Bvlgari "Bvlgari Bvlgari 50th Anniversary Limited Edition" An icon celebrating Italian style for 50 years

This year marks 50 years since the birth of the model that became the prototype for the Bvlgari Bvlgari collection. To commemorate this occasion, the Bvlgari Bvlgari 50th Anniversary Limited Edition is being released. The choice of a three-hand model, rather than a tourbillon or repeater, is a homage to the original 1977 model and a return to Italian style. Its simplicity makes the design all the more striking.

Choosing marble: a unique Bvlgari savoir-faire

　It doesn't get much more Bulgari-esque than this. Like the original, the Bulgari Bulgari 50th Anniversary model doesn't feature the Bulgari Bulgari logo on the bezel. However, the green marble on the dial lets you know that this watch is made by Bulgari.

　In 1975, Gianni Bulgari, then the leader of Bulgari, wanted to create a wristwatch to give to a customer. The resulting design was a completely new digital watch with "BVLGARI ROMA" engraved on the bezel. Two years later, he decided to remodel this model into a regular wristwatch and entrusted the exterior design to the famous Gérald Genta. Genta is often thought of as a genius designer, but having also worked on exterior design at Omega, he also excelled in incorporating designs into products. This is likely why Bulgari entrusted its watch development to Genta's company at the time. Genius Genta not only skillfully translated Gianni Bulgari's original idea, but also designed a dial for an analog wristwatch featuring long Arabic numerals at 12 and 6. The result was the "Bulgari Bulgari" in 1977.

　However, it was Gianni Bulgari who came up with the idea of ​​putting the logo on the bezel, and the first metal bracelet was also designed by the Bulgari Watch Design Center in Rome. It is no wonder that Fabrizio Bonamassa Stigliani, who currently heads Bulgari's watch design department, said, "(Bulgari Bulgari) was created by Gianni Bulgari and Gerald Genta."

　While adhering to the classic thin dress watch formula, the Bvlgari Bvlgari added a new twist with a thick bezel and Arabic numerals (adding Arabic numerals to a dress watch was an unprecedented idea), and it quickly gained worldwide popularity. The success of this model helped Bvlgari go beyond being just a jeweler.

　Fifty years after the 1975 digital watch, Fabrizio has completed the Bvlgari Bvlgari 50th anniversary model. This model not only returns to the original 1977 design, but also proudly proclaims its origins with an Italian marble dial. The deep green Verde Alpi marble is truly symbolic of Italian marble. The company will be auctioning the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Marble with a marble exterior at the 2024 Only Watch charity auction. This was made possible by a new technique of attaching Verde Alpi marble to a titanium exterior. This time, Bvlgari has repurposed it for the dial. Fabrizio explains:

"Marble is a material that has always played an important role in the history of Italian art. It was used in statues, monuments and church architecture during the Renaissance, and even by the Egyptians during the Classical period. Verde Alpi, the Italian marble we used this time, is unique in its color and texture. We wanted to combine the innovative spirit of BVLGARI BVLGARI, created by Gianni Bulgari and Gerald Genta, with traditional Italian savoir-faire."

　Hearing what he says, it's easy to understand why the logo was omitted from the dial. In other words, it wasn't included for the sake of a faithful reproduction, but to emphasize the dial. Normally, using such a dial on a watch is considered taboo because, depending on the pattern, it can significantly impair legibility. However, Bulgari has chosen to use it, and legibility is not impaired in any way. What Fabrizio means by "Italian savoir-faire" includes not only processing techniques, but also the sense of cutting out and placing the pieces in the appropriate places, taking into account the pattern.

　At first glance, the 50th anniversary model appears to be a different color. However, its extraordinary presence makes it worthy of being called a commemorative model. The limited run of 150 pieces is small, but it makes sense considering the effort that went into selecting the marble.