The Greek story behind Bulgari

Bulgari is one of the oldest Italian jewelry houses dating back to 1884. The trademark is usually written BVLGARI in the classical Latin alphabet, and is derived from the surname of the company's Greek founder, Sotirios Voulgaris (Bulgari is the phonetic version of Voulgaris's name).

Jewelry has always been an important part of our culture. Even from the times when humans first started using clothes and tools about 100,000 years ago, jewelry was produced from any kind of materials that were available including stones, animal skins, feathers, plants, bones, and more. Today, we use jewelry to add extra appeal to an outfit and jewelry houses like Tiffany, Harry Winston, Cartier, Buccellati, among others have made their mark on the industry to attract a variety of buyers.

Here at Passion4Luxury, we will discuss the Italian jewelry company – Bulgari. This brand is famous for its glamorous gemstone jewelry using an assortment of colors, which makes their pieces immediately recognizable. In addition, Bulgari creations include iconic features, such as a sense of volume, harmony and refined motifs that remind consumers of the brand’s Greek and Roman roots. Defined as classic yet contemporary, Bulgari maintains its 130 year legacy by creating perfectly timeless pieces for those who adore jewels.

Below details seven facts you should know about Bulgari and their prestigious jewelry pieces.

1. Bulgari is one of the oldest Italian jewelry houses dating back to 1884. The trademark is usually written BVLGARI in the   classical Latin alphabet, and is derived from the surname of the company’s Greek founder, Sotirios Voulgaris (Bulgari is the phonetic version of Voulgaris’s name).

2. Sotirios was a Greek immigrant to Italy. He moved to Rome in 1880 with only 18 cents in his pocket at young age with a terrific skill to work with precious metals. After working several related jobs, Sotirios opened his own shop in 1884. He laid into the foundation of the Bulgari style trademark elements of ancient Romans and Greeks and opened a couple of stores across Italy.

Born in the Greek village of Kalarites in March of 1857, Sotirios began his career as a jeweller in his home village of Paramythia (Epirus, Greece), his parents were George Voulgaris and Eleni Strougari.

3. Sotirios had two sons, Constantino (1889–1973) and Giorgio (1890–1966), who were actively involved in the business and worked for the company their entire lives. The company is currently headed by Sotirios’s great grandson, Francesco Trapani.

4. During World War II, Costantino Bulgari and his wife Laura hid three Jewish women in their own Roman home. They were strangers to them, but the Bulgaris opened their doors out of outrage for the raid of the Roman ghetto in October 1943. For their actions, on December 13, 2003, the family was awarded the title of Righteous among the Nations at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

5. Bulgari style is easily recognizable by ancient elements of Roman, Greek, Italian Renaissance, and later introduced Parisian and Art Deco style. It remains true to its roots producing jewelry and accessories of compact rounded forms that are generously decorated with gems and various colors and combinations. Bulgari is also famous for colored stones, especially sapphires mixed in unique formats.

6. One aspect that makes Bulgari a luxury powerhouse is the company’s dazzling clientele. International icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Princess Grace of Monaco were avid collectors. Jessica Lange wore a diamond studded gold chain and bracelet by Bulgari in the 1976 movie, KING KONG. More recently, Naomi Watts and Uma Thurman were seen donning Bulgari pieces. Andy Warhol once said, “For me, calling at Bulgari’s shop is like visiting the best exhibition of contemporary art.”

 Elisabeth Taylor wearing Bulgari

7. Bulgari relies on a distribution network of about 300 stores, located in the most exclusive shopping areas in the world. The largest Bulgari store is the 10-story Bulgari Ginza Tower in Tokyo with 940 square meters of retail floor space. 2014 marked the 130th year of Bulgari success.

For more information on Bulgari, visit their website at Bulgari