Bulgari

If you think of Italian luxury, probably one of the first names that comes to mind is Bulgari. This famous jewelery and watchmaking house was born in Rome in 1884 and has since conquered the world with its refined and original creations, which celebrate the splendor of ancient Rome and Italian creativity.

But how did the Bulgari story begin? And what are the distinctive characteristics of his style? Let's find out together in this article, which will tell you the story of Bulgari and make you discover its exclusive services and testimonials from its customers.

The origins of Bulgari

The founder of Bulgari was called Sotirio Bulgari, a Greek silversmith of Aromanian origin. Sotirio was born in 1857 in a small village in Epirus, Kalarites, where his family produced silver objects. In 1881 he decided to emigrate to Italy, looking for new opportunities. After staying in Naples, he moved to Rome in 1894 and opened his first jewelry store in Via Sistina, together with his partner Demetrio Kremos. The following year it moved to via Condotti 28, where the maison's main shop is still located today.

Sotirio was inspired by Parisian jewelers and created objects in platinum, emeralds and diamonds, often transformable. For example, some necklaces could become two bracelets or brooches, and some pendants could be attached to bangles. Sotirio had numerous children, but two in particular followed in his footsteps: Giorgio and Costantino, who supported him in managing the brand.

The Italian style of Bulgari

Starting from the 1940s, Bulgari's style began to differentiate itself from the French one and to express an exquisitely Italian personality. The brothers Giorgio and Costantino introduced new elements such as yellow gold, which recalled the solar glitter of Rome, and the sinuous spirals of the Serpenti creations, inspired by the symbolism of antiquity. Furthermore, they experimented with lively color combinations, volumes with refined balance and unmistakable motifs such as the BVLGARI logo written with the Latin V.

The fifties and sixties were the golden period for Bulgari, which became the point of reference for international cinema stars. Among the most famous clients were Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren and Ingrid Bergman. These actors and actresses often wore Bulgari jewels both on set and in their private lives, helping to spread the brand's fame around the world.

In the Seventies and Eighties Bulgari continued to innovate its style by introducing new geometric shapes such as the Tubogas and the Parentesi, and new collections dedicated to watches such as the Bulgari-Bulgari and the B.Zero1. Furthermore, it expanded its offer with perfumery and leather goods.

Bulgars today

Today Bulgari is one of the most prestigious luxury maisons in the world, part of the French LVMH group since 2012. The brand has over 300 stores worldwide and is headquartered in Rome in the building in Piazza Nicosia 20. Its creative director is Lucia Silvestri, who coordinates a team of designers and artisans who create the maison's splendid creations.

Bulgari is not limited to jewelery and watches, but also offers perfumery products, leather goods, accessories and hotel services. In fact, since 2001 Bulgari has launched a line of luxury hotels and resorts in collaboration with the Marriott International group. There are currently six Bulgari hotels in the world: Milan (2004), Bali (2006), London (2012), Beijing (2017), Dubai (2017) and Shanghai (2018). Other hotels are planned in Paris (2021), Moscow (2022), Tokyo (2022) and Rome (2022).

Bulgari is also involved in social and cultural issues. Since 2009 it has supported the Save the Children project to defend the rights of the most vulnerable children in the world. Furthermore, since 2016 it has financed the restoration of the stairs of the Trinità dei Monti in Rome and organizes exhibitions and events to enhance the artistic heritage of the city.

Conclusions

Bulgari is an Italian success story that has managed to combine tradition and innovation, classicism and modernity, elegance and originality. The brand represents the spirit of Rome in the world with its unique and recognizable creations. Bulgari is synonymous with Italian excellence and creativity in the luxury sector.