Since its introduction in 2014, the slim and angular Bulgari Octo Finissimo has made itself a genuine contender in the integrated bracelet luxury sports watch segment traditionally dominated by the likes of Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe through a string of world-record-breaking thin designs. While its slate of 2021 additions is perhaps less extreme than previous years, Bulgari has taken 2021 as an opportunity to broaden the variety of the Octo Finissimo stable with a trio of new colorways and materials. The first of these, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT, adds a GMT chronograph movement and a handsome blue dial palette to the stainless steel Octo Finissimo S line introduced in 2020. The three-hand Octo Finissimo S also receives an update with the Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Silvered Dial, bringing a brilliant monochrome look to the breakout stainless steel sports watch. Lastly, the titanium cased Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT line introduces a new dial in classic black and offers a rubber strap option for the first time.

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT is perhaps the most substantial of the new trio, bringing complications to the fan-favorite stainless steel series for the first time. The distinctive Octo Finissimo case form with its terraced angles and round bezel is represented here in a mix of sharp brushing and polished chamfers, although the diameter is increased substantially to 43mm. Coupled with the squared-off design and wide integrated bracelet, this should make for a watch with serious wrist presence despite its slim 8.75mm profile. Like three-hand versions of the Octo Finissimo S, the Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT backs up its sports watch credentials with a solid 100 meters of water resistance courtesy of a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. The iconic octagonal dial of the Octo series is carried over to this new iteration, with elements like the tall applied Arabic numerals at 12 o’clock and the blunted dauphine hands intact. The dial surface itself is a sunburst blue, appearing in initial images as a slightly desaturated cobalt with a dramatically grained sunburst pattern. The silver subdials are fully snailed, with bold blue numerals taking up much of their visual real estate. Interestingly, Bulgari opts to house the GMT complication in the 3 o’clock subdial rather than a central GMT hand, leading to a cleaner and more symmetrical look. The 24-hour hand can be independently advanced by one hour with the use of a smoothly integrated pusher at 9 o’clock.

Behind the sapphire display caseback of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT beats the in-house BVL 318 peripheral rotor automatic GMT chronograph movement. Measuring in at only 3.3mm thick, this ultra-thin movement boasts a 55-hour power reserve at a 21,600 bph beat rate. Naturally, Bulgari pairs the new Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT with its signature integrated stainless steel bracelet, flowing seamlessly into the case with its angular futuristic design. The Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT will be available through authorized dealers in June 2021 at an MSRP of $16,500.

The second addition to the Bulgario Octo Finissimo line is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Silvered Dial, bringing a polished uniform look to the entire integrated package. The 40mm brushed and polished stainless steel case is carried over from the 2020 introduction of the Octo Finissimo S, complete with 100 meters of water resistance despite the sapphire display caseback and a wafer-thin 6.4mm case thickness. The dial, however, is rendered in a new vertically brushed silver finish that blends in smoothly with the brushed case in initial images. The result is striking, making the integrated design feel even more cohesive and unified than before. The 7 o’clock sub-seconds display in particular is made even cleaner with the new dial finish, with its markings fading almost entirely into the silvery background. Legibility, however, may prove difficult with a silver-on-silver dial layout.

Inside the Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Silvered Dial is the same in house BVL 138 micro-rotor automatic movement as previous models, with a signed platinum micro-rotor, broad Côtes de Genève across the bridges, and a baseplate finished with perlage. Performance is solid, with a 60-hour power reserve at a 21,600 bph beat rate. Like its stablemates, the Octo Finissimo S Silvered Dial is paired with the Octo Finissimo’s signature integrated bracelet in stainless steel. The Bulgari Octo Finissimo S Silvered Dial will be available through authorized dealers starting in May 2021, at an MSRP of $12,000.

Lastly, Bulgari returns to the titanium cased Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT with a new dial colorway and an all-new rubber strap. A touch smaller than its new stainless steel counterpart at 42mm and slimmer with a 6.9mm overall thickness, this titanium version features the even, matte-sandblasted finish that has become one of the hallmarks of the Octo Finissimo line. This thinner profile does mean the screw-down crown has been abandoned though, leading to an underwhelming 30 meters of water resistance. With a dial in simple matte black, this new iteration of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT feels at once more classical and decidedly more purposeful, particularly thanks to the use of printed numerals and indices. The clean black and white colorway throws the fine balance of the dial into sharp relief, with each element from skeleton dauphine hands, to subdials, indices, and dial text receiving a carefully considered visual weight.

Like its stainless steel cousin, the black dial Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT uses Bulgari’s in-house BVL 318 movement with identical specifications. Unlike the rest of the line, this model is the first of its kind to be offered with an integrated rubber strap. Finished in matte black with a tightly woven textile effect, this strap looks in initial images to drastically change the character of the Octo Finissimo design. Like the black dial, the strap is stark, simple, and capable, lending a sportier and more purposeful edge to the design while sacrificing a touch of the bracelet’s presence and spectacle. The black dial Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT is available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $17,200.

While lacking some of the record-breaking panache of previous years’ releases, the 2021 slate of novelties for the Bulgari Octo Finissimo line help to widen its horizons and further cement its legacy as a true modern classic in the luxury sports watch sector. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.