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Animated by the same visionary spirit of the Eternal City, Bvlgari unveils to the world Aeterna. This new High Jewelry collection pays homage to the Maison’s 140th anniversary. It is also a testament of the Maison’s ability to reinvent itself, constantly interpreting the spirit of each era.
Extraordinarily rich, the new collection has its roots in a deep heritage that projects its vision into the future. This translates into a contemporary and timeless aesthetic—simply “eternal”. Composed of over 500 masterpieces, Aeterna embodies the Roman jeweller’s mastery in gems, time, fine leathers, and refined scents. A whole world that comes to life.
The collection was unveiled in Rome at the Baths of Diocletian, one of the world’s most extraordinary ancient architectural complexes:
This precious artistic and cultural treasure has hosted a private event of such magnitude for the first time. This has been possible thanks to the unique collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Bvlgari Foundation.
As part of this tribute to Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary, Paolo Bulgari – Chairman of the Bvlgari Group – reflects on the Maison’s exciting journey: “As Chairman of the Board of Directors and a passionate connoisseur of precious gems, I am particularly proud and happy to see that, 140 years after my grandfather set up his small workshop, Bvlgari today shines all over the world, creating and crafting the most desirable High Jewellery masterpieces and jewellery watches of our time.”
The Masterpiece – the Serpenti Aeterna Necklace
The Serpenti Aeterna necklace fully embodies Bvlgari’s indomitable spirit. An outstanding combination of creativity, savoir-faire, and boldness, this impressive creation is the most precious masterpiece the Maison has ever created.
“I am extremely proud of our creative teams led by Lucia Silvestri and Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and our master craftsmen, for developing the most extraordinary High Jewellery collection ever, not only in the 140-year history of Bvlgari, but probably in the entire 21st century. The Serpenti Aeterna necklace represents the apotheosis of excellence. It combines the most extraordinary diamonds with the iconic Serpenti, the most sought-after symbol of Bvlgari jewellery and watchmaking in recent decades, worn by Cleopatra in Rome in 46 BC and reborn in 1948 in the form of secret jewel watches, thanks to the visionary spirit of the Bulgari family.” Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the Bvlgari Group.
“A tribute to Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary, Serpenti Aeterna is the most precious necklace we have ever made. For the occasion, we wanted to create something unique in Bvlgari style, continuing to challenge ourselves and to amaze with the choice to give diamonds the role of protagonists, including them in the Serpenti family. A necklace that symbolizes eternity: that of Bvlgari, expressed through the Maison’s ability to constantly reinvent itself, and that of Rome, the city where it all began.” commented Lucia Silvestri, Creative Director of Bvlgari Jewellery.
This necklace, which required over 2,800 hours of work, stuns for its sense of absolute purity embodied by its diamonds. In this necklace, diamonds take the lead to celebrate the important milestone of 140 years.
Infact, the starting point was a rough diamond of over 200.00 ct. It was cut to obtain seven drops of flawless diamonds, D colour, totalling exactly 140 carats – one for each year of Bvlgari’s history.
To add an extra element of challenge, the diamond drops have found their place in a sinuous three-dimensional platinum structure. This is made even more prevìcious by 698 baguette-cut diamonds weighing 61.81 carats. The sensual lines of the necklace flow with the suppleness of a snake towards the back. Here, the iconic animal not only acts as a closure but also as a symbolic guardian of this masterpiece, an emblem of an eternal rebirth that comes to life.
THE HIGH JEWELLERY COLLECTION
Flexibility, sinuous lines, and dynamism define the Sapphire Aeterna Waves. This is a platinum necklace defined by a refined combination of diamonds and sapphires. Their hues evoke the ocean waters of Sri Lanka, the country of origin of the magnificent 38.93-carat cushion-cut sapphire at the heart of the creation. This exceptional gem becomes a removable pendant, a detail that highlights Bvlgari’s passion for convertible and versatile jewellery.
Bvlgari began collecting the gems cut into the thirteen perfectly identical cushion-cut sapphires that adorn the composition of the Sapphire Brocade necklace in 2022. As delicate as a Haute Couture garment, this creation fits the neck with lightness and delicacy. Diamonds and sapphires (63.48 carats) combine with buff-top emeralds in the Maison’s iconic colour combination. Another celebration of unparalleled craftsmanship in the field of High Jewellery.
Bold design and absolute lightness meet in the Aurea Chandra choker. This creation was born to reinterpret an iconic and exuberant Bvlgari collection from the 80s. Five rows of alternating spheres in rose gold and pavé diamonds wrap around the neck in a striking yet lightweight construction that evokes the cyclical nature of creativity.
