Bvlgari unveils the Octo Roma Blue Carillon Tourbillon, a watch that draws attention with its captivating complex mechanism

Bvlgari unveiled the new Octo Roma Blue Carillon Tourbillon at LVMH Watch Week 2022. Equipped with a complex tourbillon and minute repeater mechanism, the watch's intricate movement can be admired through the openworked dial. Only 30 pieces will be available worldwide.

The artistry of sound created by platinum and titanium

　One of the new models unveiled by Bulgari at LVMH Watch Week 2022, an event where multiple brands unveil new products, is the Octo Roma Blue Carillon Tourbillon. This watch is a complication equipped with a tourbillon and minute repeater.

　Modern interpretation is an essential element for Bvlgari and is utilized in the daily development of watchmaking. This timepiece combines two ancient traditional mechanisms, while expressing them in a modern way through the brand's unique design. It redefines the tradition of watchmaking with modernism.

　The most eye-catching feature of this watch is the skeletonized movement, with bridges dyed blue by carbon-based vacuum deposition. The three-hammer hand-wound movement, Cal. BVL428, is 35 mm in diameter, 8.35 mm thick, and is made up of 432 parts.

　Gongs, a crucial component of a striking watch, are crafted by hand through multiple processes. After being cut and filed to shape, they are annealed at approximately 900°C and then placed in a furnace at approximately 500°C to smooth the surface. This process allows the striking mechanism to resonate with a clear sound. Similar to a gong, the resonating tone is adjusted by filing the hammers. The three-hammer carillon produces a three-tone melody, playing "C" for the hours, "E-D-E" for the quarter-minutes, and "E" for the minutes. This mechanism can be operated with a pusher on the left side of the middle case.

　The case surrounding this movement is also ingenious. The platinum case is surrounded by a blue titanium middle case. It is designed to enhance volume and clarity, key elements of a striking watch. The middle case in particular is hollow to maximize sound resonance, with three openings corresponding to the three gongs allowing the sound to resonate outward.

　To effectively transmit the sound, the gong is fixed directly to the case, and by using titanium as the material, it has succeeded in spreading a clear sound. The case back has also been hollowed out and replaced with a titanium grid, which protects the resonating area while transmitting the sound to the outside. The rarity of this watch, limited to 30 pieces worldwide, is also one of the factors that increases its value.