these lines are deep and long, as if they have been filed.

　The atmosphere is like that of asphalt viewed from a racing car at high speed, which seems to match the concept of this work well.

　All of the printing on the dial is done in yellow with a tachometer, but even the smallest details, such as the tachymeter and second scale, are extremely three-dimensional, with no transparency, distortion of the shape, or paint bleeding into the vertical lines.

　In terms of dial quality, it would not be inferior to watches costing twice the price.

　The various needles are also very elaborately made.

　The hour and minute hands are matte silver only near the base, while the rest of the hands are painted black and then coated with yellow Super-LumiNova.

　The chronograph second hand is entirely matte silver with only the tip painted yellow, while the other small second and totalizer hands are entirely painted yellow, each with a different finish.

　The aluminum case and buckle, and the DLC-coated titanium crown and pushers all have a matte finish, giving them a sharp and refined look.

　The middle case with integrated lugs has a complex design, but according to information from Bulgari, it is a one-piece molding process.

　This incredible processing precision is unique to the company, which has promoted in-house production of cases and dials and made huge investments in manufacturing facilities.

　The FKM rubber strap is compression molded using a mold, which creates parting lines on the sides, but by aligning most of the parting lines with the edge on the back, they are made as inconspicuous as possible. This attention to detail is impressive.

It's so light you'll forget you're wearing it, and it feels just like a high-end device when you operate it.

　The first thing I noticed when wearing this piece was how light it was.

　The main material is aluminum, which has a specific gravity that is only about one-third that of stainless steel, so it's only natural that the total weight is kept to 80g (actual measured value).

　When it's this lightweight, you don't feel any inertia even when swinging your arm back and forth, so it's so comfortable you'll forget you're wearing it.

　The case packaging is also more compact than it looks.

　When viewed from an angle, the cylindrical shape makes it appear quite thick, but in reality it is only 12mm thick, so it can be easily inserted and removed from the cuffs of a shirt or jacket without getting caught on them.

　The visibility of the dial, which uses yellow letters, was better than expected, and there were no situations where it was difficult to read, either indoors or outdoors.

　However, as a result of the wider bezel required to accommodate the chronograph, shadows are cast on the outer edge of the dial when direct sunlight shines in, making the tachymeter somewhat unusable outdoors.

　The comfort of this watch is largely due to the FKM rubber strap, which is of just the right length.

　When securing a strap with a buckle, the strap overlaps in the area from the buckle to the strap keeper, creating an area that is difficult to bend, so the buckle position needs to be adjusted closer to the 6 o'clock position. However, the strap on this watch was a perfect fit for my wrist, which is 16cm in circumference.

　What's more, there are two joints with built-in aluminum links at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions, which allow the strap to bend to an angle close to a right angle, eliminating the stiff feeling that is typical of rubber straps.

　The movement is a general-purpose watch with a chronograph module added. The review unit achieved an average daily rate of within +1 second when worn on the right wrist, demonstrating impressive accuracy.

　Although the power reserve is short at approximately 42 hours, the winding efficiency is extremely good, and it never stopped even after wearing it for 10 days, mainly for desk work.

　What surprised me even more was the feel of each part. Setting the hands, in particular, was extremely smooth and consistent, with no unpleasant vibrations. Perhaps the watch's non-screw-down crown, which makes it water resistant to 100 meters, absorbs vibrations with its carefully placed gaskets.

　The chronograph pushers are heavy to press, but they are also smoother than expected and don't give off any unpleasant noise.

　Although it is based on an ébauche, the overall feel is very well-crafted.

A genuine luxury watch that rivals high-end models

　Astute readers may have noticed by now, while writing the launch feature article, I ended up wanting the limited edition Bvlgari Aluminium Gran Turismo, and ended up buying this anthracite dial model before anyone else.

　Therefore, the item worn in the review is not a loan item from the brand, but the author's personal item.

　Thanks to this, I was able to check the usage over a long period of time before writing this article.

　Currently, Bulgari appears to be positioning the Bulgari Aluminum series as an entry-level model for men's watches.

　However, this watch is a genuine luxury watch that does not look inferior to so-called high-end models, with a stylish design created in collaboration with Gran Turismo, a high-quality exterior, and a smooth operating feel.

　If you have never tried the Bvlgari Aluminum series before, I highly recommend trying one on your wrist. I'm sure your expectations will be pleasantly surprised.

　Although I hadn't originally planned on buying one, I was completely captivated by it, which put a lot of strain on my wallet, but I told myself that this was also a connection made possible by the editorial department, and decided to enjoy a drive in Gran Turismo 7 with the Bulgari Aluminium Gran Turismo limited edition model strapped to my wrist.