Bvlgari: The House That Sotirio Built
FROM A TO B.ZERO1, BVLGARI CONTINUES TO BEGUILE. By Gina Samarotto The history of one of the world’s most illustrious jewelers begins in Paramythia, a small village in the mountains of Greece. It was there, well before the turn of the last century, where a craftsman introduced his young son to the family trade. In this story, the father was a silversmith; the son was Sotirios Voulgaris – later to be known as Sotirio Bulgari – and from those humble, ancestral beginnings the glittering gem that would one day become the House of Bvlgari was born. Since its inception one hundred and thirty-one years ago, the House of Bvlgari has remained passionately committed to impeccable quality. As the new millennium neared, the notable purveyor with the name synonymous with luxury extended its reach by adding exquisite leather goods, fine watches, fragrances and a dappling of five-star hotels to their jewel encrusted portfolio. The result was an even larger constellation of sparkling indulgence and the Bvlgari we know today. With all due respect to Greek roots and the deeply rooted Italian presence Sotirio Bulgari bestowed on his temple of indulgence, today one can’t help but hear a faint whisper of French being spoken within the hallowed halls of the House of Bvlgari. Acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari joined the French luminary’s Watch & Jewelry sector along with Chaumet, Tag Heuer, Zenith, Fred, Hublot, and DeBeers in 2011. Nestled contentedly within LVMH’s proverbial lap of luxury; Bvlgari continues to shine with an inimitable brilliance that captures the attention of the world’s most discerning jewelry aficionados. Bvlgari’s offerings currently include the current B.zero1 Collection, a spectacular assortment of pieces crafted in the brand’s signature ‘tubogas’ style. First used by Bvlgari in the 1940s, the elegantly sinuous tubogas technique involves wrapping strips of precious metal – or ceramics, as is the case with B.zero1 – around a temporary core to create meticulously constructed, strikingly dramatic coils that serve as the backbone of the designs. The statement-making spheres of pink, white and yellow gold contained within the B.zero1 Collection are combined with ceramic and diamonds to create boldly modern rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces destined to be Bvlgari classics. Also in the current catalog and crafted using the same tubogas technique is Bvlgari’s Serpenti Collection. Serpenti pays, as the name would imply, homage to the serpent – that much loved Bvlgari hallmark used to illustrate wisdom, life, and eternity. With pieces that wrap seductively across the wrist, wind suggestively about the neck, or dangle beguiling from the ear; the diamond and gem laden pieces from the Serpenti Collection are exotic symbols of pure indulgence. While what the House of Bvlgari has for us next remains to be seen, it seems safe to say it promises to be nothing short of sigh-worthy. Sotirio would be pleased. For more information on Bvlgari’s collections, please visit www.Bulgari.com Click here to view this post in the July/August digital issue. Click here to view our online issue.