As a watch enthusiast, I was impressed by Bvlgari’s 2026 novelties at Watches & Wonders. And the maison did put out a good amount of innovative pieces, but my enjoyment of Bvlgari’s watches was skewed towards my personal preferences, and I found that I needn’t look beyond the Octo Finissimo pieces, as these new models scratched all my watch itches, and this article will tell you why.

Let us start with its more wearable size at 37mm in diameter. The Octo Finissimo range has always been a tad hard to wear, especially on Asian wrists (mine are just 16.5cm), meaning that despite all the technical prowess lying inside the case, it is that exact case itself that will prevent small-wristed individuals from giving it a go.

That has now changed, thanks to the smaller diameter. And while the numbers may look small on paper, its square shape means that it’ll wear just a tad larger than stated, and that essentially puts this watch in Goldilocks territory in terms of wearability.

It is a far cry from previous renditions of 40mm, and it’s been said that it took three years to shave off these three millimetres. That size reduction does not mean a reduction in performance, however. Because the new movement carries 20 per cent less volume, and yet it has 20 per cent more power reserve. That means this small wonder can run for 72 hours, which is a real feat when you take into account how the movement had to be entirely redesigned for this new case.

Another element that had to be redesigned was the bracelet, which now features butterfly clasp buttons, a feature that you wouldn’t find on its predecessors. You do get the usual sandblasted finishing as an option, because that’s what’s in the Octo Finissimo design codes, but you also get the option of the satin-polished and sandblasted combination, which I didn’t expect to be wowed by. If you get to see these watches side-by-side, you’ll see how different a watch can look just by finishing alone, and I found myself preferring the two-tone versions of case and bracelet, just because it makes the watch so much more wearable across a wider range of social occasions.

But perhaps the most eye-catching offering from the maison this year would be the 37mm minute repeater version of the Octo Finissimo. As if being wearable wasn’t enough, Bvlgari also added one of the most complicated features into this design. You would not expect this, but the complication is loud enough to hear in a crowded room. And that dial! How can you not like openworked indexes?

Besides the four 37mm versions, there’s also an Octo Finissimo 40mm Ultra Tourbillon Platinum, which is all types of impressive, but my goal today is to sing praises for the smaller-sized model, and I think I’ve done my part here today.

Perhaps what is most impressive, however, is Bvlgari’s attention to detail. Because the maison has upheld many craftsmanship decisions, doing everything to the best of its abilities, simply because it can. For instance, a watch owner can take apart the Octo Finissimo and find every component finished and decorated, even though they may not be visible from the outside. And when it comes to watchmaking, you can’t get more romantic than that.