Bvlgari Diagono Aluminum

Bulgari enjoys a unique relationship with the timepiece industry.  A part of the LVMH Group, they are perhaps better known — at least outside watchmaking circles — for their luxurious high jewelry, fashion, and fragrance divisions than they are for their wristwatches. But the timepieces they do produce are often really quite something. One need look no further than their award-winning (and completely breathtaking) Octo Finissimo series to prove that they have it where it counts in terms of design chops. Less well known, but equally interesting, are timepieces such as this one: The Bulgari Diagono Reference AL 38 A. It’s housed in a 38mm aluminum case with a sapphire crystal, a rubber crown and pushers, and their signature ‘BVLGARI BVLGARI’ decorated bezel - in this instance executed in matching black rubber. It features a satin silver dial with black printed indices, a red-tipped seconds hand, and a date window at 3 o’clock. Powered by the Bulgari Calibre 220 self-winding movement, it comes paired to a signed articulating black rubber strap with aluminum hinges and a signed aluminum pin buckle. The resulting product is at once retro-fantastic and highly avant-garde. You'd have to look pretty far and wide to find a contemporary timepiece with uncommon casing materials and functionality for anywhere near this price point — and it probably wouldn't end up looking this cool.