Bulgari Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic Review

Kong · 2010-10-15T03:20:18Z

Bulgari Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic wins Watch of the Year. Explore its design, Calibre GG7722, and collector debate on Bulgari's sports watches.

Kong

WPS member · Bulgari forum

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Kong's post celebrates Bulgari's Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic, Gérald Genta Collection, winning the 2010 Watch of the Year Prize. This article delves into the watch's design, technical specifications, and the broader discussion within the community regarding Bulgari's evolving identity after integrating Genta & Roth.

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Bulgari wins the 2010 Watch of the Year Prize for the Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic, Gérald Genta Collection.
Awarded by a jury composed of watchmaking professionals, this distinction honours a sophisticated fine watchmaking creation while also paying tribute to the work accomplished by Bulgari.

The 2010 Watch of the Year Prize of the Swiss specialised watch magazine Montres Passion has been awarded to the Bulgari Octo Bi-Retro, Gérald Genta collection. This prestigious accolade distinguishes a resolutely contemporary and sporty model with an iconic octagonal case.

The clever combination of materials – featuring a bezel, a “studded” ceramic bezel, a crown set with an onyx cabochon and a natural rubber strap – boldly testifies to the fact that this is a rugged model designed to stand up to the trials of daily wear. Paradoxically, the Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic houses a sophisticated mechanism driving a window-type jumping-hour display, along with retrograde minutes and date shown by superimposed hands.

This mechanical self-winding proprietary Calibre GG7722 vividly embodies the innovative spirit inherent to the Manufacture Bulgari in Le Sentier: the jumping hours appearing through a broad window at 12 o’clock makes a fine match with the retrograde minutes displayed by a hand running over a 210° arc of a circle with a scale graduated into 10-minute zones. The “studs” on the bezel serve to read off the minutes in each of the zones. Meanwhile, the date is read off on a semi-circular segment at the foot of the dial.

This sophisticated “engine” is endowed with all the classic technical and aesthetic refined touches inherent to the field of haute horlogerie, including a dedicated “old gold” finish, circular-grained surfaces and polished screw heads. The movement can be admired through the sapphire crystal case-back secured by eight screws featuring five-sided heads.

The Watch of the Year Prize is based on a set of extremely stringent criteria ensuring the perfect neutrality and independence of the jury of professionals that awards it after a rigorous procedure that fully guarantees its credibility.

While the Watch of the Year Prize thus rewards a creation with a strong personality, it also sets the crowning touch to the work accomplished by Bulgari – which only last January announced the integration of the advanced know-how of its Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Genta & Roth in Le Sentier within its powerful and prestigious Brand image, as signalled on the dials by the reference to the calibres developed there. This alliance of existing respective forces thus gains full recognition and justification through the awarding of this Prize.

Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic:
Mechanical self-winding movement, jumping hours, retrograde minutes and date; 28,800 vph, 45-hour power reserve.
43 mm-diameter steel case, black ceramic bezel, transparent case-back, crown set with an onyx cabochon.
Water-resistant to 100 metres.
Rubber strap with steel triple-blade folding clasp.

Press Release

* For Ping's writeup on the BVLGARI Gerald Genta Collection Octo Bi-Retro Steel Ceramic, please click here .

This message has been edited by MTF on 2010-10-15 12:08:47

Key Points from the Discussion

The Bulgari Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic, Gérald Genta Collection, won the 2010 Watch of the Year Prize for its sophisticated fine watchmaking and iconic octagonal case.
The Octo Bi-Retro features a mechanical self-winding proprietary Calibre GG7722 with jumping hours, retrograde minutes, and date, showcasing haute horlogerie finishing.
A key debate among collectors is choosing between the Bulgari Collection Daniel Roth Endurer and the Bulgari Collection Gerald Genta Octo Bi-Retro as a sporty watch option.
Some forum participants show a preference for the Endurer, suggesting a larger fan base compared to the Octo Ceramic, prompting a suggestion for a community poll.
The Octo Bi-Retro's combination of steel, ceramic bezel, onyx cabochon crown, and rubber strap makes it a rugged yet sophisticated model for daily wear.
The integration of Genta & Roth's know-how into Bulgari's brand image is seen as gaining full recognition through awards like the Watch of the Year Prize.
The Endurer is considered intriguing because it had not reached the market until recently, while the Octo benefits from existing Gerald Genta fans.
The Octo bi-retro ceramic is praised for its cool design, faceted case, and rubberized strap, with interest in how it will perform against other sports watches like the X-Pro and Endurer.

The Discussion

pingtsai

Oct 15, 2010

Congratulations to Bulgari!

A well deserved achievement for an exceptional watch.

DRMW

Oct 15, 2010

re: 2010 Watch of the Year

Congrats to Bulgari/GG for the award. I wonder which other brands it beat for the win? -W

pingtsai

Oct 15, 2010

The Contenders...

http://www.concours.montrespassion.ch/fr/index.asp #

DRMW

Oct 16, 2010

re: Contenders

Wow, Bulgari beat out some serious contenders. Thanks for the info! -MW

MTF

Oct 15, 2010

Collection Gerald Genta vs Collection Daniel Roth

First: Congratulations to Bulgari for the award. Now, Bulgari fans have a dilemma when choosing a sporty watch (notice I did not say Sports watch): Bulgari Collection Daniel Roth Endurer Steel vs Bulgari Collection Gerald Genta Octo Bi-Retro Steel/Ceramic...hmmm. A or B Well, actually the question is E or O? Endurer or Octo? Forumners, What do you think? Regards, MTF

fai9al_429

Oct 15, 2010

How about choice "C"?

Just to complicate things a little bit more I can't wait to see this one in the metal!