Bulgari Mini Tank
This Bulgari women’s hand-wound Tank watch in 18k yellow gold captures the refined glamour of mid-century Italian design. Measuring 21 × 28 mm, it features a bark-finished case, a golden dial, and baton hands- details that showcase the maison’s commitment to texture, light, and proportion.
Excellent vintage condition with very minor wear.
The cabochon-set crown and warm, sculptural gold surfaces lend the piece a distinct jewelry-like presence, while its Movado manual-wind movement speaks to the era’s emphasis on precision and craftsmanship. Both elegant and characterful, it stands as a timeless example of Bvlgari’s early watchmaking artistry.
Produced during the 1940s and 1950s, this model reflects a defining period in Bulgari’s evolution, when the Roman jeweler began merging haute joaillerie sensibilities with Swiss horological expertise. The “Tank” shape, inspired by Cartier’s pioneering design, was interpreted through Bvlgari’s distinctive lens: warmer, more sculptural, and inherently Italian. The bark-textured gold surface, a hallmark of postwar design, gives this watch a tactile richness that sets it apart from the cleaner lines of its Parisian counterparts.
The presence of a Movado caliber underscores the collaborations between top Swiss movement makers and high-end jewelers during this era, resulting in pieces that balanced elegance with mechanical integrity. Today, examples like this remain rare and sought after- admired for their refined proportions, distinctive goldwork, and their place at the crossroads of jewelry and timekeeping history.
