Bvlgari’s latest high-jewellery collection, Wild Pop, was a creative success story in terms of exploring irreverent themes, from cats and space droids to LP players and marijuana (yes, really!). Its parent company LVMH singled Bvlgari out as having had an ‘excellent year’ in its 2017 financial results. On Monday September 17 it will open a newly expanded Harrods boutique, with exclusive creations to mark the occasion.
Green matches perfectly with our history. As a Roman jeweller, we’ve always worked with precious stones and more specifically with emeralds.
Fabrizio Buonamassa, director of Bvlgari Watches Design Centre
Three times larger than the previous space, the 178sqm shop is spread over two floors, with the department store’s only in-boutique lift. Visitors can expect a visual feast, especially as the interiors take their cue from the Peter Marino-designed Bvlgari flagships in Rome and Bond Street – an eclectic ode to Italian craftsmanship and history, where Pantheon-inspired bronze lattice screens and parquet floors mix with plush 1960s velvet furniture. The latter in particular recalls the visits that Elizabeth Taylor made to the Via Condotti shop while filming Cleopatra in Rome and, indeed, a special VIP lounge bearing her name can be found in the Harrods boutique.
Bvlgari Divas’ Dream Harrods Edition Necklace in gold, diamond and malachite
Price on request
Ten new jewels – eight of which are one-offs – have been created for the launch, and all pay homage to Harrods’ green livery in some way. A platinum ring (price on request) sees a 4.25ct emerald flanked by two square step-cut diamonds and surrounded by additional pavé diamonds, while the glamorous Divas’ Dream necklace and matching drop earrings (both price on request) feature malachite and gold trimmed with diamonds.
Malachite also appears in a rose-gold Parentesi bracelet and necklace (above, both price on request) with chunky interlocking motifs, which are bursting with personality, as well as the beautifully articulated Serpenti necklace (£65,000), a coiled bracelet (£60,000) and ring (£8,700), which have malachite, rose gold and diamond scales.
Bvlgari Serpenti Harrods Edition Bracelet in rose-gold,, diamond and malachite,
£60,000
Not only Bvlgari’s latest high-jewellery collection, Wild Pop, was a creative success story. The jeweler is on something of a roll. Last November, its watch division picked up two gongs at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards, the Oscars of horology.
Last year Bvlgari’s Octo Finissimo Automatic was the toast of the town – that town being Basel – for its record-breaking movement, and this year the Italian jeweller-come-watchmaker doubled down on their revolutionary creation. Alongside the ‘standard’ steel version they added titanium, rhodium and rose gold versions. They also added a sneaky little limited edition too – in green.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Harrods Edition Watch on alligator strap,
£12,000
A special limited edition model of 10 of Bvlgari’s award-winning Octo Finissimo Automatic – one of the world’s slimmest self-winding watches, at 5.15mm – has the unique signature colour of the Knightsbridge institution that is applied to the dial and numerals which work brilliantly with the multi-faceted titanium case. The gold inset numerals really pop against the green, while the typography on the transparent case-back has been subtly changed to reference the store’s own.
Inside, the watch uses the same in-house, wafer-thin movement as the rest of the range and the finishing on the platinum micro-rotor and baseplate is exquisite, and has a power reserve of 60 hours. The 40 mm size paired with the incredibly light, ultra-thin titanium case makes this watch a real pleasure to wear. It’s square shape might look large but it rests elegantly – not to mention comfortably – on the wrist. It comes with an elegant alligator strap. I won’t bother saying what colour it is. Limited to just 10 pieces, it’s a cool take on a ground-breaking watch, whether you’re a Harrods shopper or not.
Yakymour 