Know Your Superbrands
THE TEN NAMES THAT BUILT THE ROMAN LEGEND OF BVLGARI, THE ULTIMATE ITALIAN JEWELLERY HOUSE
From the founding father to myriad family heirs, from in-house gem wizards to celebrity designers, Bvlgari’s DNA has been moulded by a remarkable cast of visionaries. Each and everyone helped cement the house’s unmistakable language of colour, volume and Roman bravura.
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SOTIRIOS VOULGARIS
Silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris founded Bvlgari in Rome in 1884 after emigrating from Greece. His early shop on Via Sistina laid the foundations for the house’s identity: With exceptional craftsmanship, Mediterranean influence and a cosmopolitan clientele, he set off the DNA that continues to define the superbrand today.
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GIORGIO BULGARI
The founder’s son, Giorgio Bulgari shaped the house during its formative decades in the early twentieth century. Working alongside his brother Costantino, he guided Bvlgari through the transition from silver objects to fine jewellery. Giorgio played a key role in refining the house’s Roman identity while expanding among Europe’s aristocracy.
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GIANNI BULGARI
Gianni Bulgari became one of the driving forces behind the house’s international expansion during the post-war decades. As chairman in the 1960s and 70s, he helped transform Bvlgari into a global luxury brand. Gianni championed audacious gemstone combinations and the distinctive style that attracted collectors, film stars and royalty alike.
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NICOLA BULGARI
Nicola Bulgari, grandson of the founder, is regarded as the guardian of the house’s heritage. Passionate about historic jewels, he championed Bvlgari’s archives and the revival of classic Roman motifs. His deep knowledge of gemstones and history helped preserve the brand’s identity while guiding its evolution through the late twentieth century.
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MARINA BULGARI
Designer Marina Bulgari brought a new female energy to the house in the Seventies. Known for strong volumes, innovative gemstone cuts and striking colour combos, she feminised Bvlgari’s spirit. In 1978 she left the family firm to establish her own brand, Marina B, continuing her exuberant approach to jewellery design.
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FRANCESCO TRAPANI
Francesco Trapani, a member of the Bulgari family, served as CEO from the 1980s through the early 2000s and transformed the company into a modern luxury powerhouse. Under his leadership Bvlgari expanded globally, opened hotels, and strengthened its high jewellery reputation while preparing the brand to join the LVMH stables.
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GIORGIO BULGARI II
Representing the third generation, Giorgio Bulgari II continues to reinforce the family’s reputation for exceptional gem-driven design. As designer of the Marina B. brand in the 2010s, he maintained the Bulgari name’s emphasis on colour, volume and unabashed style, as he now does with his own fine jewellery brand, Giorgio B.
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MICHELE DELLA VALLE
This Italian designer collaborated with Bvlgari in the 1980s, bringing a distinctly artistic sensibility to the house’s jewellery language. His work helped bridge the exuberant colour tradition of Bvlgari’s Sixties jewels with the more expressive, designer-led aesthetic that emerged in the late Nineties. To this day, his work remains highly collectible.
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ZAHA HADID
Legendary architect Zaha Hadid brought a visionary perspective to Bvlgari when she collaborated on reinterpretations of the B.zero1 design. Her fluid, futuristic forms translated the brand’s Roman heritage into a contemporary design language, demonstrating how the brand continues to engage leading creative minds beyond the world of jewellery.
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LUCIA SILVESTRI
Lucia Silvestri joined the company as a teenager and rose to become creative director of high jewellery. For more than four decades, she has selected extraordinary gemstones and developed some of the house’s most visible pieces. Her instinct for rare coloured gems continues Bvlgari’s tradition of strong, vibrant combinations.
