Editor’s Note
This article follows Bulgari’s Lucia Silvestri and Priyanka Chopra Jonas on a journey to India, exploring the vibrant origins of the brand’s iconic use of color and gemstones.
Bulgari’s Jewelry Creative Director Lucia Silvestri and Global Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas embarked on a colorful journey to India, the source of Bulgari’s creativity.
At Bulgari, every high jewelry masterpiece begins with a single sparkle. It is the gem itself—imbued with hidden energy, vibrant color, and captivating allure—that stimulates inspiration and illuminates the path of creation. This magic began from the very first stage of high jewelry making: the search for gems in Jaipur, India. Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s Jewelry Creative Director, returned to this land to select the precious stones that would become the heartbeat of Bulgari’s latest high-end collection, “Polychroma,” announced in May. Joining her on this vibrant journey of discovery was a special guest: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Bulgari’s Global Ambassador. On her native Indian soil, she personally experienced the sensibility, expertise, and inspiration that form the foundation of Bulgari’s creations.
Known as the “Pink City,” Jaipur is a global epicenter for colored stones. It is home to centuries-old techniques, exceptional craftsmanship, and a kaleidoscope of colors like rubellite, emerald, tourmaline, and sapphire. For Lucia Silvestri, who has visited Jaipur over 40 times, the city is more than just a source of magnificent materials. It is a place where nature’s bounty and human artistry converge, and where color lives as a culture.
For Priyanka Chopra Jonas, born in India and raised across continents, the journey to Jaipur was a reconnection with her roots. Immersed in the city’s rich colors and traditions, she joined Lucia Silvestri in experiencing the traditional art of gem cutting, deepening her bond with her homeland and its cultural heritage. It was a powerful moment where tradition met innovation, and where India’s timeless spirit fused with Bulgari’s bold creative vision.
In Bulgari’s creative universe, color is not merely decoration. It is DNA, a language that speaks of emotion, movement, joy, and identity. Each gem is chosen for its hue, brilliance, shape, and energy, marking the beginning of a deeply intuitive process where imagination takes flight. For Lucia, selecting a gem is an act of love.
Over years of visiting Jaipur’s gem suppliers, Lucia has built relationships based on trust and respect—special connections that offer a rare glimpse behind the scenes, into a world usually unseen. Amidst stimulating time with long-time suppliers and within Jaipur’s historic palaces and vibrant streets, Lucia guided Priyanka into the intimate world of gems and artisans, hidden from the glamorous front stage of high jewelry making. It is a world of moments where an artisan communes with a gem, the thrill of a new discovery, and the infinite creative universe unlocked by a single sparkle.
This journey taught us the moving story of how Bulgari’s high jewelry is born, woven from the original inspiration, culture, and mystery of nature.
The gems meticulously selected in Jaipur then travel to Rome, arriving at Lucia Silvestri’s desk where they are imbued with new life. Lucia experiments with countless combinations and possibilities, seeking the perfect harmony that will animate the stones. She only chooses a stone once she is convinced of the brilliance it holds. It is her intuition and creativity that transform the initial inspiration into reality. Once the optimal balance is found, Lucia collaborates with the design team to translate this vision into sketches. The design drawings are then passed on to Bulgari’s master artisans. Through their hands, the concept, liberated from the two-dimensional world, is materialized into breathtaking three-dimensional jewelry. It is a moving symphony where each talent resonates, pursuing perfect beauty, pouring in passion, and obsessing over every detail to create captivating masterpieces.