Article of the week
Louis Erard Unveils the Limited-Edition Gravée Main

Since 2021, Louis Erard has been redefining the boundaries of Métiers d’Art, from Grand Feu enamel and guilloché to wood marquetry, and soon, gold wire inlay. Now, Gravée Main opens a new chapter, paying tribute to one of the oldest crafts in watchmaking hand engraving.
Gravée Main represents a new milestone in Louis Erard’s Métiers d’Art series. This limited edition of 99 unique timepieces places hand engraving at center stage, with every metal element entirely engraved and finished by hand, a meticulous process that requires more than 50 hours of work. 

Introducing Lee Ufan Leaves His Mark on the New Octo Finissimo

Bvlgari Partners with the Korean Artist to Create a Striking Edition in Hand-Finished Titanium

This year, Bvlgari welcomes Korean-born, Japan-based artist Lee Ufan into its ongoing creative dialogue. Painter, sculptor, poet, and philosopher, Lee Ufan’s art is centered on perception and presence, on the emotional resonance of an object rather than its mere representation.

The Octo Finissimo Lee Ufan x Bvlgari is the fruit of a rich and inspiring exchange between Bvlgari’s Product Creation Executive Director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and the artist himself. 

The design draws from one of Lee Ufan’s key themes: the contrast between elements. “I know Lee Ufan from his amazing paintings. Then I discovered his sculptures, where a big rock sits on a mirror — I was intrigued. At first you think these two elements don’t work together, but in the end, it works perfectly,” said Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani.

Rather than merely containing the mirrored dial delicately accented with black hands, the Octo Finissimo case amplifies it. The result is striking: a titanium-cased and braceleted watch, issued in a limited edition of 150 pieces, each finished by hand with a unique titanium surface treatment.

The watch is housed in a lightweight titanium case, paired with a stainless-steel sunray-polished bezel that adds a subtle contrast of texture and shine. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides ensures optimal legibility, while the transparent case back reveals the movement and is engraved with Lee Ufan’s signature along with the individual number out of 150. 

Completing the design, a sandblasted titanium crown with a black ceramic insert enhances both aesthetics and durability. Measuring 40 mm in diameter and just 5.5 mm in height, the case offers a remarkably slim profile, while water resistance is rated at 30 meters.

The dial plays with light and depth through its mirroring effect, rendered in a rich dark blue fumé that gradually transitions from deep tones at the lower part to lighter blue, culminating in a luminous white at the top. Free of hour markers and logos, the design embraces pure minimalism, allowing the gradient to take center stage. Sleek black hands underscore the dial’s understated elegance, while a small seconds display at 7 o’clock introduces a subtle yet distinctive asymmetry.

The transparent caseback reveals the in-house BVL 138 automatic caliber with micro-rotor, extraordinarily slim at just 2.23 mm, is beautifully adorned with hand-finished chamfers, perlage, and Côtes de Genève stripes. The caliber BVL 138 beats at 21,600 Vph and provides an ample power reserve of 60 hours.

Completing the piece, the hand-filed titanium bracelet continues the refined case decoration and is secured with an integrated folding clasp. The Octo Finissimo Lee Ufan x Bvlgari is limited to just 150 pieces.

 

For more information, visit Bvlgari official website.

Technical specifications: Bvlgari Octo Finissimo x Lee Ufan
  1. Reference: 104132
  2. Case: titanium case, a stainless-steel sunray-polished bezel, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, Transparent case back personalized with Lee Ufan’s signature and quantity limitation of 150 marking, Sandblasted titanium crown with black ceramic insert
  3. Diameter: 40 mm
  4. Height: 5.5 mm
  5. Water resistance: 30 m
  6. Dial: Mirroring effect dial, black hands, small seconds hand at 7 o'clock
  7. Movement: automatic, ultra-thin in-house caliber BVL 138, 36.60mm x 2.23mm, platinium micro-rotor, Côtes de Genève, perlage finishes
  8. Power reserve: 60 hours
  9. Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)
  10. Functions:  hours, minutes, small seconds 
  11. Bracelet / Strap: Hand filed titanium bracelet with integrated folding buckle
  12. Availability: Limited Edition of 150 pieces
  13. Price: upon request

0 Comments