Bulgari CEO, Jean-Christophe Babin

Jean-Christophe Babin took over as the head of Bulgari in mid-2013. He arrived at the headquarters in Rome directly from LVMH sibling brand TAG Heuer, where he had spent a decade as its CEO.

Q&P: What makes Bulgari different from other luxury brands?

JCB: We are the jewelers of time and as such are a very unique brand in Basel presenting very bold, compelling and fascinating timepieces.

Q&P: How many new products will Bulgari introduce in 2014?

JCB: Our 2014 goal is to show the world a hundred new products, which will shape the future of Bulgari Horlogerie.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon

Q&P: What is your favorite watch to wear right now?

JCB: Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, one of our major new Basel products, as it best embodies our magic Swiss expertise and Italian design fusion. It’s the single thinnest tourbillon ever at 1.95 mm and was entirely developed and manufactured internally. The Finissimo Tourbillon’s Octo case was inspired by the monumental and architectural Basilica of Massenzio (Maxentius) ceiling.

Exploded view of the movement of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon

Q&P: Do you have a favorite complication among the many that Bulgari produces?

JCB: Obviously our Ammiraglio del Tempo [“admiral of time”] grande sonnerie and minute repeater with echappement à détente is definitely the culmination of our unique mastering of grand complications. With four hammers and a Westminster carillon [gong] combined with a totally revolutionary escapement inherited from eighteenth-century navy clocks. Its magic music is created by combining 516 components crafted and assembled by a master watchmaker capable of making one or two per year.

For more information, please visit www.bulgari.com.