Geneva Watch Days 2024 saw Bvlgari flexing the might of its in-house chiming atelier with the new Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon and the Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon. They debut new chiming mechanisms with an unexpected twist: both the Grande Sonnerie’s four-note chime and the Carillon’s three-note melody were composed by Swiss orchestral conductor Lorenzo Viotti, and are themed around the tritone. This interval of two musical notes is famous for its dissonant, unstable and vaguely threatening sound—to the extent that it was once nicknamed ‘the devil in music’. When used as part of a melody, the sound is not necessarily unpleasant—but the tension and suspense of its character still comes through.
This is exactly the result when these two new watches strike the quarters. The four-note chime of the Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon is a particularly interesting comparison to the classical cadence of the Westminster tones that are often found in four-hammer striking watches—Viotti’s compositions are edgier, more challenging and daring. It is a fitting complement to the Octo Roma’s contemporary outlook—both watches also sport sandblasted, openworked and DLC-treated dials.
Measuring 45mm in diameter and a sub-12mm thickness despite its complexity, the Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon has grande and petite sonnerie modes, automatically striking every quarter-hour, as well as an on-demand minute repeater. It features a satin-polished titanium case. The Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon, on the other hand, is a three-hammer minute repeater presented in a 44mm satin-polished rose gold case. Both have manual-winding manufacture movements with 70-plus hours of power reserve.
Meanwhile, Bvlgari is also celebrating music in a completely different way with a special run of the Bvlgari Bvlgari in a collaboration with one of the most iconic names in music, Fender. In 1954, the American instrument maker created the Stratocaster, which went on to become the quintessential symbol of rock music—the favoured electric guitar of superstars such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler. This year, it celebrates its 70th anniversary—an event marked by the Bvlgari Aluminium GMT x Fender Limited Edition (pictured on facing page).
Equipped with a self-winding GMT movement, the wristwatch has a 40mm aluminium case with brown rubber bezel, along with a brown sunburst gradient dial that is reminiscent of one of the Stratocaster’s most classic looks. The daytime half of the 24-hour inner bezel is cream coloured, which, along with its indications, strongly hints at the aged plastic control knobs one may find on a vintage Stratocaster. It is limited to 1,200 pieces worldwide.
Last but not least, the Fender Custom Shop in California is also releasing its own take on the collaboration: a 70-piece limited edition run of the Bvlgari Stratocaster electric guitar.
