It all began with a Greek silversmith journeying across the depths of the Mediterranean to a once legendary empire and commencing his long legacy, showcasing his exquisite craftsmanship for the world to gaze upon with awe. Sotirio Bulgari founded the brand in Rome in the year 1884. Centuries later, Bulgari might have just come full circle and delved into its roots with the launch of the new Mediterranea High-Jewellery collection. “With great honour, we celebrate the vision of the founder Sotirio Bulgari with magnificent creations that represent the pinnacle of Bulgari’s identity made of audacious creativity and exceptional craftsmanship,” says Jean-Christophe Babin, Bulgari CEO.
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Bulgari unveils the splendour of luxury watches that are an amalgamation of the glittering beauty of Italian craftsmanship and the immaculate traditions of Swiss watchmaking. Straight out of the glittering seas of the Mediterranean and the bountiful reefs, the unequivocally gorgeous richness of this underwater realm has been perfectly captured and brought to life with these unique timepieces.
Merging two leading aspects that celebrate the relentless spirit of Bulgari in the most perfect manner, this collection is divided into three universes: each of them strongly referencing a symphony of symbols, atmospheres, and inspirations; “Southern Radiance”, “Roman Splendour” and “East Meets West”.
Venturing out from the proficient artisan-riddled Bulgari design studio in Switzerland and rightfully coined “The Southern Radiance”, this line of pure art perfectly embodies and pays homage to the beautiful Mediterranean while encapsulating the bold and dauntless facets of the Roman roots of Bulgari.
On the hunt to convey a sense of vibrancy and joy, the brand’s skilled artisans and colour gemstones experts endeavoured to create two underwater gardens where the luxury pieces showcased flexibility in structure along with a variety of hidden treasures and living reef. All the elements – fixed, moving or set on tremblers, – are assembled on a flexible bracelet made of coral-shaped parts in white gold evoking the sense of the ocean waves while proving to be a delight on the wrist. Taking inspiration from the Nineties’ Naturalia collection, particularly from a heritage shell brooch set with sapphires and a cabochon emerald, Bulgari has shone through with vigour with the pieces of “Southern Radiance”.
Bulgari endeavoured to integrate the ancient craft of cameo carving to enliven the “Roman Splendour” line in order to celebrate and elevate its characteristic usage of Greek and Roman coins within its collections, a practice initiated by Nicola Bulgari in the 1960s. The magnificent cameo art, which has roots in Greece dating back to the fifth century BC, rose to enormous popularity in Ancient Rome. Bulgari intended to pay homage to the greatest rulers of all time: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and Augusto Ottaviano to honour this heritage and celebrate its Roman roots. The Cameo Imperiale secret watch necklace is a rose gold chain with a pendant concealing a watch, all featuring diamonds and brilliant-cut rubies. The silhouette of Cleopatra and decorated with sapphires without a doubt steals the spotlight of the “Roman Splendour”.
The “East Meets West” range brilliantly highlights Western and Eastern influences. The Oriental Buds high-jewellery secret watch, which comes with a matching necklace, is reminiscent of a rich, exotic garden thanks to its geometric symmetry, which was influenced by Byzantine architecture. This extraordinary timepiece, which took a gruelling 900 hours to make, is brimming with life and vitality and contains a gorgeous blend of diamond, tourmaline, emerald, and sapphire beads that have been given a dynamic vibrancy. A 5.65-carat Colombian cushion-cut emerald set in a pavé-diamond setting with designs influenced by Indian Mughal architecture dominates the concealed watch. The flower opens to expose the dial, which is encrusted with shimmering diamonds when the central emerald is pushed.
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