Eclectic Encounters

By retracing an imaginary trip across the Mediterranean Sea - an inexhaustible source of inspiration layered with arts, traditions and crafts Meditteranea, Bulgari's latest High Jewellery and High-End Watches collection of over 400 creations, is an expression of the audacious creativity and exceptional craftsmanship the Roman jeweller is renowned for.

- FRANÇOIS OOSTHUIZEN & ALLYSON KLASS

Choosing Venice - a cultural and artistic crossroads over the centuries for the debut of its 2023 Mediterranea High Jewellery and High-End Watches collection was no coincidence for Bulgari. Being in the centre of the Mediterranean and the meeting point for various cultures, including the Byzantine, Moorish and Ottoman (as well as Sicily and Rome), who all traded with the Venetian empire, led to a unique architectural style: Venetian Gothic. Venice brought together distant universes and inspirations, from the secret gardens found on the Silk Road to the warm sands of the African desert. Indeed, the historic City of Love provides an iconic backdrop that embodies the eclectic spirit of this magnificent new collection.

A star-studded and glamorous red-carpet gala dinner also brought together Bulgari Brand Ambassadors, such as Blackpink's Lisa, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway and Priyanka Chopra Jones, all swathed in key pieces from Mediterranea. Despite their star power, the unmistakable highlight was the spectacular creations of the collection.

Mauro di Roberto, Bulgari's chief of Jewellery Division, points out that Rome has traditionally been the most important source of inspiration for the company. "As a meeting point for Africa, Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean is very important to us, too - it's a meeting point of different cultures. We'd like to think that it's well expressed in this new collection. As a source of inspiration, we've learned that creativity comes faster than we think because of the gems that we find and work with. You always find new ones, new shapes, new colours and this is the real novelty."

He adds: "We've high standards when it comes to the colour, inclusions, character and so on of the gemstones. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find exceptional gems as the market has become more aggressive (with competitors). The demand is much bigger these days.