Bvlgari 101
In 1884, Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari established the jewelry brand that would later be known as Bvlgari.
In 1905, Bvlgari's flagship store opened on the streets of Via dei Condotti. The store still stands there today and is enriched with Bvlgari's history.
Bvlgari entered the fine jewelry market because of Sotirio’s sons Giorgio and Constantino who convinced him that it would make the company grow. The brothers would later take over the company.
At the end of the 1940s, the brothers looked at the serpent, a symbol of ancient Roman and Greek mythology and created the Bvlgari Serpenti, a jeweled serpent-shaped watch, which would go on to become one of the house’s most iconic items.
Bvlgari’s Via dei Condotti store became a gathering place for socialites and starlets who passed through the city, creating more buzz around the jewelry house. In the ‘70s, Bvlgari expanded both in Europe and globally.
As stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Berman, Claudia Cardinal, Sofia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida filmed in Rome, Bvlgari’s Via dei Condotti flagship became a regular stop for them.
In recent years, countless celebrities have worn Bvlgari on the red carpet, including Zendaya (pictured above) — who wore $6 million in Bvlgari jewels during the 2021 Oscars.
Bvlgari, especially the fine jewelry pieces, makes a good investment, with the fine jewelry pieces holding the majority of their retail value.
The best Bvlgari investments include the Bvlgari Diva’s Dream pendant necklace in 18- carat gold with diamonds, which retains 91% of its retail value at resale.