First Look Octo Finissimo Adorned with the Words of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Bvlgari presents a special edition of its iconic Octo Finissimo watch in tribute to the United Arab Emirates and the city of Dubai, featuring Arabic calligraphy in collaboration with Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej.

The Mattar Bin Lahej × Octo Finissimo edition features laser-engraved Arabic calligraphy across the case, bracelet, and dial. Its design draws inspiration from the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai:

“The future will be for those who can imagine it, design it, and build it. The future does not wait—it can be designed and built today.”

The ultra-thin structure of the watch becomes a canvas for artistic expression and technical refinement.

His Highness first said this statement in 2015 during the launch of the Museum of the Future project at the World Government Summit in Dubai, emphasizing the role of imagination, design, and execution in building the future of nations.

Later, the phrase was selected to adorn the façade of the Museum of the Future at its official opening in 2022, written in the calligraphic hand of artist Mattar Bin Lahej, who created the three iconic inscriptions on the building’s exterior. This edition reflects Bulgari’s vision of honoring cultural heritage while continuing to innovate and shape the future of haute horlogerie.

The watch is housed in a lightweight titanium case, fully sandblasted and laser-engraved, with a brushed bezel that provides a refined contrast. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides ensures clarity, while the transparent caseback, also engraved with the edition details and the artist’s signature, reveals the movement. Thanks to the titanium construction, the entire watch weighs only 72 grams.

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 mm in thickness, the case maintains the Octo Finissimo’s famously slim profile, with water resistance rated at 30 meters.

The dial mirrors the engraved case structure, featuring laser-engraved Arabic calligraphy and black hands. Free from hour markers and logos, the composition emphasizes pure artistic form, while the small seconds subdial at 7 o’clock adds a subtle asymmetrical character.

Visible through the caseback, the in-house Caliber BVL 138 automatic movement features a micro-rotor and is exceptionally slim at only 2.23 mm. It is beautifully decorated with hand-finished chamfers, perlage, and Côtes de Genève. Operating at 21,600 vph, it delivers a power reserve of 60 hours.

The special edition comes on a sandblasted titanium bracelet with laser-engraved Arabic calligraphy and an integrated folding clasp. It is limited to just 70 pieces. Priced at 80,000 AED.

For more information, visit Bvlgari official website.