Edgy, trendy, urban… The unconventional spiritof an iconic and contemporary design

Discovery! Adventure! The Unexpected!

In 2022, Bulgari Aluminium is a saga told in three major chapters, aimed at men who love therush of adrenaline, real thrills, but also travel, art and design.

Bulgari merges modern materials with a striking, dynamic aesthetic for a resolutely sleeksport chic watch in three models, as limited editions of 1,000 pieces each, that connect withthree distinct universes:

The Bulgari Aluminium Chronograph Ducati epitomises speed;

the Bulgari Aluminium GMT Amerigo Vespucci evokes travel and exploration;

the Bulgari Aluminium Sorayama elevates the aeronautical universe of the 1930s.

The Italian spirit of the watch doesn’t give in to any fad or style! Its iconic and timeless design celebrates the beauty of formcombined with a touch of unexpected audacity.

Let’s rewind to the 1990s: Already, Bulgari was pushing the boundaries of traditionalwatchmaking and venturing into unknown creative territory with its unconventional approachto Swiss mechanical watchmaking. Then, in 1998, came the Bulgari Aluminium. Itimmediately asserted itself as the urban watch par excellence: the perfect merger betweensport chic and Italian elegance, luxury and audacity.

Since 2020, the Bulgari Aluminium has been equipped with a self-winding mechanicalmovement, brilliantly matching a sensibility for design with technical sophistication. If theBulgari Aluminium’s main hallmarks have always been the aluminium-rubber pairing thatconcretises its pure aesthetic and the bold black and white graphics that define its sportchicness, the aluminium case and titanium case back with DLC coating, together with therubber strap with aluminium links and pin buckle, follow through on the original design cues.

In 2022, Bulgari launches a saga of three special editions on the theme of travel andadventure, combining sportiness, comfort and elegance in a contemporary watch with a styleall its own. Creative! Singular! Daring! The famous Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati, thefabled Italian training vessel Amerigo Vespucci, and the legendary Japanese artist Sorayama– all three true icons in their own universe, they joined with Bulgari to each open a newchapter with a unique special edition. Three symbolic collaborations to create exclusivelimited editions, in keeping with the tradition of the Roman Maison. Three different worldsthat reflect the Bulgari Aluminium attitude: chic and dynamic, precise, elegant, versatile…

Antoine Pin, Director of the Bulgari Watch Division, comments: “For us, every day isabout nurturing a comprehensive vision for Bulgari watchmaking, keeping it desirable withproducts that are exceptional, but also inviting with products that are accessible. The BulgariAluminium saga is not just an inspiration, it is the unfolding story of a true icon of sport chic.We step into and evolve in worlds different from our own, but definitely sharing the sameunshakeable values of ‘Italianità’, style and creativity. Colours, aesthetics, functions, thewatch is so versatile that it allows us to explore a multitude of variations, each with a strongsingular identity and firmly anchored in the universe that we create together with ourpartners”.

The design of each of the three Bulgari Aluminium models becomes unique with the colours,style and specific functions that express the distinctive DNA of each partner.

The Bulgari Aluminium Chronograph Ducati thus interprets the sporty visual elementsthat define the Italian motorbike manufacturer, the red dial and a chronograph function –cues for high performance and the adrenaline rush only speed can give – that recall thecockpit of the Italian firm’s ultra-sleek racing machines.

The Bulgari Aluminium Amerigo Vespucci then pays tribute to the magnificent andmajestic Italian sailing vessel named after the famous Florentine mariner and explorer. Thewatch does not just echo the ship’s emblematic colours with a black, white and yellow golddial, but also its legendary purpose and the idea of travel with a second time zone indication.The GMT complication, a must for those who love to discover the world, captures the veryessence of a taste for adventure.

Finally, the Bulgari Aluminium SorayamaSpecial Edition resonates with a more urban,vibrant and sensual vibe. Hours, minutes, seconds in the centre and a date window: the artof watchmaking, distilled into its purest expression. With sober galvanised textures anddetails that conjure up the canonical beauty of the flying and driving machines of the 1930sand 1940s, the silver dial and its pearlescent reflections evoke dazzling car bodies andairframes. The hour markers and hands treated with Super-LumiNova® ensure both optimumlegibility and absolute legitimacy.

