NAMES TO KNOW (That You May Not Know Yet)
MARINA B., as people would call her, did what few would dream of: She left one of the world's most famous jewellery dynasties to create her own unforgettable signature.
Born in Rome in 1930, she was the granddaughter of Sotirios Voulgaris, the Greek silversmith who established Bulgari in the 19th century. Although she studied economics at university, Marina gravitated toward jewellery design and joined the family firm in the 1960s. Following the death of her father Constantino in 1973, she and her sister Anna inherited his share of the business.
Just three years later, Marina left Bulgari. In record time, she would prove that strong design, fearless spirit, and uncompromising glamour could stand entirely on their own.
A PORTRAIT OF A VERY YOUNG MARINA BULGARI; MARINA B., THE COLLECTORS' BOOK, AND A DESIGN FOR A CHOKER
Her signature? Rich, luxurious and modern jewels pioneering gemstone cuts like the chestnut, which sits halfway between a triangle and a pear. Thanks to a remarkable talent for reimagining classics with fresh precision, MARINA B.'s designs became instantly recognisable.
Queens and princesses, Hollywood royalty and international socialites became instantly captivated by her aesthetic. Marina B. opened her first showroom in Geneva in 1978 to never look back: from there to Milan, and from Paris to Madison Avenue, she gained cult-like status among savvy collectors.
FROM TOP: PRINCESS CAROLINE OF MONACO, PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO WITH MARINA BULGARI, QUEEN NOOR OF JORDAN, AND QUEEN PAOLA OF BELGIUM, ALL IN JEWELS BY MARINA B.
In the 1990s, she sold her company and her nephew Giorgio Bulgari became involved as creative director of MARINA B., ensuring that the passing of the baton would carry on her legacy.
Marina Bulgari passed away in Geneva in 2023, aged 92. She is remembered as one of the great female jewellers of the 20th century, a rare figure who stepped out from a legendary family name to create her own legacy.
THE SELMA COLLAR -DESIGNED FOR THE COUNTESS SELMA-, A CASCADING DESIGN AND MARINA B.'S MADISON AVENUE FLAGSHIP
Original MARINA B. designs from the Seventies and Eighties are highly prized at auction today, often commanding strong prices for their daring style and craftsmanship.
A pioneer and an unsung hero of 20th century fine jewellery, MARINA B remains today a byword for independence, innovation, and feminine style. Collectors chase her early works for their rarity, unusual cuts and timeless allure - proof that Marina Bulgari’s legacy shines as bright as her jewels.
MARINA B.'S GOLD AND STEEL HEART EARRINGS, AS WORN BY JULIA ROBERTS AND JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS
