At the LVMH Watch Week 2026, Bulgari unveiled two new watches themed around The Art of Gold, blending exquisite jewelry craftsmanship with Swiss watchmaking techniques. These pieces reflect how the brand draws inspiration from Roman history and 1970s Italian design, continuing to evolve its iconic watch language. The Maglia Milanese Monete and Tubogas Manchette each carry different cultural meanings, yet both showcase Bulgari’s precise mastery of the beauty of gold craftsmanship.
The Maglia Milanese Monete ancient coin mystery watch is a contemporary interpretation of the Monete series. This timepiece weaves together history and craftsmanship, featuring a bezel inlaid with an ancient Roman silver coin depicting the portrait of Emperor Caracalla (198–217 AD), symbolizing the brand’s spirit connection with the Eternal City. For the first time, it showcases the Milanese mesh bracelet crafted from delicately intertwined rose gold threads, drawing inspiration from Renaissance goldsmith techniques. The warm, soft metallic texture transforms classic elegance into a modern statement for women. Lifting the hidden watch cover reveals a white mother-of-pearl dial adorned with 12 diamond hour markers, embodying a gentle strength within its delicate design.
In terms of the movement, this piece is powered by the brand’s own Piccolissimo BVP 100 manual-winding movement, celebrated as the world’s smallest round mechanical movement. With a diameter of just 13.5 mm, a thickness of 2.5 mm, and a weight of 1.9 grams, it comprises 102 components, oscillating at a frequency of 21,600 vph, and boasts a power reserve of up to 30 hours. The 2026 version features a manual-winding crown and a sapphire transparent case back, allowing wearers to appreciate the rhythmic and poetic operation of the mechanics.
Product Design Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani shares: The inspiration behind this watch stems from its flexible structural qualities, which fueled the entire project’s creation. The piece combines elements like ancient coins, geometric octagons, and Milanese mesh, marking Bulgari’s deep exploration of diverse design languages.
The Tubogas Manchette, featuring vibrant gems and diamonds, shifts our gaze to the geometric and colorful vibes of the 1970s. A defining element of the brand since the 1940s, Tubogas reinterprets its classic design from 1974, presenting a wide, single-band gold bangle watch. Its face is adorned with nearly 12 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds, complemented by a dazzling array of colorful gemstones, including citrine, red tourmaline, peridot, amethyst, topaz, and manganese-almandine garnet. The layered colors create a stunning visual harmony that twinkles like the stars, embodying ultimate luxury.
The case is crafted from gold, with a square dial that reflects the geometric lines of architectural designs from years past. The new design incorporates modular assembly technology, allowing each link to be individually polished and adjusted before being secured to the titanium interior structure. This not only preserves the flexibility characteristic of Tubogas but also enhances the overall stability and comfort of the piece.
The watch is equipped with the Bulgari BVS100 Lady Solotempo automatic movement, featuring a diameter of 19mm and a thickness of just 3.9mm, weighing a mere 5 grams. Despite its delicate size, it boasts a power reserve of up to 50 hours, with the oscillating weight adorned with the brand’s logo and a sunburst pattern, blending beauty with functionality.
Bulgari’s global president and CEO of LVMH’s watch division, Jean-Christophe Babin, stated: LVMH Watch Week has always been a pivotal platform for showcasing innovative power, and we’re thrilled to be the first to unveil these groundbreaking creations that blend art and craftsmanship.
From ancient coins left behind since the Roman era to the free-spirited design styles of the 1970s, Bulgari uses gold as a medium to reinterpret the intersection of time and culture. The two new creations not only carry history but also reflect the future, proving that the brand doesn’t just dwell in the classics; rather, it continuously reimagines its heritage from fresh perspectives, crafting its own narrative within contemporary haute horlogerie and jewelry art.
