The Tourbillon That Never Left His Wrist
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 2
Flavio Cobolli's breakthrough season illustrates Bianchet's philosophy to create tourbillons built for extreme wear
In professional tennis, every gram matters. Players eliminate anything that could interfere with speed, balance or focus.
By the time Flavio Cobolli stepped onto the court for his first Grand Slam final in Paris, one detail had remained unchanged for months. The watch on his wrist. From Melbourne to Acapulco, Miami, Madrid, Munich and Rome, the Italian had worn a Bianchet tourbillon through every stage of a season that would establish him among the world's finest players. Long before becoming an official ambassador of the Maison, the UltraFino had already become part of his game.
Engineered for Competition
Mechanical watchmaking has long celebrated refinement. Bianchet believes refinement should also endure reality. The UltraFino collection was conceived around a singular ambition: creating an automatic flying tourbillon capable of performing under conditions that challenge even the most sophisticated mechanical movements.
Engineered to resist shocks of up to 5,000 G, the UltraFino combines an advanced anti-shock architecture with an exceptionally lightweight construction. Protecting an automatic calibre presents a particular challenge, as the oscillating gold rotor introduces additional forces that few watchmakers choose to confront. Yet the UT01 calibre safeguards its flying tourbillon, suspended barrel and automatic winding system without compromising the meticulous hand-finishing expected of Haute Horlogerie.
Performance and refinement are no longer opposing qualities. They can coexist.
The Reality of Performance
Cobolli's breakthrough season became a natural demonstration of that philosophy. His campaign included a third ATP title in Acapulco, a final in Munich and, ultimately, a first appearance in the championship match of the Paris Open. Throughout that journey, the UltraFino remained on his wrist, not as a symbolic accessory, but as a trusted companion through the rhythm of professional competition.
Earlier in the season, at the Monte-Carlo Masters, he wore the UltraFino Monaco in white quartz fibre composite, alongside fellow Bianchet ambassadors Alexander Bublik and Nicolai Budkov Kjær. In Paris, he chose the UltraFino Tonneau in high-density carbon, weighing just 46 grams including the strap and measuring only 8.9 mm thick.
The watches differ in material and character, but they share the same philosophy: exceptional mechanical performance, uncompromising resilience and harmonious proportions guided by the Golden Ratio.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
Founded in Neuchâtel by Rodolfo and Emmanuelle Festa Bianchet, Bianchet has always carried strong Italian roots. That heritage finds a natural echo in Cobolli, whose determination, elegance and attacking style have earned him the nickname Il Gladiatore. His approach to competition reflects values deeply embedded within every Bianchet creation: precision, resilience and the pursuit of excellence.
The announcement of Flavio Cobolli as Brand Ambassador therefore formalises a relationship already proven on court. After months of competition at the highest level, the UltraFino has already demonstrated exactly what it was designed to do. Not simply to accompany performance but to withstand it.
