All Roads Lead to Rome: Bvlgari unveils its newest High Jewellery collection “Aeterna”

The Roman jewellery house celebrates its 140th anniversary and launches a new
mesmerising high jewellery and high-end watches collection “Aeterna” in the Eternal City.
This year marks Bulgari’s 140th anniversary: the iconic jewellery house was established in
Rome in 1884 by Sotirio Bulgari. And ever since, it has been a symbol of timeless elegance
and eternal beauty. So it comes as no surprise that its newest high jewellery and high-end
watches collection “Aeterna” pays tribute to the Roman Maison’s values and its unique ability
to reinvent itself. And to do so, the Italian jeweller decided to come back to where it was
born: Rome.

The masterpiece of the collection, the “Serpenti Aeterna Necklace” with sparkling diamonds
required over 2,400 hours to complete. They say that it’s the most precious necklace in the
brand’s history (it’s estimated around 40 000 000 €, and already sold). How did Bulgari
jewellers make it happen? ​​Three years ago, Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin bought a
rough diamond of over 200.00 carats, that was 2 800 hours later cut to create seven pear-
shaped drops totaling 140 carats, one for each year of the brand’s history. Adding an extra
sparkle, the drops are embraced by a three-dimensional wave structure in platinum, adorned
with baguette diamonds. And of course the iconic piece could not have been complete
without the legendary symbol of the house: the clasp takes its form after the snake, the
eternal symbol of the Roman Maison. At the event held at Rome's Terme di Diocleziano
earlier this week, it was Priyanka Chopra who was lucky enough to wear the creation before
it had found its new master.

Other highlights of the 156-piece collection include some stunning necklaces with colourful
gemstones, a signature of Lucia Silvestri, who loves to play with precious stones. For
instance, the “Earth Song” necklace in rose gold combines three compact strands,
embellished with gems of all colours: rubellites, amethysts, kunzites, green tourmalines and
diamonds, cut in three different shapes, rounded, oval and squared. The “Sapphire Brocade”
necklace shines bright with sapphires and diamonds, while the “Sapphire Aeterna Waves”
set is embellished with both sapphires and emeralds (this winning colour duo has been the
house’s signature since day one). Taking inspiration from classical Roman sculptures, the
graphic and eye-catching “Serpenti Chiselled” necklace showcases a mind-blowing 77.78
carat pear shape rubellite in a vibrant strawberry red hue, as if it was falling from the snake’s
mouth, and is enhanced with amethysts, black onyx and diamonds.

Finally, no Bulgari High Jewellery collection comes without the pieces with rare bronze coins
- thus, the “Monete Aeterna Augustus Emerald” sautoir, featuring a central rare coin with the
profile of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, and 149 emerald beads, weighing over 615
carats, 80 buff-top emerald and pavé set diamonds. At the show, Isabella Rossellini was
given the honour to “walk it” in the gardens of the Baths of Diocletian.

During the Roman showcase, Bulgari also unveiled exceptional handbags in exotic skins, a
high perfumery fragrance (200 000 € a bottle) and fifteen unique high-end watches
creations, proving once again that the Italian House is as strong in gems as it is in
watchmaking. For example, one of the collection’s highlights inspired by the festive fireworks, the “Fuochi D’Artificio High Jewelry Manchette” in rose gold, blue titanium and
dark onyx, required more than 1 450 hours to complete, is powered by Bulgari’s Piccolissimo
manual-winding movement, and features a sweeping variety of colourful gemstones -
sapphires, rubellites, mandarin garnets, tanzanites, tsavorites, tourmalines, topazes,
amethysts, rubies, emeralds and diamonds. That’s what you call fireworks!

Courtesy: Bvlgari

Test: Lidia Ageeva