Bulgari Unveils Its New Aeterna Jewellery Collection in Rome

Bulgari’s latest masterpiece, the Aurea Chandra Choker, is a technical feat and a testament to the house’s Italian legacy

A special 140th anniversary required an extraordinary reveal. And, of course, Bulgari didn’t disappoint. The maison created an unprecedented impact, unveiling 500 creations including high jewellery, high jewellery watches, as well as ultra-luxe handbags and fragrances simultaneously this summer. Called Aeterna, meaning ‘eternal’ in Latin, the collection represents the house’s innovative spirit and its ability to consistently reinvent itself through the years, steadfastly driven forward by its unfettered creativity.

This spherical choker, called the Aurea Chandra after Bulgari’s opulent Chandra Line from the 1980s, is a geometrical masterpiece. Made up of five alternating layers of pink gold and pavé-set diamond spheres, it showcases state-of-the-art jewellery design in that it’s relatively weightless for its impressive size. Meticulous work went into crafting the hollow spheres, which were moulded one by one from wax to ensure they had a precise volume. Invisible links connect the spheres ensuring that the necklace is tactile and not rigid.

Clients were introduced to the pieces via an extravagant evening held at the Terme di Diocleziano – ancient Rome’s largest bath complex erected between AD 298 and 306. The structure is a quintessential example of just how innovative Roman architects were in the way they manipulated space, and explored balance and form. It’s these codes that Bulgari has imbued into its creations – including this choker – which is a tour de force in harmonious proportion and volume.

Images: Supplied

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s July/August 2024 issue.