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modelSpotted December 2022

Model Ester Expósito spotted wearing a Bulgari

model Ester Expósito spotted wearing a Bulgari
Who & what: Bulgari Aluminium Sorayama Special Edition – Aluminum & Rubber – 103430

Ester Expósito, the Spanish model and actress best known for her role in Netflix's 'Élite', was recently spotted wearing the Bulgari Aluminium Sorayama Special Edition on her wrist — a limited-edition timepiece that blurs the line between watchmaking and contemporary art. The sighting, captured in what appears to be a Parisian interior, shows the watch sitting naturally among layered gold accessories, suggesting it is a regular rotation piece rather than a one-off styling choice.

The Bulgari Aluminium collection itself dates back to 1998, when the brand made a bold move by producing a luxury sports watch in aerospace-grade aluminum — a material then considered unconventional in fine watchmaking. The Sorayama Special Edition refreshes this DNA with a dial conceived in collaboration with Hajime Sorayama, the Tokyo-based artist globally recognized for his chrome-finished robotic figures. The silvered dial features a three-dimensional quilted or honeycomb-style surface treatment that echoes Sorayama's reflective, futuristic aesthetic. The black aluminum bezel carries the iconic BVLGARI·BVLGARI double-logo engraving, while the black rubber strap keeps the 40mm case firmly in casual territory. Power comes from the Calibre B77, a COSC-certified automatic movement based on the ETA 2892, offering approximately 42 hours of power reserve.

From a collector's standpoint, the Sorayama collaboration elevated the Aluminium line's desirability significantly. The standard Aluminium references already command strong secondary-market premiums, but artist editions like this one tend to appreciate quickly due to their limited production runs and crossover appeal among art and sneaker culture communities — demographics not traditionally associated with Swiss watchmaking.

Expósito's choice reflects a broader generational shift in how luxury watches are worn and perceived. At 23, she represents a consumer who treats a Bulgari Aluminium the way an older generation might have treated a Submariner: as an everyday luxury sports piece that works as hard aesthetically as it does functionally.

At an official retail of approximately $3,400 USD, the Bulgari Aluminium Sorayama Special Edition sits at a compelling entry point for a Swiss automatic with genuine artistic pedigree. Grey-market values have tracked above retail since release, with examples changing hands between $3,800 and $4,500 USD depending on condition and completeness.

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