Bulgari showcases new Mediterranea high jewellery collection in Venice

By Ian Thorley

Bulgari launched Mediterranea, its new high jewellery and haute horlogerie collection, in Venice on Monday night. The event took place in Venice’s Palazzo Ducale, one of the serene city’s eternal symbols, with the Roman jeweller presenting over 400 different designs – 90 of them with a million dollar price tag.

Guests included brand ambassadors Zendaya, Anne Hathaway and Priyanka Chopra Jonas who all wore pieces from the Mediterranea collection. Venice was chosen for the event due to its history, being in the centre of the Mediterranean and the meeting point for various cultures including the Byzantine, Moorish and Ottoman as well as Sicily and Rome who all traded with the Venetian empire which led to a unique Venetian architectural style – the Venetian Gothic.

Southern Italy and its dramatic coastlines, deep blue sea and azure sky, was the influence for the Southern Radiance creations. The Mediterranean Muse necklace includes various gems of differing blue tones, while the body of the necklace combines platinum and diamonds. A 15.13-carat cushion blue sapphire is the central point, while the combination of aquamarines and diamonds simulate the waves crashing against the Amalfi coastline. 

The theme is continued in the Southern Sapphire platinum necklace, a combination of sapphires and diamonds around an incredible 66.88-carat Ceylon sapphire mirroring the inky blues of the Mediterranean sea. This unique piece required over 1,650 hours of workmanship to create.

Rome, the eternal city, was the source of inspiration for the Roman Splendour range. The Roman Esedra sautoir boasts a 68.88-carat emerald set in a hexagonal pendant, which is a tribute to an iconic Bulgari piece dating back to the 1970s. This necklace features a combination of various differing gems – emeralds, amethysts and turquoises.

The Muse of Rome necklace features a stunning 218.53-carat emerald which was a challenge to create because of the gems weight. Lucia Silvestri came up with an innovative solution and created a unique structure that enhanced and supported the magnificent gemstone.

As the meeting point of three continents – Africa, Asia and Europe – the Mediterranean has long been the point where East meets West. The Saharan deserts that lick the shores of the Southern Mediterranean are evoked in the oriental fantasy necklace combining 90 carats of mandarin garnets.

As this year celebrates 75 years of the Serpenti design, it was only appropriate that the spirit was evoked in a high jewellery necklace.  The Mediterranean Sapphire Serpenti necklace features nine Sri Lanka sapphires, referencing the Mediterranean Sea, which total 40.81 carats. They are placed to mimic a snake’s scales and are set in a sinuous platinum and pavé diamond body construction. This culminates in a dramatic pendant tassel including 80 oval-shaped sapphire beads totalling 116 carats.

Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin commented “With great honour we celebrate the vision of the founder Sotirio Bulgari with magnificent creations that represent the pinnacle of Bulgari identity made of audacious creativity and exceptional craftsmanship.”

Like this? Read about 75 years of Bulgari Serpenti