Editor’s Note
Bulgari unveils its Le Gemme collection, celebrating precious stones, while a new collaboration with Luxottica reimagines eyewear as daily jewelry, blending function with fine aesthetics.
Bulgari, the quintessential Italian jewelry maison, has launched its own precious ‘vision’ this year with the collection named Le Gemme, a term that distinguishes all minerals that can be considered precious stones.
Would you ever think of choosing a pair of glasses every day like a piece of jewelry? Bulgari and Luxottica have done it for us. They have pushed the functional and sporty aesthetic that characterizes contemporary eyewear a little further, and together they officially announce the advent of a new luxurious and timeless accessory, made in 18-karat gold for the most sought-after models.
The Le Gemme collection comprises three lines: Primavera for her, Zephyr for him, and at the top of the luxury pyramid, Le Gemme Rare. 100% made in Italy, each gem must pass several tests before being selected: the process is more or less the same as that undergone by any other piece of ‘haute joaillerie’ signed by Bulgari.
Like the diamond you never take off or the ruby ring you promised yourself you’d never forget at the restaurant or the beach, Bulgari’s Le Gemme are a crucial accessory for your ‘vision’ and transform ‘ready to wear’ into ‘ready to see’.
The Primavera collection is inspired by the 1960s and recalls Bulgari’s legendary floral motifs. The sunglasses and optical frames have a brown and black acetate structure with gold, gold-plated, or 18-karat gold temples. The men’s line Zephyr celebrates the aviator style with rectangular shapes and various combinations of gold, titanium, and gold-plated metal. The palette of precious colors is completed, to cite a few examples, by cabochon-cut mother-of-pearl, rose quartz, and blue chalcedony.
The crowning jewel of the Gemme is the Le Gemme Rare collection, composed of ten unique models with customizable gold temples. Directly inspired by Bulgari’s supreme definition of the diamond, the Sapphire Flower, Le Gemme Rare is the very first edition of what could soon be called ‘high-end eyewear’.
The Le Gemme line will be available starting October 2011 in Bulgari boutiques in Italy, the Middle East, North America, and Asia, as well as in a selection of Luxottica luxury stores. Le Gemme will be enriched each year with new wonderful collections.