Actor Naga Chaitanya spotted wearing a Bulgari

At what appears to be a public appearance or industry event, Telugu cinema star Naga Chaitanya was photographed with a Bulgari Gerald Genta Octo Bi-Retro on his wrist — a watch that stands out even among Bulgari's notably design-forward catalogue. The combination of a black rubber strap, dark ceramic bezel elements, and the distinctive octagonal steel case is immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with the Gerald Genta lineage.

The Octo Bi-Retro is built around a mechanical complication that replaces the conventional sweeping-hand display with two retrograde indicators: one for the hours (displayed via a jumping disc at 12 o'clock, showing digital-style numerals) and one for the minutes, which sweeps across an arc and snaps back at 60. The movement powering this complication is the BVL 313, an in-house calibre beating at 28,800 vph with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The case measures 44mm across the octagonal stainless steel form, with ceramic inserts on the bezel that echo the screwed-lug aesthetic originally drawn by Gerald Genta himself decades earlier.

Genta's design DNA runs deep here. The octagonal case architecture traces back to his legendary 1970s commissions — the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the IWC Ingenieur — and Bulgari has carefully maintained that geometric tension in the Octo family. The Bi-Retro variant adds a layer of complication that Genta himself championed throughout his independent career, making this reference feel like a genuine continuation of his vision rather than mere brand exploitation.

Naga Chaitanya, known for his roles in Telugu blockbusters and his high-profile public presence, has shown a consistent preference for understated luxury that communicates knowledge rather than ostentation. The Octo Bi-Retro fits that profile precisely: it is not the most expensive Bulgari available, but it is arguably one of the most intellectually rewarding.

At a retail price of $18,000, the Bulgari Gerald Genta Octo Bi-Retro sits in a competitive segment where Patek Philippe and A. Lange & Söhne offer retrograde complications at significantly higher premiums. On the grey market, well-kept examples tend to trade at modest discounts to retail, reflecting steady rather than speculative collector demand — a watch bought for the movement, not the investment.