BULGARI ALUMINIUM SORAYAMA SPECIAL EDITION:

TIMELESS EXUBERANCE

BULGARI ALUMINIUM SORAYAMASPECIAL EDITION: TIMELESS EXUBERANCEThe legendary Japanese artist Sorayama blurs lines to inaugurate a gleaming, sensual, all- conquering ideal. Bulgari captures this radical yet poetic and charming aspiration in a new model that plays with the gleam of aluminium.

The Bulgari Aluminium Sorayama Special Edition watch is a composition reflecting theimagination and flair for details of the Japanese hyper-realism artist. Mirroring both past andfuture, Sorayama’s work reflects a fascination with the classicism of the 1930s and 1940s, aswell as the exciting mechanical advances in the fields of aviation and automobiles.

Enduring value

The watch opts for the restrained look of galvanised textures and details recalling theaesthetics of 1930s and 1940s cars and planes. On the silver-toned dial with its shimmeringpearlescent swirls evoking the light playing across gleaming bodywork, the propeller-shapedhour-markers and hands are enhanced with Super-LumiNova®. The only numeral visible isthe 2, thereby honouring the artist’s lucky number and representing more than a nod andinstead a deliberate reference. This limited-edition model with its aluminium case and rubberbezel has a diameter of 40 mm and is water-resistant to a depth of 100 metres. The crown ismade of reinforced black titanium. The same goes for the caseback bearing Sorayama’ssignature in deep black. The iconic rubber strap picks up the metallic accents of aluminiumon its links and pin buckle. Beating inside the case is a mechanical self-winding movementwith a 42-hour power reserve.

Sorayama plays with metal in a vibrant and sensual way. From aeroplanes to pin-ups, hisquest for an aesthetic delves into the fantasy world of the 30s and 40s, while embedding it inthe here and now. As the artist explains: “When I was asked to be part of this collaboration, Ideveloped three main design elements. The first consists of circular pattern swirls on a dialinspired by the surface of Spirit of St. Louis which made the first nonstop solo flight acrossthe Atlantic Ocean. The second was to put an actual number 2 at 2 o’clock only, because twois my lucky number: I was born on 22 February in the 22nd year of the Japanese Shōwa era.The third is my SORAYAMA logo. I entrusted Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, who has always professed to love my work, with the mechanical side of things. It is my wish that thosewho see the watch will experience the same joy as me in the beauty of its metal finishes andthe curves that are prominent in its design.”

Italian radiance

Within the space of two generations, Bulgari Aluminium has imposed its unconventionalapproach: a vision born in 1998 involving an alliance of aluminium and rubber that givesshape to a pure design based on black & white graphics and defined by its sporty-chicnature. Since 2020, the case had been fitted with a mechanical self-winding movement.Bulgari thereby orchestrates an encounter between excellence and brilliance for a model thatis resolutely in tune with its time. The Italian spirit of the watch does not succumb to fashionor nostalgia, but instead celebrates the timeless beauty of form.

Mirroring both past and present, the Bulgari Aluminium Special Edition Sorayama is atonce classy and iconoclastic. Its dial epitomising the heritage of the golden age of aviationand the automobile bears the promise of new ideals to conquer.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

BVLGARI ALUMINIUM SORAYAMA SPECIAL EDITION – 103703

Movement

Mechanical self-winding movement, hours, minutes, seconds and date, BVL 192 calibre, 42-hour power reserve, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz).

Case and dial

40 mm aluminium case, titanium caseback with DLC coating and engraved Sorayama logo; rubberbezel; titanium crown with DLC coating; dial decorated with laser engraving, hour-markers and hoursand minutes hands filled with Super-LumiNova®; date window at 3 o’clock. Water-resistant to 100m.

Strap

Rubber strap with aluminium links, aluminium pin buckle.

Sorayama special 1,000-piece limited edition

Dedicated aluminium and rubber case bearing the SORAYAMA and BVLGARI logos