Lunar Time

A minimalist Japanese architectural aesthetic meets deep-seated spiritual symbolism in Bulgari’s new Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando watch, a limited 160-piece special edition, and second in the series to emerge from the collaboration between Bulgari and renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. 

Ando, whose contributions to contemporary architecture include the Church of Light in Osaka and the Museum of Modern Art in Texas, has made his mark in the field through his use of cement and glass combined with an innovative exploration of light. The central theme underlying his work is a search for absolute purity. In the Octo Finissimo watch, this philosophy emerges in the concept of mikazuki, a representation of the crescent moon, which carries deep significance in Japanese culture. 

Since humanity’s earliest ages, the moon has marked the passage of time, acting as nature’s clock and calendar. In Japan, the moon’s evolution symbolizes time’s transitory nature, and the Japanese character ‮$‬ً means both month and moon. The young crescent moon shining in the night sky also embodies a sense of hope and the promise of a prosperous future. 

In the Tadao Ando watch, the temporal theme is expressed in a minimalistic style. The black ceramic watch features a deep blue lacquered dial, with a slim gold crescent moon positioned at 5 o’clock and a time spiral uncoiling from the base of the second hand. The case is finished with a transparent back, marked with the architect’s signature.