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The Bulgari Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon, reference 103962, is a five-piece chiming watch introduced in 2024. Its defining twist is a quarter-hour chime built around a tritone rather than the familiar Westminster sequence. Inside, the manually wound BVV 800 calibre combines grande and petite sonnerie, an on-demand minute repeater and a flying tourbillon.
What the Octo Roma 103962 does
This is a chiming watch with several ways to sound the time. In either sonnerie mode, it strikes as the hours and quarters pass. Grande sonnerie adds an hour strike at each quarter; petite sonnerie does not. A separate minute repeater sounds the time on demand when activated.
Two selectors control the passing chime: one chooses grande or petite sonnerie, and the other chooses chime or silence. The minute repeater is an on-demand function, distinct from those automatic sonnerie modes. Four hammers strike four gongs.
| Mode | When it sounds |
|---|---|
| Grande sonnerie | Strikes hours and quarters as they pass, and repeats the hour at each quarter. |
| Petite sonnerie | Strikes hours and quarters as they pass, without repeating the hour at each quarter. |
| Silence | Disables the automatic passing chime; the watch also has a separate on-demand minute repeater. |
| Minute repeater | Sounds the time when activated, rather than automatically as it passes. |
A tritone instead of Westminster quarters
The quarter chime is the model’s most distinctive musical choice. Monochrome Watches’ 2024 report describes it as a tritone: an interval spanning three whole steps and dividing the octave in half. Bulgari developed the tonal concept with conductor Lorenzo Viotti, with the dissonant quality intended as part of the sound. That is a creative direction, not an objective claim that every listener will prefer it.
#1 Best Overall
- This tourbillon designed by Swiss designer Etienne Ruffieux with modern architectural aesthetics, features a lightweight, comfortable, free-sprung balance flying tourbillon. It houses an independently developed architectural tourbillon movement adorned with oversized ruby bearings. The design aesthetic is expressed through the interplay of light and shadow created by its extreme skeletonization. The watch has been honored with the IAI Global Design Award for its outstanding original design.
- Independently developed CAL9001 free-sprung balance flying tourbillon movement, manual winding, 28,880 vibrations per hour, 25 ruby bearings. Features high-end finishing including satin brushing and beveled edges, engraved brand logo with gold-stamped. Dual mainspring series technology delivers 80-hour power reserve (twice that of standard tourbillon movements). This technology ensures more uniform and gradual mainspring release, resulting in enhanced timekeeping precision and stability.
- The CAL9001 tourbillon movement features the exclusive free-sprung micro-adjustment technology typically reserved for luxury timepieces. This free-sprung system eliminates the need for a balance spring regulator, thereby overcoming the timing inaccuracies caused by regulator displacement in conventional mechanical movements. This ensures the watch delivers enhanced precision and stability in timekeeping.
- This tourbillon measures 40mm in diameter and just 9.7mm in thickness, weighing a mere 67 grams. Its meticulously engineered structure and radically skeletonized tourbillon movement eliminate all superfluous metal components, allowing the mechanical artistry of the free-sprung flying tourbillon to shine in its purest form. It is an exquisite, high-end tourbillon watch that is both ultra-thin and supremely comfortable.
- The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, featuring a double-sided sapphire crystal and an Italian leather strap with hand-stitched detailing for comfortable and durable wear. We offer a three-year worldwide warranty.
This detail matters because earlier Bulgari Octo Grande Sonnerie watches used a Westminster chime. The 2017 Bulgari catalog describes that earlier model, not reference 103962; its melody and other display details should not be carried over to this Octo Roma.
The BVV 800: two power systems and a reworked movement
The manually wound, in-house BVV 800 has separate barrels for timekeeping and striking. Monochrome Watches reports a 72-hour reserve for timekeeping and a separate 16-hour striking reserve when the watch is operating in grande sonnerie mode. Separate indicators show the remaining reserve for each system, so the chime’s autonomy should not be confused with the watch’s timekeeping reserve.
Rank #2
- The sporty, free-sprung balance flying tourbillon watch, crafted by Swiss chief designer Etienne Ruffieux with modern architectural aesthetics, features an independently developed architectural tourbillon movement adorned with oversized ruby bearings. Its design philosophy is expressed through the interplay of light and shadow created by extreme skeletonization. This timepiece has been honored with the European International Design Award for its outstanding original design.
- Independently developed CAL9001 free-sprung balance flying tourbillon movement, manual winding, 28,880 vibrations per hour, 25 ruby bearings. Features high-end finishing including satin brushing and beveled edges, engraved brand logo with gold-stamped. Dual mainspring series technology delivers 80-hour power reserve (twice that of standard tourbillon movements). This technology ensures more uniform and gradual mainspring release, resulting in enhanced timekeeping precision and stability.
- The CAL9001 tourbillon movement features the exclusive free-sprung micro-adjustment technology typically reserved for luxury timepieces. This free-sprung system eliminates the need for a balance spring regulator, thereby overcoming the timing inaccuracies caused by regulator displacement in conventional mechanical movements. This ensures the watch delivers enhanced precision and stability in timekeeping.
- This tourbillon features a high-tech ceramic bezel. Ceramic resists discoloration and is harder than metal, protecting the watch from scratches. Weighing half as much as stainless steel, it reduces wrist strain for enhanced comfort.
