Bulgari Watches

Bulgari: From Roman Gold to Record-Breaking Steel

Let’s get one thing straight — Bulgari is not just a jewelry brand that makes watches.

Bulgari is a watchmaker. A damn good one.

Sure, they started with high jewelry and perfume ads in glossy magazines. But somewhere along the line, they decided, “Hey — what if we actually built some of the most innovative, best-designed, ultra-thin mechanical watches on the planet?”

And then… they did.

From Rome to Neuchâtel, Bulgari has gone from diamond cases to breaking world records — and it’s about time collectors started giving them the credit they deserve.

Brand History: Roman Roots, Swiss Moves

Founded in 1884 by Sotirios Voulgaris (a Greek silversmith in Rome), Bulgari became known for bold, architectural jewelry — colored stones, serpent motifs, and unapologetic glamour. Think La Dolce Vita on the wrist.

But in the late 1970s, Bulgari launched their first real horological flex: the Bulgari Bulgari — a Gerald Genta-designed watch with a logo around the bezel before that was a thing. Iconic. Polarizing. Decades ahead of the curve.

Then, starting in the early 2000s, Bulgari got serious about watchmaking — acquiring Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta’s workshops, investing in their own movements, and building out legit manufacturing capabilities in Switzerland.

Fast forward to today? They're setting records, winning awards, and turning the haute horology world on its head — with one of the boldest design languages out there.

Collector Highlights: Not Just Looks, All Substance

  • Octo Finissimo – The headline act. Ultra-thin, architectural, and multi-award-winning. Seven world records and counting. Titanium, steel, gold, ceramic — doesn’t matter. These watches are like modernist sculpture for your wrist.

  • Bulgari Bulgari – The original flex. Logo bezel, Roman swagger. Still cool, still collectible.

  • Serpenti – Yes, it wraps around the wrist. Yes, it’s got diamonds. But it’s also one of the most enduring women’s watch designs of all time. Serious horological glamour.

  • Diagono & Aluminium – Sporty, funky, underrated. Especially the Diagono Magnesium and Aluminium Chrono — bold design, serious wrist presence.

  • Octo Roma – A little more traditional, a little less razor-edge. Still pure Bulgari.

Also worth noting: their in-house movements are no joke — micro-rotors, flying tourbillons, GMTs, perpetual calendars — all done with Haute Horlogerie finishing and technical chops.

Why Collectors Care

Let’s be honest — for years, people slept on Bulgari watches because they were “just a jewelry brand.” But not anymore.

Here’s why serious collectors care:

  • Award-winning design — especially the Octo line

  • In-house movements from top-tier watchmakers

  • Ultra-thin world records (Finissimo Chronograph, Tourbillon, Minute Repeater)

  • Architectural, instantly recognizable cases

  • Bold, unapologetic Roman flair — in a sea of minimalism, Bulgari actually has taste

They're not chasing anyone. They're building watches their way — and that confidence shows.

Today’s Lineup: Design-Driven, Technically Brutal

Bulgari’s modern offerings are the best they’ve ever been:

  • Octo Finissimo Automatic – Just 5.15mm thin. Yes, that includes the entire watch. And it still feels like a power move.

  • Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT – Record-breaking and still wearable.

  • Serpenti Seduttori – For women who actually collect watches, not just wear jewelry with a dial.

  • Aluminium Reissue – Coolest quartz (or automatic) beater you never thought you’d want — until you try it on.

And the Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire? That’s Bulgari doing haute horology with neon swagger. Zero apologies. All attitude.

Fed’s Take

I used to think Bulgari watches were just for people who matched their watch to their handbag. But then I got my hands on an Octo Finissimo, and let me tell you — it changed my tune.

It’s modern, it’s thin, it wears like nothing else, and it’s got more horological street cred than half the “serious” brands out there.

Bulgari took the jewelry money and built a real watchmaking empire. Not just fashion pieces. Movements. Finishing. Design. Legacy. And they're still pushing boundaries every year.

If you’re bored of safe watches and want something that turns heads and deserves respect — this is the brand.

Dare to Wear Different

You can play it safe. Or you can wear a Bulgari — and know you’re rocking one of the most forward-thinking watches on the planet.

We’ve got pre-owned Bulgari pieces in the vault — and the good ones don’t stick around long.

Delray Watch has a rotating selection of pre-owned Bulgari watches — pieces you won’t find sitting in mall boutiques or flexing on billboards.

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