The newest addition to Bulgari’s world of haute horlogerie doesn’t just tell time. The Octo Finissimo Ultra also tells the story of time, and the evolution of watchmaking.

It’s a deceptively state-of-the-art timepiece that (thankfully) doesn’t illuminate, bleep, or receive emails. The Ultra is aimed for a much more rarefied and refined wearer. Old world Swiss watchmaking, Italian elegance, and technological advances meld and juxtapose.

Courtesy of Bulgari.

At 1.8 mm wide, it is the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, virtually disappearing with a side view. It took three years of research and development and eight new patents filed. The result is roughly the height of an American quarter coin, with a power reserve of 50 full hours.

The Ultra’s austere dial reveals some of its inner workings. Most striking is the laser-engraved ratchet-wheel, adorned with a working QR code. One can enter the matrix with a scan of the wrist.

This links to a virtual realm with content devoted to the watch’s design origins. The owner can also access their own individual NFT artwork, which also serves to authenticate the watch.

Laser engraving on the dial, courtesy of Bulgari.

The Italian luxury brand is celebrating the 10th year of its Octo series of watches. This super-exclusive iteration is limited to an edition of only 10, with a price of around $440,000.

“This fabulous landmark that we are setting today with the Octo Finissimo Ultra is the fulfillment of a dream,” Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin said in a statement.

The shape of things to come is flat—and coded.