In the Tubogas Flower of Time necklace, Bvlgari’s Tubogas design, a symbol of timeless modernity, combines with the romantic floral motif engraved on a stunning 31.07-carat oval-cut Zambian emerald.
A graphic arrangement of 16 buff-top rubellites and pavé-set diamonds enhance the central gemstone. This adds further preciousness to this creation, a source of visual wonder and tactile pleasure.
The Bvlgari Lotus Cabochon necklace surprises with its bright colours and texture reminiscent of a cobblestone street. Its silhouette presents organic and sinuous lines that recreate the shape of a lotus flower, a symbol of eternal rebirth. A cascade of rubellites, turquoises, emeralds and amethyst cabochons, set in gold, design a rich and sumptuous “carpet” of gems.
Earth Song is a kaleidoscopic yet elegant creation, born from Lucia Silvestri’s passion for intriguing colour combinations. An ode to nature’s life force, the necklace combines a thick rose gold chain with three rows of coloured gemstones. These include rubellites, amethysts, kunzites, green tourmalines, and diamonds. These gems come in three different cuts: round, oval, and square, totalling 345.68 carats.
Bvlgari’s craftsmanship is reflected in the lightness of the bezels. These manage the important carats of the gems while maintaining harmonious spacing on three compact strands. In addition, leaving the frames open on the back allows the gems to rest on the skin, maximizing the light and energy that passes through them in all their facets. The result is a masterpiece of balance, harmony of shapes, liveliness and elegance.
The Serpenti Chiseled necklace was born from the synergy between craftsmanship and innovative technology inspired by classical Roman sculpture. The snake’s body sinuous movements give the jewel flexibility and dynamism.
In the centre, an intense pear-cut strawberry-red rubellite of about 77.78 carats is suspended from the snake’s mouth. The sensual vitality of the creation emerges from the juxtaposition of pavé diamonds, nine pear-cut amethysts and 20 pear-cut cabochon rubellites (193.69 ct), while the black onyx inlays between the diamonds enhance the graphic quality.
An emblem of metamorphosis and transformation, Bvlgari’s snake finds a new interpretation in the Serpenti Sapphire Echo necklace. The creation is crafted as a two-headed white gold snake with precious scales studded with diamonds and buff-top sapphires. Two pear-cut Sri Lankan sapphires hang from the snake, each weighing approximately 37.34 carats.
This pair of precious gems comes from Bvlgari earrings from the 1930s, which belonged to an Italian noblewoman for decades before being bought back by the Roman Maison. Designed to be worn as earrings, the two stunning pendants are removable, a detail that testifies to Bvlgari’s passion for convertible jewellery.
A tribute to Rome’s ability to transcend time, Mosaic of Time is one of the most complex and technically demanding creations in the Aeterna High Jewellery collection. The necklace consists of one hundred fifty modules joined together in a rich mosaic of gems of different cuts and colours that exude energy, splendour, and elegance.
Featuring a delicate scalloped silhouette, this creation in delicate pastel shades harmonizes pear-cut Paraiba tourmalines, cushion-cut pink tourmalines, turquoise, buff-top emeralds and pavé diamonds with onyx and mother-of-pearl inserts. A refined and balanced celebration of creativity and craftsmanship.
Past, present and future coexist in Monete Aeterna Augustus Emerald, a sautoir celebrating Bvlgari’s Roman origins and roots.
Its rare bronze coin, minted during the reign of Tiberius, depicts the profile of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, who commissioned the construction of the Ara Pacis and his Mausoleum in front of the new Bvlgari Hotel in Rome. The necklace is completed by 149 identical emerald beads, weighing over 615.04 carats, 80 buff-top emeralds and pavé diamonds.
An ethereal expression of perpetual movement, the Sequence of Eternity earrings feature a diamond arrangement that points in a clear direction, symbolizing a bright future. At the heart of the creation, the stunning beauty of two oval Mozambique rubies, weighing 8.92 and 8.06 carats, respectively, is enhanced by three drops of diamonds representing past, present and future.
Bvlgari Aeterna stands as a testament to the Maison’s unwavering commitment to excellence, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty. This latest collection masterfully intertwines Bvlgari’s rich heritage with contemporary design, offering pieces that not only dazzle with brilliance but also tell a story of elegance and innovation.
Each creation within Bvlgari Aeterna is a harmonious blend of exceptional gemstones, intricate settings, and artistic vision, embodying the essence of eternal sophistication. As we admire this exquisite collection, it is clear that Bvlgari continues to set the benchmark in haute joaillerie, captivating the hearts of connoisseurs and collectors worldwide.