A track-worthy chronograph developed with Gran Turismo explores a new frontier for the brand.
A nitro-injected chronograph has just joined the Bulgari Aluminium collection at the Gran Turismo World Series Finals in Barcelona. The new timepiece, the Bulgari Aluminium X Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023, is the result of a collaboration with Gran Turismo, the renowned racing simulation franchise that’s sold over 90 million units of its video games since its 1997 debut. Alongside this watch’s release, Bulgari has also unveiled the Bulgari Aluminium Vision GT car under the Vision Gran Turismo programme.
Track Ready
The Bulgari Aluminium speaks its casual yet sporty design language with much aplomb. The former is conveyed through its pared-down aesthetic, which retains a strong link to its sibling, the Bulgari Bulgari, while maintaining a wholly unique identity. Sportiness and technical sophistication, on the other hand, stems from the collection’s play with materials; in lieu of traditional precious metals or steel, the collection is primarily executed in aluminium and rubber. Weight savings aside, these materials are visually distinct. Aluminium, in particular, offers a palette of grey metallic tones that are different even from steel and titanium, which makes the Bulgari Aluminium even more visually striking.
In the new Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023, the Bulgari Aluminium is infused with a motoring sensibility via various features. Most obvious among them is the striking usage of yellow – in a particularly vibrant shade that was inspired by the dashboard dials of a legendary Italian gran turismo car from the 1960s. The timepiece’s sub-dials continue this with markings that allude to dashboard instruments, both with their typeface and general design. Topping things off is the tachymeter scale on the dial’s outer rim. It doesn’t just make another reference to the world of motorsports, but also lends the dial a touch of busyness to balance the watch’s clean and sharp silhouette.
When it comes to technical execution, the Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023 retains the Bulgari Aluminium’s DNA. An aluminium case topped with a rubber bezel starts things off by establishing the trademark elements of the line. In the same vein, a supple bracelet comprising articulating rubber links and aluminium connectors extends the usage of these materials. Elsewhere, DLC-coated titanium is used for the crown and case back, to provide robustness where it is most needed.
Two references of the Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023 are available. One features a yellow dial paired with black counters, and is limited to 500 pieces worldwide. The other, with an anthracite dial and yellow dial markings, will have a larger run of 1,200 pieces. Both of these references are powered by Bulgari’s self-winding B381 chronograph calibre, which has been designed, developed, and built in-house at the brand’s integrated manufacture.
A Concept Realised
The Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023’s release was made even more special with the unveiling of the Bulgari Aluminium Vision GT concept car. This is the latest addition to Gran Turismo’s Vision Gran Turismo programme, which sees various marques designing concept cars that are later made available as drivable models within the franchise’s video games.
Bulgari is notable for being the first watchmaking brand to create a concept car for the video game series and has, in an expression of its spirit as a maison, produced a hypercar that seamlessly extends the Bulgari Aluminium collection from watch to automobile. The play with materials is central to this, of course. To that end, the Bulgari Aluminium Vision GT prominently features aluminium and rubber, which are supplemented with other technical materials such as carbon. Meanwhile, the car’s profile is reminiscent of the outlines that define the Bulgari Aluminium’s case and bracelet. This visual parallel continues elsewhere, such as the cockpit and even the wheels, to provide a unified design language that’s long a signature of the brand.
To bridge the two universes, every purchase of a Bulgari Aluminium x Gran Turismo Special Edition 2023 will come with a code that enables the in-game usage of the Bulgari Aluminium Vision GT. This is but the latest in a series of Bulgari timepieces that have pushed the envelope to connect the physical and digital worlds, with previous examples including an NFC chip-equipped Diagono timepiece to an Octo Finissimo watch that came accompanied with an NFT.
Images courtesy of Bulgari, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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