It has crossed several decades, survived society’s numerous upheavals and remained resolutely free of constantly changing trends. As imperial as ever, Bulgari Roma is still as inherently up-to-date and contemporary as the day it was born. Its rebirth in 2012 celebrates almost four decades of innovation and modernity.

The emergence of Bulgari Roma in 1975 signaled a complete break with the prevailing watchmaking conservatism, under the impetus of the Bulgari family that was keen to shatter standard conventions while boldly proclaiming its roots.

The new creation was inspired by ancient Rome, when emperors chose currency as a means of asserting their sovereignty. Struck with their profile and their reign name, coins symbolized authority, strength, power and character. Bulgari Roma thus featured a bezel bearing the name of the House and proclaiming the origins of its roots in the Eternal City. These elements became an integral part of the overall design within a formal approach focused on the geometry of the cylinder. It highlighted a sense of purity, understatement and refinement, while evoking the architectural heritage of ancient Rome.

BaselWorld 2013 Novelty - Bulgari Roma

Bulgari Roma proved a true watershed in the mid-1970s, playing a pioneering role in the watchmaking world; laying a new milestone in the history of watchmaking trends; as well as heralding a dynamic that would later be widely followed in vibrant testimony to this model’s iconic strength.

From that point onward, the Brand signature belonged firmly to Bulgari. The House set the finishing touch to its symbolic and stylistic use by introducing Bulgari Bulgari in 1977. In line with Bulgari Roma, the double logo established itself as a style standard on a model that represented far more than just a watch, conveying a number of underlying values relating to architecture, social symbolism and aesthetics.

The line testifies to the eras it has swept through in its journey to the present day. Initially a symbol of creative boldness, the model subsequently embodied absolute luxury, before acquiring the rank of a subtly refined watch. Across the decades, the doubly engraved model has borne witness to a paradoxical power: the line has varied only slightly through almost imperceptible touches, thus remaining entirely loyal to its foundational design codes while nonetheless remaining undeniably modern. Watchmaking history offers very few comparable examples of models born in the 20th century and that remain as on-trend as ever.

The theme of the signature on the bezel paved a new path for horological creativity, convincingly demonstrating that pared-down simplicity may encompass an infinitely complex range of essential values discreetly expressed through design.

This creation embodies the stylistic vibrancy of the Rome-based House. 2013 brings a fresh tribute to a truly iconic line of which Bulgari Roma is the emblematic historical representative.

Its excellence is accentuated by a proprietary self-winding movement. Entirely in-house developed and produced, it is housed within an elegantly curved 18-carat pink gold case teamed with a black alligator leather strap, Bulgari Roma will be issued in a strictly limited and numbered 250-piece edition.

Source: Bulgari