BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady Watch On-The-Wrist Review

Ping Tsai's 'On-the-Wrist' review of the BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady Watch offers a fresh perspective on women's mechanical timepieces, challenging preconceived notions about their technical depth and aesthetic appeal. Her detailed impressions highlight how a seemingly simple watch can profoundly alter a collector's viewpoint, making it a valuable read for anyone exploring the nuances of luxury watch design.

It’s a rare moment when a watch changes your perspective. For the most part our tastes and preferences are pretty set and it takes a real standout piece to make us think differently. My recent topic for review, a very simple and unassuming BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady Watch, much to my surprise, did just that.  It altered my standpoint on lady’s watches in general.  Feeling slightly puzzled and amazed, I learned that watch collecting and admiring need not necessarily be static pastimes. 

When I first received word of my next Bulgari watch to review, a stainless steel BVLGARI BVLGARI LADY watch with an hour/minute function, mother-of-pearl dial and diamond hour markers, I was both pleased and somewhat indifferent at the same time. It is a classic watch from an iconic line and the current release is a sophisticated and feminine interpretation of the company’s signature look. I had never worn a BVLGARI BVLGARI watch before and having the opportunity to experience one up close was like being asked to try on a classic Chanel suit. Although I don’t wear suits and don’t particularly care for them, wearing one from the top design house would seem like a short-time test visit to the elitist’s club – just to see what it was like.  By the same token, strapping on the Bulgari watch was also a visit; into the bold world of Italian style and sophistication.

With the simple nature of the watch technically as well as aesthetically, I questioned whether there would be enough to comment on and find interesting.  After all, it has only time function and a very clean looking dial and case. Unlike the previously reviewed Serpenti watch, this particular BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady does have an automatic movement. I was curious to see what less obvious little nuances about the watch would emerge over the course of a few weeks of wear. I soon realized that even simple watches can have their own significance and be meaningful in a completely unexpected way.

Before the BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady watch, I used to think that it was more striking to wear a men’s watch that was sized large, but just small enough that a woman could pull it off.  Men’s watches are widely more complicated and exciting mechanically with a great deal more variety in design.  Lady’s watches are usually pretty simple and classic looking like the BVLGARI BVLGARI or heavily jeweled with diamonds and precious stones. Within the first few hours of wearing the Bulgari, I immediately found the pleasure in wearing a watch that is specifically made for a woman like me.  And I realized that no matter how good a men’s watch looks or how cool the movement functions, it just doesn’t compare to wearing a watch that really “fits” – in size, femininity, and identity.  Let’s take a closer look at the BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady and see what is so special about an unlikely special watch.

Case

The BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady has a polished stainless steel case and double BVLGARI inscribed logo on the bezel. The case measures 37mm in diameter, a perfect compromise between having a larger contemporary design and a case size that isn’t overly big for a female to wear. I always felt that 37mm cases were ideal in terms of sizing for women who want to still retain some of the feminine and delicate features of traditional female watches but who also like to be up to date with trends and fashion. For those who prefer a smaller sized watch, there is also a 33mm version available.

The bezel has a polished, mirror-like finish that is a standout feature of the watch. The surface is flat and highly reflective and I can see women using it at times to check their makeup as they would a pocket mirror.  I was constantly wary and fearful of scratching the bezel and denting the sharp edge.  A drawback of having the polished surfaces is that any small ding or scratch would be immediately noticeable and pronounced against the shiny metal and disrupt the perfectly smooth visible symmetry.

The coin/disc shape of the case also gives a more contemporary look to the watch. Its appearance resembles the cross-section of a cylinder. The top surface of the watch is completely flat with straight sides. It’s a simple shape but the craftsmanship is quite refined because of the smooth finishing of the metal and edges and the curved construction of the lugs which allows for a closer fit on the wrist.

Crown

The cabochon set crown excels in attractiveness but falls short on functionality.  The crown is polished and bears 4 ridges for some sort of grip. The design is elegant and unique but when I tried to wind the watch, the crown would just slip between my fingers.  Setting the time was a bit easier since pulling out the crown allowed for improved grip.  

Dial

A full mother of pearl dial serves as the backdrop of the BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady watch. Mother-of-pearl dials are a common occurrence amongst ladies watches and at times I do grow tired of them. However, this one really appealed to me because of its natural soft subtle look which contrasted nicely with the harder edges of the case and bezel. It sports an overall clean look with just the BVLGARI logo and diamond set indexes.  Polished stainless steel pointed hour, minute and second hands make up the time indication function and coordinate exactly with the bezel.  The subtlety and plainness of the dial make the other “shinier” elements pop even more. The sweeping seconds hand makes the overall static looking dial more dynamic.

I have to say that my favorite feature of the dial is the silver polished hands. Their organic shape has soft feminine curves exhibiting contemporary minimalism.  Depending on how the light hits the hands, they will either contrast drastically with the dial or blend into it. This fluidity is reminiscent of the often soft flowing characters of women.

Movement

At first glance, I didn’t expect the BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady to have an automatic movement. Realizing that it was equipped with a mechanical automatic winding movement with a 42 hour power reserve further increased the appeal of the watch. I found it interesting that something not visible to the eye can make such a difference in the likeability of a watch, especially when an automatic watch requires more attention on a day to day basis. A quartz watch by contrast can be worn and left sitting without   Hours, minutes and seconds time function

Strap / Wear

The Bulgari watch comes with a beige matte alligator strap. The neutral color makes it quite versatile. The diamond hour markers allow the watch to be dressed up with a more formal outfit yet the stainless steel case make the watch equally appropriate with casual wear. I was as comfortable wearing the watch with black slacks for work or a cocktail dress to go out as I was wearing it with jeans and a t-shirt.

With the sharp edges of the watch, it was surprisingly comfortable to wear.  I didn’t feel any of the sharp edges or crown digging into my skin at all. The comfort is in large part due to the curved lugs and strap connection. As mentioned earlier, the lugs are curved downward towards the wrist allowing for a closer fit. What’s unique about the strap is how it is connected to the lugs. The end of the strap sits flush adjacent to the case. There is no gap and thus no break in the visual flow of the watch. The first section of the strap closest to the case is rigid and curved to conform to the wrist and then becoming more flexible towards the buckle.

Flipping the watch over to view the underside of the strap I noticed that there are thin metal plates that are inserted into the first part of the leather strap creating the rigidity that is felt. This is by far my favorite feature of the watch and what surely lead to my change of heart about ladies watches in general.  The curved rigid strap and seamlessness of the strap and lug connection made the watch extremely comfortable and pleasant to wear and look at.

Final thoughts

The BVLGARI BVLGARI Lady Watch is the kind of watch that nearly every woman wouldn’t mind receiving. It’s simple and classic yet contemporary enough that it can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages and tastes. Its appeal lies in its contemporary minimalist design. Although it has feminine elements such as the diamonds and mother-of-pearl dial, their treatment is understated and not over the top.  Also because of the size, the watch is a good balance between the largeness and sharpness of a men’s watch and the softness and subtlety of a women’s. 

The watch did allow me to connect with my softer side and experience first hand, contemporary styling in Italian design and classicism. I realized that even with the boldness and confident nature of Bulgari’s style, there also exist more delicate qualities that show through as well.