Words: Justin Hast
I was in Geneva this week, ahead of Geneva Watch Days, an annual gathering of an ever-increasing number of small and big makers, on the banks of Lake Geneva. I know that, from experience, it is dangerous: I always, without fail, leave having fallen for something I didn’t expect to – or can’t afford to – fall for.
Bvlgari Aluminium Match Point Edition
Last year, it was the Bulgari Octo Sketch limited edition, a very Italian take on the manufacturer’s smash-hit ultra-thin sports model. This trip, it was the Bvlgari Aluminium Match Point Edition.
The Bulgari Aluminium watch, as a whole, has a rich history of combining a genuinely unexpected mix of rubber and aluminium (one of very few watches, to this day, to deploy this combo). First introduced in 1998, the timepiece received a significant update in 2020, with a mechanical self-winding movement. Since then, we have seen a number of colourways and partnership models.
The Match Point is a limited-edition creation (800 in total) dedicated to tennis – although there’s definitely a military spirit going on with that hue of green. Recognisable by its rubber bezel and bracelet unlike any other, it has been designed with the intention of being worn on and off the court.
The highlights, for me, are the left-hand crown (generally targeted – but not limited to – right handers); the neon accents on the dial, which come alive in natural light; and the incredibly supple and comfortable Velcro strap. Again, such a design is something very few makers have taken on and delivered to this level – I can only think of Tudor and Ressence (its Type 5, specifically) that have done so in recent years.
At 40mm, with an in-house movement, and a price of just over £3,000, this has to be the summer watch of 2023. Am I biased now that I have one on the Amex? Yes. But, will you thank me when you glance down at it while on the sunbed? No doubt. It’s an ace for me.
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