Abe Hiroshi has been enjoying a string of hits with each film he has appeared in. Having started his career as a fashion model, he has now become one of Japan's leading actors, garnering attention overseas, having attended the Cannes Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival. His latest drama appearance is "Caster," a sharp look at the behind-the-scenes world of the media and how news is reported. The watch Abe wears in the drama is also from Bulgari, a brand with ties to Rome, Italy.
Text by Yukaco Numamoto
Edited by Takashi Tsuchida
Edited by Takashi Tsuchida
[Article published on January 11, 2025]
Abe Hiroshi's love for Bulgari creates a perfect harmony between his tall stature and his large watch
As one of Japan's leading actors, Abe Hiroshi now attends film festivals and events overseas. At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, he wore the Bulgari Octo Originale Ultranero. The Octo Originale has a 41mm case, which is a little large for Japanese people, but Abe, who is 189cm tall and has previously worked as a model, was able to wear it with ease. It was a truly impressive sight.
Launched in 2012, the Bvlgari Octo collection was redesigned by Fabrizio Bonamassa Stigliani based on a model created in 2004 by Gérald Genta, known for designing the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. It is now widely known that the Octo collection is an iconic series that represents the Bvlgari watch collection.
The presence of Bulgari on the wrist of Abe Hiroshi, the shining face of news programs
Abe Hiroshi's latest TV drama is "Caster," currently airing on the TBS network. In this drama, Abe plays a new news anchor who is selected to lead a news program with low ratings. Driven by his belief that "truth moves the world," Abe uses any means necessary to draw those around him in with his overwhelming presence and influence. It's a thrilling story.
Some of the episodes in the play are likely inspired by real events, and the appearance of surprise guests has also attracted attention.
It is very interesting to note that Abe Hiroshi is also a fan of Bulgari in this drama.
"Octo Finissimo" pursues both extreme thinness and practical performance
Due to his role as a news anchor, his hands are often shown in close-up, and on his left arm you can see the Bulgari Octo Finissimo.
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo is a spin-off series added to the Octo collection. Since its introduction in 2014, it has been known for winning numerous watch awards. It overturns the notion that thin watches are unsuitable for everyday wear, and boasts one of the world's most competitive movements for its thinness.
So how did they achieve this thinness? This is one of the reasons why the Octo Finissimo has a large case diameter. By increasing the size of the movement, the components are dispersed and not stacked, achieving thinness. The Octo Finissimo Ultra, announced in spring 2022, is a watch that takes this technique to its limits.
Automatic movement (Cal. BVL138). 36 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Ti case (diameter 40mm, thickness 5.15mm). Water resistant to 30m. Price: 2,486,000 yen (tax included).
The Octo Finissimo Ultra had a case thickness of just 1.8mm, but just three and a half months after its release, the record was broken by the RM UP-01 Ferrari, released by Richard Mille, which had a case thickness of 1.75mm. However, Bvlgari's Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC then broke the world record for the thinnest mechanical wristwatch with a case thickness of 1.7mm, resulting in a close race for the top spot in the thinnest watch competition.
While this record-breaking response certainly attracted attention, the Octo Finissimo collection's true purpose is to create practical, thin watches.
Does Abe Hiroshi have any special feelings for Bulgari, which originated in Rome?
The film "Thermae Romae," in which Abe Hiroshi plays the lead role, is considered one of his most famous works. The story is set in ancient Rome. Perhaps this connection means that Abe Hiroshi has a special attachment to Bulgari, whose birthplace is Rome. Not only has he worn it at the Cannes Film Festival in the past, but he is also wearing it in the film, so one cannot help but feel the strong emotional attachment he feels towards it.
The second Bvlgari Aurora Award was held in 2017. Abe Hiroshi made headlines when he recommended Yamazaki Mari, the author of "Thermae Romae." This award is organized by Bvlgari and selects 10 women who exude exceptional talent and creativity from a variety of fields, including culture, entertainment, politics, economics, medicine, social contribution, and sports. Of course, Abe was photographed wearing a Bvlgari watch.
Although the serialization of Thermae Romae in Comic Beam (Enterbrain) came to an end in April 2013, a sequel set 20 years after the final episode, titled "Thermae Romae 2," will resume in Shonen Jump+ (Shueisha) in February 2024. The serialization is still ongoing as of May 2025. This suggests that a film adaptation may also be in the works.
What will Abe Hiroshi be wearing on his left arm in the film? Let's let our imaginations run wild as we await further news.
He also wore a Bulgari watch at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016!
Abe Hiroshi also wore a Bulgari watch when he was invited to the 69th Cannes Film Festival in May 2016. The watch in question was the Bulgari Octo Originale Ultranero, a new model in the Octo series released in 2016. Based on its color, it can be inferred to be a stainless steel case model with a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. If so, it was released two months before the 69th Cannes Film Festival. This means that Abe Hiroshi was wearing the latest watch at the time on his big day.
The octagonal form embodies Gérald Genta's DNA
Bvlgari is an Italian high jeweler with a long history, founded in 1884. The company began full-scale watchmaking in the 1970s and established the watchmaking company Bvlgari Time in the early 80s. In 2000, it acquired Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth, and in 10, marking its 125th anniversary, it declared itself a watchmaker with its first in-house manufactured movement.
Automatic winding (Cal. BVL193). 28 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 50 hours. SS + DLC case (41mm, thickness 10.6mm). Water resistant to 10 bar.
The Octo first debuted in 2012. It was redesigned by Fabrizio Bonamassa Stigliani based on a 04 model by Gérald Genta, known for the designs of the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The Octo is now an iconic collection that represents Bulgari watches.
