In the world of watches, who is the real ultra-thin king? Richard Mille, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Count Piaget, Bulgari, the competition between these big names can be described as a war without smoke. In recent days, Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra has broken the world record with a thickness of 1.85mm, heating up the battle for ultra-thin watches instantly! Want to know the story behind this competition and the strategies of major brands? Then read on!

Richard Mille’s ultra-thin watch

In the watch industry, the design and technical challenges of ultra-thin watches are important manifestations of watchmaking craftsmanship. The emergence of Richard Mille once made Jaeger-LeCoultre’s efforts in this field almost futile. In the eyes of many people, Jaeger-LeCoultre has become the “runner-up” in the field of ultra-thin watches, while Richard Mille is the “absolute first”.

However, as time goes by, we find that the competitive relationship between the two brands is quietly changing. Jaeger-LeCoultre seems to have been unable to keep up with Richard Mille, and it may take more time and technology accumulation for the latter to truly subvert the watchmaking industry.

In our opinion, the real threat to Jaeger-LeCoultre is not Richard Mille, but the two luxury brands Piaget and Bulgari, especially Bulgari, which has almost single-handedly started a new battle in the field of ultra-thin watches.

In April 2023, Bulgari released the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon watch at the “Watches and Miracles” exhibition. This watch model 104313 is only 1.85mm thick, breaking the 2mm ultra-thin watch world record set by Piaget. It has become the focus of discussion among watch fans around the world.

It is worth mentioning that Bulgari has released many ultra-thin watches before, such as the 1.8mm in 2022 and the 1.7mm in 2024. They are both very good works, but because they do not have the complex function of a tourbillon, they have not attracted much attention.

The release of Octo Finissimo Ultra this time is like dropping a depth bomb on the originally calm ultra-thin watch market, because it is not only the thinnest tourbillon watch currently, but also represents a major breakthrough for Bulgari in watchmaking technology.

Count Piaget is not to be outdone

Piaget will obviously not give in. In 2025, it will also launch a new khaki green Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon watch (model G0A50530). This watch has a diameter of 41.5 mm and is equipped with Piaget’s own 970PUC movement. The thickness of the movement has reached 3.0mm, and the thickness of the overall watch is 2.0mm.

It can be said that this watch is excellent in all aspects, and can even be said to be a perfect copy of the design of Bulgari’s 104313. However, unfortunately, it did not create a new history and could only be ranked as the runner-up of the “thinnest tourbillon”.

According to the information we have, Piaget’s new Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon watch is 2.0mm thick, while Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon watch is 1.85mm. There is a 0.15mm gap between the two. This gap may not seem big, but it is a huge gap in the watchmaking industry, because it represents a difference in technology and design.

Many people are speculating whether Piaget will launch a thinner watch next to regain this record, but we are skeptical because technology cannot be broken through in a short time, especially in such a market that has been occupied by Bulgari. Any technological breakthrough may be quickly copied by opponents.

And based on our understanding of Piaget’s consistent style, this brand does not seem to like to invest too much in this area. In their view, the most important thing about a watch is the accuracy of time and the comfort of the wearer. These are the true embodiment of watchmaking craftsmanship, rather than the pursuit of thinness.

Conclusion

The competition in ultra-thin watches is really dizzying, especially Bulgari’s latest masterpiece, which has brought new shocks to the industry. Although Earl PIAGET is unwilling to be outdone, facing such a strong opponent, the challenges ahead are still arduous. Which brand do you think will win this battle? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area for discussion, and don’t forget to like and support!