Bvlgari unveils Aeterna: the event, the collection (media heavy article)

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Bvlgari chooses the Eternal city of Rome, its hometown and everlasting source of inspiration, to unveil Aeterna, its new High-End Collection, presenting for the occasion a precious assortment of over 500 creations, including High Jewelry and High Jewelry Watches, High-End Bags and Very High-End Fragrances. An occasion to celebrate, with a breathtaking event, its 140^th anniversary, a major milestone for the Roman Maison.

Highlighting the uniqueness of the event, Bvlgari staged its sophisticated extravaganza in a location, made accessible exclusively to the Maison for this momentous occasion, Rome’s Terme di Diocleziano, one of the world’s most extraordinary antique architectural complexes and beautiful open-air museums in the Eternal City, part of the Museo Nazionale Romano,

Considered the largest Baths of ancient Rome, spanning a surface of 13 hectares that was able to accommodate up to 3,000 people at once, the breathtaking complex, built between 298 and 306 AD, is adorned with splendid sculptures and fascinating ruins.

International guests, including Bvlgari’s Brand Ambassadors Anne Hathaway, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Liu Yifei, Shu Qi, Hikari Mori and Alessandro Gassman, enjoyed a journey into eternity where the layered beauty of the Terme di Diocleziano, the timelessness of Bvlgari’s High Jewelry creations and the state-of-the-art spirit of the event’s performances overcome the boundaries of time.

To celebrate the special anniversary, Bvlgari Brand Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas wore the Serpenti Aeterna necklace, the most precious High Jewelry piece ever crafted by the Roman Maison. Featuring seven D flawless diamond drops totalling 140.00 carats, one for each year of the brand’s history, and 698 baguette diamonds weighting 61.81 carats, this incredible necklace required over 2,800 to complete, revealing an outstanding combination of creativity, expertise and audacity, values that have always defined the brand’s vision.

During the evening, the Terme di Diocleziano, that recently reopened to the public after long restoration works, hosted a spectacular jewellery show that took place in the Chiostro Ludovisi, an intimate space built over the Terme’s large outdoor pool. Styled by Carine Roitfeld, the show featured an iconic casting, including Mariacarla Boscono, Blesnya Minher, Elisabetta Dessy, Isabella Rossellini, Carla Bruni and Giacomo Cavalli.

Before the show started, guests had the chance to assist to a special, poetic duet by choreographer and dancer Sadeck Berrabah and ballet dancer Eleonora Abbagnato, the director of Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Mixing classic and contemporary dance, they celebrated Bvlgari’s ability to fuse past, present and future giving life to eternal works of art.

Their performance was followed by a fascinating choreography by Sadeck Berrabah and 80 dancers, who moved synchronously, perfectly embodying his signature artistic direction.

At the Baths’ Chiostro di Michelangelo, named after the famous painter and sculptor to who it is traditionally attributed, Bvlgari delighted its guest with a gala dinner conceived by Italian Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo, who developed a menu specifically designed for the event.

The dinner was followed by a live performance by internationally acclaimed artist and songwriter Elisa.  

For the occasion, “Vista Aeterna” an immersive installation created by Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, has been gifted to the city of Rome under the patronage of the Fondazione Bvlgari. The artwork will be at the iconic Piazza di Spagna from May, 19^th to June, 15^th, and offers a contemporary interpretation of Rome’s urban landscape. It consists of twelve travertine-based pillars adorned with reflective coloured mirrors that continuously rotate throughout the day, tracing the path of the sun from dawn to dusk. As they move, they capture and refract sunlight, projecting a spectrum of warm, sun-inspired tones onto the surroundings. Providing an ever-changing vista, it is a perpetual celebration of the luminosity of the eternal city and its architectural heritage.

Continuing its pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to innovation in luxury, the Maison has also introduced the Bvlgari Digital Passport. This immutable digital record stores the unique characteristics and certificates of each High Jewelry creation on the Aura private blockchain, which safeguards product data indefinitely with the highest standards of transparency and security.

BVLGARI AETERNA SHOWROOM

Offering an immersion into the collection, Bvlgari showcased the Aeterna’s unique creations in the Aula X of the Terme di Diocleziano. A timeless space showing the grandeur of the ancient Roman thermal bath with a spectacular height of approximately 22 meters. The extraordinary Serpenti Aeterna necklace shined in the middle of Ara Aeterna, a prominent dedicated space inside the showroom and a video revealing the craftsmanship behind its creation is presented in a customized theatre.

A range of Aeterna key creations were unveiled in displays inspired by Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi and sitting in front of stunning reinterpretation of architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s prints, rendered on precious custom-made tapestries realized with the high-density jacquard technique by the historic Venetian weaving Rubelli.

