What You Should Know About Italian Luxury Brand Bvlgari
One of the most notable and interesting brands for luxury watches is Bvlgari and for good reason – their craftsmanship is sublime and their award-winning designs are absolutely exquisite. Most famous for their in-house calibers that have set world records for being the thinnest designs ever made, they are still able to offer incredible functionality for an array of practical complications such as a chronograph, GMT function, or tourbillon.
It Started With the “Old Curiosity Shop”
In 1881, Sotirios Voulgaris, a Greek silversmith opened an antique and jewelry shop in Rome. There, he sold original Art Deco-style jewelry designs under his own name, stylized now as “Bvlgari”. Voulgaris surnname, when translated to Italian, reads “Bulgari”. It was not until the 1940’s that the brand began venturing into timepieces with the introduction of the now-iconic Serpenti wristwatch. Since that time, Bvlgari has introduced many more spectacular original models into the world.
Spreading Out Across the World
In the 1950s and 1960s, the brand was discovered by Hollywood superstars such as Clarke Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, Sophia Loren, and Audrey Hepburn. This exposure led Bvlgari to make its first breakthrough into the international scene, taking it from a local shop to global brand. By the mid 1970s, the company had stores in Monte Carlo, New York, and Paris.
Bvlgari’s Status in the Industry
It was after this expansion that Bvlgari established itself as a serious player in the world of watches. It was in the 1980s that Bvlgari founded the Bvlgari Haute Horlogerie SA in Neuchatel, Switzerland’s. In 2000, Bvlgari acquired Gerald Genta’s self-named brand, further cementing their status. Since 2011, Bvlgari has belonged to the LVMH Group, a luxury goods conglomerate that is home to some of the world’s premier luxury brands.
The Beautiful Partnership of Swiss Precision and Italian Design
In Bvlgari watches, Swiss precision and Italian design come together in harmony. While Bvlgari watches are made in Switzerland, their watches have a look that’s essentially Italian chic. In fact, many of the designs have concepts derived from those of Gerald Genta, the famed watch designer. To that end, the Octo Finissimo collection is a prime example of Genta-inspired design.
Bvlgari has also used an array of materials in its watches, ranging from gold to stainless steel to ceramic and titanium. Inside, silicon escapements and other state-of-the-art movement technology harmonize to bring the in-house movements to life. In making these movements and cases, Bvlgari has carved out a reputation for making some of the world’s thinnest watches, most notably, the Octo Finissimo which has repeatedly set records for thinnest chronograph, thinnest tourbillon, thinnest moonphase, and more.
Conclusion
Bvlgari is unique among watch brands for its devotion to design and record-setting innovation. With spectacular models, and an amazing combination of Italian style and Swiss watchmaking, the brand is respected by watch fans worldwide. If you’re looking for the next luxury watch to add to your collection, consider a Bvlgari timepiece. We’d love to show you what can only be appreciated in person – the essence of a Bvlgari watch.
Looking for a store that sells luxury watches in Beverly Hills? Check out Feldmar Watches! We are an authorized dealer of luxury watches backed by over 100 years of exceptional service.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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