In 2019 Bvlgari pays tribute to Gérald Genta Brand 50^th Anniversary with the unveiling of a jumping hours platinum watch.

Watch aficionados will know that Bvlgari acquired Gérald Genta in 2000, a brand founded in 1969 by the designer and watch master genius. 50 years later, his expertise, soul and most of the company’s highly skilled watchmakers have been integrated into Bvlgari’s state-of-the-art manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland. The launch of this watch, which bears the original Gérald Genta logo on the dial, pays homage to the role that this one-time legendary Brand has played in Bvlgari’s watchmaking success over the past 18 years.

Bvlgari’s fast-paced growth in the watch industry cannot be disconnected from the wise decision to purchase Genta Manufacture almost two decades ago. The acquisition of this exceptional know-how gave further confidence and ambition to Bvlgari to venture into haute horlogerie complications such as chiming mechanisms as well as eventually to envision and develop Finissimo ultra-thin movements that have garnered Bulgari four world records to date. The simpler automatic base caliber Solotempo is another milestone achieved thanks to the Swiss watchmaker’s input. Gérald Genta has been an accelerator and an inspiration for a Bvlgari Horlogerie to enter and establish itself in the top league of high-end Swiss watchmakers, as suggested by the many watchmaking Grand Prix awards and other distinctions won in the recent years.

Daring to be different is a quality that Bvlgari enshrines in each of its watches as it works closely with talented master watchmakers of the Manufacture in Le Sentier Manufacture to push the boundaries of feasibility in terms of mechanical bravado as well as aesthetics.

Capitalizing on the successful integration of Gérald Genta’s horological skills and brilliance with Bvlgari’s strong sense of style, the Octo Finissimo is now one of Bvlgari’s most successful men’s watches. Add in Bvlgari’s jewelry-making skills and Italian flair and the result is exceptional.

The Gérald Genta 50^th Anniversary Watch is housed in the famous chunky, round Arena case, with a smooth, wide, curved bezel in highly polished platinum. The jumping hours are displayed through a window at 12 o’clock, while the minutes are tracked on an arc spanning the top half of the blue lacquer dial, across which the minute hand travels and snaps back to zero every 60 minutes. Likewise, for the date, arranged in a smaller arc at 6 o’clock. Powered by the BVL 300 Caliber with a bidirectional self-winding movement boasting a 42-hour power reserve, the complex
mechanism is visible through the scratch resistant sapphire case back.

Collectors will doubtless appreciate this tribute. Moreover, Bvlgari is thereby adding another icon to its Rinascimento watch portfolio.

Movement	:	Bi-rétro BVL 300 Caliber Manufacture mechanical movement with automatic winding (bidirectional) Jumping hours Retrograde minutes (210°) Retrograde date (180°)
Case	:	Platinum
Diameter	:	41 mm
Dial	:	Blue lacquered
Bracelet	:	Blue alligator strap
Buckle	:	White gold folding clasp