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Thor Svaboe’s 22 October 2020 hands-on review found the Bvlgari Aluminium time-only compelling for one simple reason: it felt unusually light and comfortable for a metal-cased watch, while its linked rubber bracelet gave it a distinctive, casual character. His verdict was personal rather than a measured comparison, but the design idea has a clear lineage: Bvlgari introduced the Aluminium in 1998 with an aluminium case and rubber strap.
What the time-only Aluminium is—and why it stands out
The watch in Svaboe’s review pairs an aluminium case with a black bezel, pale dial and an unusual rubber bracelet. Its appeal is the contrast: familiar watchmaking materials and a conventional time display are presented in a light-feeling, deliberately informal package.
Svaboe’s review was published by Time+Tide on 22 October 2020 in partnership with Bulgari; the article states that the opinions are his own. He described the first encounter this way: “The strangest feeling is to be had when you first put on the Bulgari Aluminium time-only — if you actually get it on in the first place.” He also wrote, “Yes, this is metal, but we’re not used to light, cool, matt aluminium in a watch case.” Those are the reviewer’s impressions, not a weight measurement or a controlled comparison with other watches. Read Svaboe’s Time+Tide review.
How the bracelet and dial wear
A bracelet with an unusual construction
Svaboe describes the bracelet as rubber blocks linked by metal connectors. The first section pivots, and he says the construction can be physically shaped around the wrist. That unusual structure helps explain both the immediate wearing impression and his joke about getting the watch on: this is not a conventional, single-piece rubber strap.
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A restrained dial with a few playful details
The review describes a slightly off-white dial with black markers, large numerals at 12 and 6, luminous-ended hands and a red counterweight on the seconds hand. Svaboe also saw the watch as versatile enough to wear with casual clothes or a suit. That styling judgment belongs to him; the watch’s aluminium-and-rubber design is unmistakably more relaxed than a traditional dress watch.
Movement and time-only display
The reviewed time-only model uses Bvlgari’s B77, which Svaboe identifies as based on the ETA 2892, with a stated power reserve of 42 hours. Its display is for hours, minutes and seconds; the review’s configuration does not add a date. Time+Tide’s review is the source for those details.
Rank #2
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From the 1998 original to the 2020 relaunch
The Aluminium’s material pairing was unusual from the start. WatchTime’s historical account says the original model arrived in 1998 with an aluminium case and rubber strap, and that the first generation used quartz. In 2020, Bvlgari reintroduced the line with automatic B77 versions in three-hand and three-hand-with-date configurations. WatchTime reported a 40 mm case and a $2,950 launch retail price for those 2020 date-equipped and three-hand relaunch models; that is historical launch pricing, not a current price. WatchTime’s 2020 relaunch coverage provides the historical context.
Do not confuse the reviewed watch with current reference 103445
Bvlgari’s current official listing for reference 103445 is a date-equipped Aluminium, not the time-only configuration Svaboe reviewed. The manufacturer specifies a 40 mm aluminium-and-titanium case, black rubber bezel, black dial, rubber strap with aluminium links, automatic B77 movement, date at 3 o’clock, 42-hour power reserve and water resistance of 100 m. Bvlgari phrases the latter as “Water-resistant up to 10 ATM.” See Bvlgari’s product page for reference 103445.
Rank #3
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| Detail | Time-only watch in the 2020 review | Current official reference 103445 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Hours, minutes and seconds; no date, according to the Time+Tide review | Hours, minutes, seconds and date at 3 o’clock, according to Bvlgari |
| Movement and reserve | B77, based on ETA 2892; 42 hours, according to the review | Automatic B77; 42 hours, according to Bvlgari |
| Case | Aluminium; case diameter not stated in the review details cited here | 40 mm, aluminium and titanium, according to Bvlgari |
| Water resistance | Not stated in the review details cited here | 100 m (10 ATM), according to Bvlgari |
Price: historical figures, not interchangeable quotes
Svaboe’s review reported a price of $4,340 for the white-dial time-only version in 2020. Bvlgari’s international product page for reference 103445 displayed €3,700 including taxes when accessed. These figures refer to different configurations, markets and dates; neither should be treated as a universal current price. Bvlgari notes that product pricing, stock and regional availability can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the lightweight formula still work?
As a design proposition, the answer is yes: the time-only Aluminium gives the familiar three-hand format a distinctive material combination and a bracelet that, in Svaboe’s account, shaped around the wrist rather than behaving like an ordinary rubber strap. The review’s case for it rests on light-feeling wear, visual character and informal versatility—not on a head-to-head performance test. Anyone considering one should distinguish the 2020 time-only watch from currently listed date-equipped references and check the exact configuration, local price and availability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
