Lucky Number Eight: Luxury Watches Sporting Octagonal Bezels
In Chinese culture, eight is considered the luckiest number because when you say it in Chinese, it sounds similar to the word for wealth or fortune. In the luxury watch world, eight could be considered a lucky number too given how many iconic timepieces there are with eight-sided bezels! Let’s have a look at three top-tier timepieces that sport octagonal bezels–who knows, wearing them may just bring you some good fortune.
Bulgari Octo L’Originale Chronograph
The eight-sided elements are so important to the design of the Bulgari Octo watches, the collection is named after the Latin word for the number eight. And new for 2019 is a striking Bulgari Octo L’Originale Chronograph in black DLC-coated steel with touches of 18k rose gold. The bezel of the chronograph pairs an octagonal rose gold base with a DLC-coated steel circular piece. Emphasizing the geometric shape of the 41 mm case is an octagon-shaped dial in dark anthracite with hand-applied rose gold hour markers. In addition to the center hands and indices, there are also the three subdials in the classic 3/6/9 layout along with a date window tucked in between 4 and 5 o’clock. The exhibition caseback permits a view of the decorated BLV328 Velocissimo automatic movement, based on the legendary Zenith El-Primero chronograph caliber. Finishing off the look of this contemporary luxury chronograph is a black rubber strap.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Flying Tourbillon
The Laureato watch has been around since 1975, making it one of the original sports watch de luxe. But in 2016, Girard-Perregaux redesigned their flagship sports watch to create a modern-day iteration, complete with an even more prominent octagonal bezel. As expected, Girard-Perregaux continues to flesh out the Laureato collection with a slew of editions, including this impressive Laureato Flying Tourbillon Skeleton. Featuring a lavish satin finish 18k white gold (also available in 18k pink gold) construction—from its angular 42 mm case to its bold integrated bracelet—the star of the show is the skeletonized dial with a flying tourbillon. Whether looking at the front of the watch or the back, the open-worked Caliber GP09520-0001 is on full display for all to admire.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin
The granddaddy of watches with octagonal bezels, the Royal Oak created the genre in the very early 1970s. Since then, Audemars Piguet has indulged us with a massive menu of different Royal Oak models and continues to cook up tasty Royal Oak treats every year. Naturally, at the 2019 edition of SIHH, plenty new Royal Oak models joined the collection. However, the one that managed to garner almost all the attention was the 18k white gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin with a pink gold-toned “Petite Tapisserie” dial. With a respectable 39 mm case, the watch is far from jumbo according to today’s standards but carries that name in honor of the maiden Royal Oak—which had the same dimensions but was most definitely considered oversized at that time. Powering the time and date functions of the new salmon(ish) Royal Oak is the familiar Caliber 2121 self-winding movement with 40 hours of power reserve.
