Pre-Owned Bvlgari Diagono 'Panda' Chronograph 40991618/AS09002

Bulgari enjoys a unique relationship with the timepiece industry. 

A part of the LVMH group, they are perhaps better known — at least outside watchmaking circles — for their luxurious high jewelry, fashion, and fragrance divisions than they are for their wristwatches. But what watches they do have are really quite something. One need look no further than their award-winning (and completely breathtaking) Octo Finissimo series to prove that they have it where it counts in terms of design chops.

Less well known, but equally interesting to us, are timepieces such as this one: A Bulgari Diagono Chronograph. Introduced in 2016, it enjoyed only a short production run, but has already won a place of affection in our eyes. An extension of the Diagono line introduced in 1988, the Chronograph is a unique take on design of the common complication, incorporating as it does the bold “Bulgari Bulgari” branding of the 1970s and the integrated bracelet look of Genta’s famed designs. 

This particular Diagono Chronograph from the 2020s is housed in a 38mm aluminum case with a sapphire crystal, a rubber crown and pushers, and a signed black rubber bezel. It features a luminous off white dial with black 'hash' indices indices, a matching handset, a triple-register chronograph layout with black sub registers, and a date window at 4:30. Powered by the Bulgari Calibre B130 automatic chronograph movement (based on an ETA Calibre 2894), it comes paired to a signed articulating black rubber strap with aluminum hinges and a signed aluminum pin buckle.

The resulting product is at once retro-fantastic and highly avant-garde. You'd have to look pretty far and wide to find a contemporary timepiece with uncommon casing materials and functionality for anywhere near this price point — and it probably wouldn't end up looking this cool.