Description

The present reference is the Bvlgari Papillon Heure Sautante Daniel Roth ref. 102338, an exceptional blend of classical Roman design and Daniel Roth’s visionary mechanical architecture.

The watch is housed in an imposing 45 mm case in 18k white gold, distinguished by Daniel Roth’s signature double-ellipse silhouette. The case geometry features stepped bezels, curved case flanks, and sapphire crystals on both the front and back, providing generous wrist presence while highlighting the complex sculptural contours of the design.

The black dial showcases the patented Papillon complication, an inventive mechanism that reimagines the indication of time. At 12 o’clock, a jumping-hour aperture provides instant digital readout of the current hour. Across the lower half of the dial, a semi-circular 60-minute scale is tracked by two independent, diamond-shaped retractable hands (“papillon” or butterfly hands). As one hand completes its 60-minute journey and turns 90 degrees to retract flat along the minute track, the opposing hand simultaneously rotates into position to indicate the start of the next hour—creating a captivating mechanical ballet on the wrist.

Presented on an alligator leather strap with a white gold buckle, the ref. 102338 stands as a remarkable testament to the enduring genius of Daniel Roth’s mechanical language, preserved and elevated within Bvlgari’s high-complication collections.

Bulgari – Bio

Bulgari was founded in Rome, Italy in 1884 by a Greek silversmith named Sotirios Voulgaris. Bulgari is the phonetic version of his surname. The store at Via Condotti, 10 which was opened in 1905, is still today the point of reference of all the Bulgari stores in the world.

The brand is well-known for high-jewelry, and has also been producing watches since the 1920s. But their watches gained momentum in the 1940s when the Serpenti collection was introduced. The first serially produced men’s watch was the BVLGARI BVLGARI introduced in 1977, designed by the legendary Gerald Genta.
Following the success of the BVLGARI BVLGARI, in 1980 the brand created a watch business unit and in 1982 the Bulgari Time S.A. company in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Several collections later, to further strengthen their watch portfolio, the brand acquired Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta brands. The brand has not only been capitalizing on the designs, but also setting new benchmarks in watchmaking by introducing the record-breaking ultra-thin movements and cases within their Octo Finissimo collection.