The prints show the reproductions of the antique floor plan of Terme di Diocleziano and the Forma Urbis Severiana, an antique map of Rome engraved on marble slabs dating from the time of Septimius Severus (between 203 and 211 AD) that Piranesi collected in the Antichità Romane tome, published in 1756. A masterpiece that celebrates Rome’s historical heritage and Italian art, craftsmanship and technology and made possible by the collaboration between Bvlgari, the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica and Rubelli.

The table d’artiste showcasedthe magnificent High Jewelry creations in one-of-a-kind displays crafted in Italy from alabaster, the stone of light, putting the focus on the unique light of Rome, a timeless source of inspiration in the development of the Maison’s jewellery collections.

BVLGARI “AETERNA” HIGH-JEWELRY 2024 COLLECTION

Each day brings a new sunrise, manifestation of beauty that we never get tired of contemplating. Every day the intimate light of dawn bathes Rome, always offering a new vision of the Eternal City, the everlasting source of inspiration of Bvlgari founded in 1884 by Sotirio Bulgari.

Infused with the same splendour, “Aeterna”, the new High-Jewelry and High-End watches collection -marking Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary – pays tribute to the Roman Maison’s ability to reinvent itself, continuously interpreting the spirit of each era.

Loyal to its authentic nature, Bvlgari refines its aesthetic vision and elevates its manufacturing expertise to deliver creations that feel both contemporary and timeless, ultimately eternal.

Creations that through the combination of boundless creativity and high-end craftsmanship, the creations celebrate remarkable gems. Forged by Mother Earth over millennials, they are themselves precious fragments of eternity, evidence of the past and premises for the future.

In keeping with its pioneering spirit, for Aeterna, Bvlgari pushes the limits of creativity and craftsmanship further than ever in a magnificent expression of its bold yet always sophisticated audacity.

AN ODE TO ETERNITY: THE SERPENTI AETERNA NECKLACE

Marking the 140th anniversary of the Roman jeweller, the “Serpenti Aeterna Necklace” fully embodies Bvlgari’s quintessentially groundbreaking spirit. Revealing an outstanding combination of creativity, expertise and audacity, values that have always defined the brand’s vision, this extraordinary piece is the most precious work of art ever crafted by the jewellery house.

This incredible necklace requires over 2,400 hours to complete and stuns with its absolute purity conveyed through diamonds. Along with symbolizing eternity, they highlight the Maison’s vocation to always push new boundaries and to surprise, celebrating this important milestone by giving diamonds the leading role instead of colour gemstones, as many would have expected.

Breaking new grounds in jewellery making, Bvlgari approached this project with bravery: a rough diamond of over 200.00 carats was cut to create seven diamond drops totalling 140 carats, one for each year of the brand’s history – instead of focusing on carats, Bvlgari gave priority to the beauty of the layout and its harmonious balance. Adding an extra challenge, the drops are embraced in a sinuous three-dimensional wave structure in platinum, embellished with baguette diamonds integrated over five months. The seductive structure flows, with the flexibility of a snake, toward the back of the necklace revealing the iconic symbol that, with the role of a clasp, guards this masterpiece representing the eternal rebirth that comes to life.

THE AETERNA COLLECTION

Flexibility and sinuous dynamism also take centre stage in Sapphire Aeterna Waves, a stunning platinum necklace defined by a sophisticated combination of diamonds and sapphires – their shimmering shades evoking the wavy ocean of Sri Lanka, the country of origin of this creation’s magnificent 38.93-carat cushion-cut sapphire. The detachable pendant highlights Bvlgari’s passion for transformative and versatile jewellery.

In 2022, Bvlgari started collecting the precious gems cut to create the thirteen cushion sapphires characterizing the exquisite layout of the Sapphire Brocade necklace. Developed with the same delicacy of an haute couture piece, this outstanding creation is designed to sit around the neck with lightness and gentleness. Diamonds and sapphires are matched with buff-top emeralds in a signature colour combination celebrating 140 years of unparalleled High Jewelry craftsmanship. The necklace is presented with matching earrings, revealing two central sapphires paired with buff-top emeralds, as well as pavé and round-cut diamonds.

Bold design and ultimate lightness find a perfect balance in Aurea Chandra, a choker revisiting Bvlgari iconic 1980s’ Chandra Line that, with its opulence and vibrancy, embodied the daring spirit of the bold and exuberant decade when it was created. Five rows of alternating pink gold and pave diamond spheres gracefully wrap around the neck in a feather-weight yet eye-catching construction evoking the cyclical nature of creativity and its celestial nature.

