Belief Bulgari to kick off excessive jewelry season in essentially the most epic manner. Held in Venice on the extraordinary Palazzo Ducale, the two-night extravaganza noticed the nice and glamorous flock to the Floating Metropolis to rejoice the home’s new Mediterranea excessive jewelry assortment. And for over 40 years, one exceptional girl has been chargeable for realising the Roman jeweller’s fantastical creations: Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s Jewelry Artistic Director. Recent off the home’s magnificent exhibiting, we sit down with Silvestri to debate the Mediterranea excessive jewelry assortment, her favorite items from the gathering and her upcoming adventures.
The theme of this 12 months’s excessive jewelry assortment is Mediterranea. I wished to ask you when you have a selected reminiscence you like that’s linked to the Mediterranean.
I’ve so many recollections in regards to the Mediterranean, from Rome to Sicily to Greece, to Africa. It’s a journey, and I liked this theme from the start, as a result of it’s a journey. And all of the locations that impressed me, I’ve been there many instances, ranging from Rome and Naples, Palermo, Greece, so it’s very inspiring.
How would you describe the spirit of this excessive jewelry assortment?
It’s a mix of cultures. We have now a variety of nations across the Mediterranean, and it’s actually a mix of cultures. So as an example, and that is an instance of among the finest combos [NB: see photo below] — after I began to consider this necklace, I began with mandarin garnets that jogged my memory of the deserts of Morocco, and the flavour and spices of Morocco. I assumed that it could possibly be the fitting mixture — this very sparkly, heat [stone], stuffed with solar and fiery color — with one thing extra delicate, and on this case, we use citrines.
It’s the primary time that we used mandarin garnets and citrines collectively in excessive jewelry — it’s a brand new mixture. Yearly, we have now a brand new mixture, and this 12 months, that is one in all these new combos. The thought may be very a lot Morocco: its desert, dunes and spices. And right here, there’s Venice, with the home windows — the motif is from Venice — so that is actually a mix between two cultures. I like the thought of this mixture and the craftsmanship. It’s actually superb. It’s a bit of artwork.
It’s fantastic. You possibly can have a look at it from the entrance and the again.
I adore it, that is my favorite necklace. I began from the gems: I purchased the gems one after the other, after which we reduce them in an ideal manner, in a Bulgari manner. Now, it’s our masterpiece.
My subsequent query additionally pertains to gem stones, since you’ve all the time stated that gem stones are all the time the centre of your concepts. What had been a few of your favorite gem stones to work inside this assortment?
This assortment? It’s very tough… I really like this one [NB: see photo below] as a result of it has greater than 200 carats of emeralds and I really like this one specifically as a result of I adopted the chopping of the gem. Firstly, after I noticed the gem, it was not polished, not reduce, and I mentioned with the proprietor of the gem as a result of I noticed a sugarloaf and he was enthusiastic about a faceted stone. So I attempted to persuade them that for Bulgari, the easiest way to make use of the gem was making it a sugarloaf, and in the long run, I satisfied him that this was the easiest way, with these very clean corners. It’s not sharp, it is vitally female, very light, and so we might take into consideration a really light, elegant necklace. And it’s versatile, so you’ll be able to put on it with out the emerald or the pearls, or collectively.
Extremely transformable as properly. What’s your favorite piece in the entire assortment?
It’s tough, however I really like this one [NB: See below].
Due to all of the combos of the mandarin garnets and every part?
Sure, as a result of the inspiration was so distinctive.
And what was essentially the most difficult piece to make on this assortment?
Each piece may be very difficult [laughs]. We wish to have a problem from the craftsmanship, from the inventive standpoint. The Serpenti may be very difficult, as a result of the craftsmanship evolves yearly, and yearly it will get higher. So, every part is a problem.
I’m positive you’ve travelled to Venice many instances. What are a few of your favorite locations to go to in Venice?
The Palazzo Ducale can be a shock for me. I’ve seen the Palazzo Ducale many instances, however yesterday and the day earlier than yesterday, that room [NB: the Sala dello Scrutinio] was superb, so inspiring. That was my first time, so I used to be wanting on the ceiling and I dreamed about new necklaces, new rings and new earrings and an entire assortment in a single evening.
So we would see a group impressed by Venice sooner or later?
My inspiration comes from travelling. Venice is one place [that inspires me], and, in fact, Rome. I can not overlook that Rome is all the time our first supply of inspiration.
I’m all the time very struck by your very tactile method in the case of designing. Once I was watching Contained in the Dream final 12 months, I noticed that you just picked up the gems, you performed round with it, blended and matched them. I’m very to know, why do you continue to do what you do? Why are you continue to impressed to maintain designing?
As a result of I really like what I do. It’s probably not a job, it’s a ardour — and I really feel you could really feel the eagerness behind our jewelry. We proceed to do it with a terrific ardour, not solely due to me, however as a result of our crew — and all of the groups round me — are passionate. From artisans, to designers, to the patrons, we do it with pleasure. We benefit from the vitality of the gems, and we can not overlook that we’re working with a present from nature. This reward makes me comfortable, so I’m comfortable to work each time. I don’t work, I play.
And for my final query: you journey a lot. So the place are you off to subsequent? What might be your subsequent journey?
My subsequent journey shouldn’t be actually an journey, however I’m visiting Japan due to the excessive jewelry presentation there. I really like Japan.
This text first appeared on Grazia Singapore.
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