Join The Party

Childhood Italian sweet treats, traditional festivals and royal balls dial up the fun in Bulgari’s Festa high jewellery collection

- Grace Tay

Any excuse to celebrate, as the Italians say. And they take their celebrations seriously all year-round – on the streets, in homes and gardens, in public squares and private palazzos.

This spirit carries over to Festa, Bulgari’s high jewellery collection – an animated, delightful bevy of colourful, precious confections that recall childhood parties, familial festivities and national traditions. The creative maestro behind the collection – and in this case, the party planner – Lucia Silvestri sums it up succinctly: “It is all about fun.”

As Bulgari’s Director of Jewellery Creation & Gem Buying, she gives interviews at every key collection launch. She usually speaks with girlish relish about the stones she buys (the good gemstones speak to her, and she loves their energy) and how much she loves her “babies” (the jewellery). This time, her voice goes higher, giggles escape more often and, clichéd as it sounds, there’s an extra twinkle in her eye.

She notes: “Designing this collection has been an absolute joy. Choosing a theme like Festa has allowed me a lot of creativity. Some jewels are linked to historical ladies famous for their outrageous lives, love stories and, of course, the wonderful festas they used to give in their palaces. Others refer to a specific town or region of Italy, like Siena or Rome. Others are inspired by very basic symbols of happiness like ice cream, balloons, presents.”

The Festa collection is divided into three worlds, as Bulgari calls it: Festa dell’Infanzia (Children’s Party) will make you feel like a kid in a candy store with its cute dessert and party motifs rendered in precious metals and gems; Festa della Tradizione (Traditional Party); and the most extravagant, formal pieces from Festa della Principesse (Princess Party) are inspired by the legendary jewels, palaces, parties and balls of Italian royals.