Bulgari’s iconic Tubogas design, a symbol of ultimate modernity, meets the eternal grace of the romantic floral motif engraved on the striking oval-cut 31,07-carat Zambian emerald protagonist of the Tubogas Flower of Time necklace. The outstanding gem is exalted by a graphic layout of 16 buff-top rubellites and pavé-set diamonds, adding extra preciousness to this remarkable creation, spreading a message of visual marvel and tactile delight. The necklace is unveiled with matching earrings, that combine natural lines with striking colours and a sleek, modern vibe. Featuring a drop-style design, they include cabochon rubellites mixed with buff-top emeralds and diamond pavé.

Both timeless and contemporary, the Bvlgari Lotus Cabochon necklace surprises with its flamboyant colours and the intriguing pebble-like texture. This vibrant creation, evoking the silhouette of a sartorial collar, shows organic, sinuous lines recreating the shape of a lotus flower, a universal symbol of eternal rebirth. Rubellite, turquoise, emerald and amethyst cabochons are set on a carpet-like gold base guaranteeing a plush effect.

Always fascinated by the enchanting colour combinations, Lucia Silvestri conceived a kaleidoscopic yet elegant creation, Earth Song. An ode to the multifaceted vital strength of Nature, this necklace combines a thick pink gold chain with three strands mixing an array of colourful gems, including rubellites, amethysts, kunzites, green tourmalines and diamonds, cut in three different shapes, rounded, oval and squared. Bvlgari’s mastery reflects in the lightweight bezel settings, managing the significant carat weights to maintain harmonious spacing across three compact strands. In addition, the choice to leave the settings open at the back allows them to rest sumptuously on the skin and maximizes the light and energy that pours through their facets. The result is a masterwork of harmonious balance and joyful sophistication.

Breaking new ground in jewellery making, the Serpenti Chiseled necklace was born from a successful synergy between artisanal manufacturing expertise and refined, innovative technology. Taking inspiration from classical Roman sculpture, the body of the snake was conceived with grandiose, sinuous movement achieved through expertly joined element guaranteeing supple dynamism. An awe-inspiring almost 77.78 carat pear shape rubellite in a vibrant strawberry red hue, is suspended from the snake’s mouth. Pavé sets are juxtaposed to amethyst exalting the creation’s sensual vibrancy, while black onyx inlays between diamonds enhance the piece’s graphic quality.

Epitomizing metamorphosis and transformation, the Snake, one of Bvlgari’s most celebrated icons, finds a new interpretation in the Serpenti Sapphire Echo necklace. A white gold snake with two heads – featuring scales covered with a combination of diamonds and buff-top sapphires – holds two pear-cut Sri Lanka sapphires, each of them weighting over 37.34 carats. These precious gems were sourced from a pair of Bvlgari earrings dating back to the Thirties that an Italian noblewoman client sold back to the Roman jeweller after having worn them for decades. The two stunning pendants are detachable and have been conceived to be also worn as earrings, showcasing Bvlgari’s passion for transformative jewellery.

A tribute to Rome’s enduring transcendence, the Mosaic of Time is one of the most intricate and technically challenging creations in the Aeterna High-Jewelry collection. One hundred-fifty distinct modules are perfectly joined to create a mosaic of diverse colours and gem cuts, vibrating with splendour and elegance. Revealing a delicate scalloped silhouette, this incredible necklace, worked in a gentle pastel palette, combines pear-shaped Paraiba tourmalines, cushion-cut pink tourmalines, turquoise, buff-top emeralds, pavé diamonds, as well as contrasting onyx and mother-of-pearl details, in a balanced and refined celebration of creativity and craftsmanship. The necklace is unveiled with a coordinated timepiece and matching ring. The ring features an intricate design where a striking central cushion Paraiba tourmaline is surrounded by a mosaic of turquoises, onyx and 20 buff-top emeralds.

Past, present and future coexist in the Monete Aeterna Augustus Emerald sautoir, celebrating Bvlgari’s Roman origins and heritage. The rare bronze coin, minted during the reign of Tiberius, shows the magnificent profile of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, who commissioned the building of the Ara Pacis, a splendid monument symbolizing the establishment of peace in the Roman Empire. This necklace is completed with 149 identical emerald beads weighting over 615 carats, 80 buff-top emeralds, and pavé set diamonds.

Conveying an ethereal sense of perpetual movement, the Sequence of Eternity earrings show a directional arrangement of diamonds, symbolizing a radiant future. At the centre of these stunning pieces, two Mozambican oval-cut rubies, weighing 8.92 and 8.06 carats, steal the spotlight with outstanding magnificence, further exalted by three diamond drops representing the past, present, and future.

Creativity, invention, ingenuity, craftsmanship and passion. Bvlgari marks its 140th anniversary with a breathtaking collection, infused with the sense of boldness and bravery that have always distinguished the Roman High Jeweler. Connecting past, present and future, Bvlgari celebrates the uniqueness of gemstones creating unparalleled creations, being aware that jewels are a universe within our reach. Fragments of a primordial magic emitting its own light. Moments of eternity.

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