BVLGARI – A Jewel in History

Article by BR Kellie

Elizabeth Taylor labeled it ‘a nice little shop’.

Andy Warhol described it as ‘the most important museum of contemporary art’.

Two very different ways of describing one of the world’s most luxurious brands.  A brand synonymous with timeless glamour, elegance, and wearability. The screen goddess’s ‘nice little shop’, the celebrated artist’s ‘important museum’, is better known to you and I as, Bulgari - a name with a history as rich and interesting as the jewellery it creates.

Since 1884, when Sotirio Bulgari opened his first shop in Rome creating ‘fine Arts in marble, bronze, silver, wood’, Bulgari* has introduced the world to stunning works of jewellery, or as Andy would describe them, art.  Those early days of silver, marble, bronze, and wood soon evolved when Sotirio’s son, Giorgio joined the family business and travelled to Paris where he observed the fashion trends while learning manufacturing techniques.

The roaring 20’s saw a turning point in the business when they expanded into diamonds and jewels, but it was the 40’s that saw the foundations laid for that classic Bvlgari style, when they began to create pieces with gold, the design becoming softer, more subtle, and more naturalistic. 

This ‘Parisian’ style faded away when, in the 60’s, Bulgari took to creating jewellery that featured large and rare precious gemstones within its creations as they came into their own as Roman jewellers. It was during this period that the unmistakable Bulgari style began to emerge – generous pieces featuring unusual colour combinations, as well as Bulgari’s trademark ancient coin jewellery.

The vibrancy of the 70’s led to Bulgari creating exuberant contemporary pieces, with influences coming from India, and the Pop Art movement. Pieces that would come to be known as ‘pret-a-porter’ jewellery – jewellery that could be worn anywhere, at any time. 

The decadence of the 80’s saw Bulgari design crystallised. Compared to other jewellery it was less conventional, refined, precious, but always wearable, no matter the occasion. This was the secret of ‘wearability’ according to Bulgari. This desire for wearability spurred the innovation of combining simple materials like rubber and silk with precious metals and jewels – a style which is echoed by others to this day.

It was during the opulence and colour of the 90’s that Bugari began to expand into other areas, such as leather goods, silk scarves, eyewear, and of course, perfume. This expansion continued into the new century with Bulgari opening resorts and hotels, as well as expanding their jewellery range, with latest pieces influenced by fashion’s deconstruction trend, and featuring a return to white gold and platinum, as well as delicate and openwork pieces.

For over a century Bulgari has wowed the world with its sublime style, and in more recent times its eminent wearability. Whilst we may not all be able to adorn ourselves in their jewellery, Bulgari perfume is accessible to us all, including their latest fragrance, Aqva Divina – described as a floral- solar watery eau de toilette, it’s designed to evoke the radiance and sensuality of a sophisticated summer.  

This exquisite fragrance is assured to become a jewel in Bulgari’s ‘little shop’, and no doubt a jewel in the perfume collections of discerning women worldwide. A fragrance that will only add to the richness of Bvlgari history.

* The trademark, BVLGARI, is written in the classical Latin alphabet, and stylised with the 'V' instead of 'U' as a brand name.

***Win***

We've going to give away a bottle of BVLGARI AQVA DIVINA over on the Beauty Review Photowall.  All you need to do to be into win is upload a photo of your favourite little luxury in life and tag it with 'My Little Luxury' .

T&Cs

1. Entrants must be aged 18 years or over
2. Open to BR Members only (and therefore subject to our membership requirements)
3. Must reside in NZ
4. 1 entry per person
5. For an entry to count the entrant must upload a photo of their idea of a little luxury to the BR Photowall and use the 'My Little Luxury' tag
6. Competition closes Midnight Tuesday 16th June 2015
7. The winner will be chosen at random by BR management Wednesday 17th June 2015
8. The winner will be notified by BR direct to their BR inbox on Wednesday 17th June 2015
9. Prizes unclaimed after 2 weeks will be redrawn.