Bulgari is a Roman jeweller that has become a serious Swiss watchmaker. Its watches range from the snake-shaped Serpenti, a jewellery icon, to the Octo Finissimo, which has broken several records for thinness. We have 131 Bulgari watches in stock, from $440 to $168,960.
A short history
Sotirio Bulgari, a Greek silversmith, opened his shop in Rome in 1884. The name is often written BVLGARI, with the classical Latin V. Bulgari made watches as jewellery for decades; the Serpenti bracelet watches date from the 1940s, and the Bvlgari Bvlgari, with the name engraved twice around the bezel, appeared in the 1970s.
From around 2000 Bulgari built up its own watchmaking in Switzerland, including the workshops of Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth. It launched the Octo in 2012, and the Octo Finissimo in 2014, which has since set several records for the thinnest watches of their kind. Bulgari has been part of LVMH since 2011.
The collections
Octo. An octagonal case combined with a round bezel, in steel, titanium, gold and ceramic. Octo Roma is the more classical version, Octo Finissimo the ultra-thin one, often in sandblasted titanium with an integrated bracelet. In stock: 45, from $3,520.
Serpenti. The snake: from the coiled Tubogas bracelet to the Seduttori and jewellery pieces. Mostly ladies' watches, many in gold and with diamonds. In stock: 44, from $6,510.
Bvlgari Bvlgari. Round case with the brand name engraved on the bezel, inspired by Roman coins. In stock: 8 quartz models among others.
What Bulgari costs
Our Bulgari prices run from $440 to $168,960; new or unworn pieces start at $3,170 and pre-owned at $440. Quartz Bvlgari Bvlgari and Serpenti models are the entry points; Octo Finissimo in titanium is in the middle; gold, gem-set and complicated models are at the top.
References we stock most
- 103068 — 4 in stock, from $9,900
- 103673 — 4 in stock, from $10,515
- 101924 — 2 in stock, from $24,375
- 104192 — 2 in stock, from $17,380
What to check on a pre-owned Bulgari
- Serpenti Tubogas bracelets. The coiled bracelet is sized for a wrist; check the size (S, M, L) before buying, because it cannot be resized like a link bracelet.
- Titanium Octo Finissimo. Sandblasted titanium shows scratches differently from polished steel and cannot simply be polished back.
- Diamonds. Check that every stone is present and that the setting is tight.
- Papers and service. See our pre-owned checklist.
Bulgari for women
Bulgari is one of the strongest names in ladies' watches, thanks to the Serpenti. See also our ladies' luxury watch buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Bulgari written BVLGARI?
The V is the classical Latin form of the letter U, a nod to the brand's Roman origins.
What is the Octo Finissimo?
An ultra-thin version of the Octo, launched in 2014, that has set several records for the thinnest watches of their kind.
Is Bulgari a real watchmaker or a jeweller?
Both. It started as a Roman jeweller in 1884 and now makes its own watches and movements in Switzerland.
How much is a Bulgari watch?
Our Bulgari watches start at $440; the median in our stock is $11,350.
