Felix Scholz
There's no doubt that Bulgari like the GPHG. In 2017 they won the men's category for their Octo Finissimo Automatic and the Tourbillon prize for the Finissimo Skeleton.?A few years earlier, in 2014, they took home the Jewellery prize for their Diva High Jewellery Emeralds. Their odds are looking strong for the 2019 edition of the awards too, with five watches shortlisted. Now, it would be crazy for all five watches to win, but much like Katniss Everdeen, we hope the odds are forever in Bulgari's favour.Mechanical Exception Bulgari Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Perpetual CalendarLet's kick off with the big guy. I was pretty lucky to get a look at this incredible watch at Basel earlier in the year given that it's an LE of eight pieces. And given the fact that it packs in a ton of high-end complication (and the repeater sounds beautiful), the big surprise for me was the lightness the carbon case weighs next to nothing. The same can't be said for the price, which is a hefty 820,000 CHF.Ladies Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Pink Gold and DiamondsI'm pretty open to wearing watches made with women in mind, and while I might struggle to pull off a slender, snake-shaped quartz watch, by golly, I'd give it a red-hot go with that stylish and seductive gold bracelet.?Ladies Complication Divas' Dream The Roman Night?Keeping with the feminine theme, but in a more complicated (and gem-set) vein, there's the Divas' Dream The Roman Night, which keeps things celestial with an aventurine mystery dial dotted with diamond constellations.?Chronograph Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT AutomaticFor many, this watch, the latest in Bulgari's unrelenting ultra-thin rampage, was one of the standouts of the entire Basel fair, and a favourite to win its category. Like the rest of the line, it's not a record-breaking watch for the sake of it, but also a genuinely comfortable watch on the wrist?Jewellery Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi RomaniI'm amazed anyone could tell the time on this incredible piece of art surely all those stones are too blinding. How many stones are we talking? Well, so many that it's easiest to talk in weight ?60 carats of diamonds, 35 of sapphires and a single 10-carat Sri Lankan sapphire on the snake's head. Outstanding. Also a cool 1,771,000 CHF.
07.09.19