Bulgari continues their year of giving back with the Aluminium Tricolore limited series on behalf of three Italian children’s hospitals

Zach Blass

Editor’s note: Bulgari leapt to the aid of Australia earlier in the year, when they donated a glorious Serpenti to our Watch & Act! Auction in aid of the Australian bushfires. It turns out it wasn’t out of character. Since then the brand has shown tremendous moral leadership through 2020, and it continues with this special ‘Tricolore’ Edition of the Aluminium, which we’ve covered on video here and in a written review here.

When the COVID-19 pandemic initially hit the world, Bulgari from the outset leveraged its resources in order to better service the Italian people. When hand sanitiser was in short supply, Bulgari lent a helping hand by having its fragrance manufacture halt the production of product in favour of producing and bottling hand sanitiser to donate to hospitals within the country. Their latest effort in the fight against COVID-19 is a partnership with the venerated Aeronautica Militare. Together, they join forces on behalf of the Italian nation in a spirit of solidarity to present a limited series of watches: the Bvlgari Aluminium Tricolore.

The backstory

The primary task of the Aeronautica Militare is to defend Italian airspace. However, like other armed forces around the world, the Aeronautica Militare has recently devoted its full resources and capabilities to provide support for the COVID-19 emergency. Crews of transport aircraft and air rescue helicopters have shuttled specialised doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and even medical devices and equipment round-the-clock in order to provide urgently needed assistance to those affected by the virus throughout the country.

The Frecce Tricolori, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force, also played an important role at the height of the pandemic, flying over the whole country from north to south, to increase national morale and unity, and provide a symbol that citizens of the nation were being watched over. The demonstration culminated on June 2, the anniversary of the Republic, with the national three-coloured flag being flown across the sky above Rome.

The watch

The Bulgari Aluminium Tricolore is the same Bulgari Aluminium we know and love, but with a colourful twist. This limited series of watches features a blue rubber bezel and rubber strap (with aluminium links) not found in the standard production models. The warm grey dial with SLN hour-markers pairs beautifully with the blue of the bezel and strap, and honours this limited series of watches with a special TRICOLORE logo in green, white and red – bringing Italian pride and colours to the dial. The watch is powered by the robust B77 calibre, with 42 hours of power reserve, which will hold up under the stress of daily operations.  The 40mm case is fashioned in aluminium, with an engraved titanium caseback, and is water resistant to 100m. Each watch will come with a dedicated aluminium and rubber presentation box. Whether your outfit is military or military-inspired, this watch will look right at home on your wrist.

Bulgari gives back

Bulgari, as the “Roman Jeweller of Time” takes the title seriously and values the people who have given their brand the strength and recognition it has today. Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the Bvlgari Group, explains: “Bulgari has received a lot from Italy, and it’s only fair that Bulgari should give back to Italy.” This led Bulgari to take their most accessible 2020 novelty and remix it as a tool to generate funds to give back to Italian people and organisations that are in need. 

Bulgari Aluminium Tricolore Limited Edition pricing and availability:

The Bulgari Aluminium Tricolore Limited Series is organised into three groups. The initial 50 models produced will be numbered editions sold in Italy, with the entirety of the revenue generated from their sale by Bulgari going to the “Un dono dal cielo” (“A gift from heaven”), the fundraising project recently launched by the Aeronautica Militare. The funds raised will support three Italian children’s hospitals – Giannina Gaslini in Genoa, Bambino Gesù in Rome and Santobono-Pausilipon in Naples – that all perform amazing work supporting the Italian people.

The second group consists of 11 exclusive timepieces, built solely for the members of the Frecce Tricolori. Each watch will receive an engraving that corresponds to the identification number of the pilot and aircraft composing the team, from Pony 0 to Pony 10. The Commander of the Frecce Tricolori, Lieutenant Colonel Gaetano Farina, will symbolically receive the Pony 0 watch on behalf of the entire Aeronautica Militare. This timepiece – together with Pony 1, dedicated to the aircraft of the Chief Training Officer; and Pony 10, dedicated to the solo pilot of the Frecce Tricolori – will be auctioned by Christie’s Italy in December as a further contribution to the initiative in partnership with the Aeronautica Militare. This means only three of the 11 watches will be possible to purchase, giving bidders the chance to win an extremely rare military-issued watch.

The third and last group, a 1000-piece non-numbered series, will be available internationally from December 2020, at a price TBC.