- The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters. Featuring a double-sided sapphire crystal and an aerospace-grade fluororubber strap, it offers waterproof, sweat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant properties for comfortable and durable wear. Featuring Super-LumiNova Luminous hands and hour markers. We provide a 3-year worldwide warranty.
Monochrome’s 2024 technical account says the movement’s timing train was reworked with a more powerful barrel and a new gear train, alongside a flying tourbillon. It also describes a new regulator for the striking mechanism. The same report gives the calibre 754 components, 42 jewels and 600 hours of assembly. These movement and assembly figures are reported by Monochrome, rather than confirmed here by a Bulgari technical sheet.
Reference 103962 specifications
| Specification | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | 103962 |
| Case | Titanium; 45 mm diameter and 11.85 mm thick |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment |
| Dial | Sandblasted, openworked brass with grey DLC treatment |
| Movement | In-house, manually wound calibre BVV 800; 35.20 mm × 8.10 mm; 754 components and 42 jewels, as reported by Monochrome Watches in 2024 |
| Rate | 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hz |
| Timekeeping reserve | 72 hours |
| Striking reserve | 16 hours in grande sonnerie mode, as reported by Monochrome Watches in 2024 |
| Functions | Grande and petite sonnerie, silence selection, on-demand minute repeater, flying tourbillon, and separate timekeeping and striking reserve indicators |
| Strap and buckle | Black alligator strap; satin-polished titanium folding buckle |
| Water resistance | 30 m in Monochrome’s 2024 specification; another 2024 report states 3 ATM |
| Edition | Five pieces, as reported in 2024 by Monochrome Watches and another contemporaneous report |
Launch price and availability
Monochrome Watches reported a 2024 retail price of EUR 1,000,000 for reference 103962. That is a launch-era reported price, not a verified current quote, completed-sale price or resale valuation. Current retail and resale availability have not been established, and the five-piece edition does not by itself indicate whether an example is currently for sale.
Rank #3
- Global warming accelerates glacial melting, causing severe ecological damage to Earth. Inspired by “Never-Melting Ice,” Agelocer's Swiss Chief Designer Etienne Ruffieux grand launch this full sapphire case free-sprung balance flying tourbillon watch, urging awareness of climate change. Honored with the 2022 German Design Award for its exceptional design, this tourbillon is globally limited to 100 pieces.
- The entire watch case is crafted from 5N (99.999%) high-purity sapphire crystal; 5N-grade sapphire crystal boasts a Mohs 9 hardness rating (second only to diamond) and exceptional transparency. Its superior hardness renders the case scratch and wear resistant, ensuring a flawless, long-lasting finish that stands the test of time. High transparency enables us to clearly appreciate the mechanical artistry of the ultimate skeletonized flying tourbillon.
- Self developed design CAL9001 free-sprung balance flying tourbillon movement, manual winding, 28,880 vibrations/hour, 25 ruby bearings. Satin brushed finish and chamfered edges with premium finishing techniques; Brand logo engraved and gold foiled. Dual mainspring series technology delivers 80-hour power reserve (twice that of standard tourbillon movements). This technology ensures more uniform and gradual mainspring release, resulting in enhanced timekeeping precision and stability.
- The CAL9001 tourbillon movement features the exclusive free-sprung micro-adjustment technology typically found only in luxury timepieces. This free-sprung system eliminates the need for a balance spring regulator, thereby overcoming the timing inaccuracies caused by regulator displacement in conventional mechanical movements. This ensures the watch delivers enhanced precision and stability in timekeeping.
- 50M water resistance for the entire watch; food-grade semi-transparent silicone strap, water/sweat/corrosion resistant, comfortable and durable to wear. Super-LumiNova luminous hands, paired with a butterfly double-press clasp. We promise a three-year global warranty service.
What makes this Octo Roma distinct
The 103962 brings a notably elaborate striking mechanism into the Octo Roma line, but its identity is not simply that of an older Grande Sonnerie watch in a different case. Its tritone-based quarter chime is a particular sound concept, and the reported movement redesign addresses both the timekeeping train and the striking regulator. The combination of selectable sonnerie modes, silence, on-demand minute repetition and separate reserve indications makes the watch’s operation as important to its character as the tourbillon.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- SMALL BUDY, BUT VERSATILE:Quality brand original automatic tourbillon style relojes de hombre(watch); without a battery; calendar,waterproof, moon phase function
- LUMINOUS WATCH,EASY TO READ TIME,EVEN IN THE DARK:Fashion design men's mechanical watch, black case with clear golden lines and golden hands, let you read the time easy; The hands will be grow when in the dark, which let you can read the time even in dark
- WATER RESISTANT TO 30M:Waterproof:In general, withstands splashes or brief immersion in water ,but not suitable for hot water bathing or diving. Please do not press any buttons in the water
- NO BATTERY NEEDED:Automatic mechanical movement, Powers with the mechanical movement, without a battery. Operate the watch, to wind-up please whirl the button on the clockwise (Don't need to pull out, just in normal condition.) for 15 to 20 complete revolutions
- NICE PRESENTS:Stylish mechanical germen watch, it fits good and looks fantastic, elegant holiday present sure to be given some compliments by business colleagues and clients, friend. Also, it is nice present for your friends and family as a Father's Day present
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