Bvlgari

Bvlgari finished off its 125th anniversary year in style at Christie's New York with an auction to benefit Save the Children. To close out its 125th anniversary year, the jeweler hosted a star-studded crowd at the auction house and put 11 incredible jewelry lots and seven timepieces up for sale. Stars in attendance included Morgan Fairchild, Rose Byrne, Jessica Lange and Ricky Martin, who posed with model Esther Canadas. Bvlgari raised a total of $1,546,500 including $270,000 for the diamond Lucea choker seen in the gallery below. The company will be working with Save the Children again next year.

Bvlgari's work with Save the Children takes center stage at Christie's New York during a special auction to benefit the Rewrite the Future campaign. The campaign has a mission of providing quality education for 8 million children living in conflict-affected areas. To celebrate their 125 year anniversary, Bvlgari will auction an extraordinary collection of 11 one-of- a-kind jewelry creations and 7 limited edition timepieces. The jewels' overall value is estimated at around $4 million and all proceeds will be donated the campaign.

The collection was officially presented to the public on May 20, 2009 at a private celebration inaugurating Bulgari's first-ever retrospective museum exhibition at the prestigious Il Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. From June until November 2009 the collection will tour the world's greatest cities, where they will be presented at a series of high-profile events. The international tour will culminate with the New York auction in December when the pieces will be sold at Christie's.

You can also still participate in this important campaign by buying the Bvlgari Save the Children ring which is on sale until the end of the year.

The last few months have seen a series of bad-news stories regarding Bulgari and its attempts to survive and adapt to the change in economic times. When things were good, Bulgari started to snatch up other watch makers such as Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta. As I feel the need to be clear, the men themselves Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta are not in some state of bondage, but rather that Bulgari owns the rights to the brands (the trademarks). I've mentioned this before, but I still find it odd that the namesakes of these brands no longer have a place at the brands - and perhaps only a small stake in the success thereof. Nevertheless, if the brand releases a bad product, it will still effect the men negatively from a PR standpoint.

Well, the brands have fine products, but are about to lose 50 employees between them. Some one out there is bound to get pissed at Gerald and Daniel even though they have no part in this. We go back to Bulgari who is attempting to stay afloat by terminating the employment of 50 out of just 130 employees. Over 40 percent of the work force. There will likely be a consolidation of efforts and less redundancy of roles between Bulgari, Gerald Genta, and Daniel Roth. As the demand for luxury watches is currently low, this makes sense. Even though this is bad news for fans of the brands as well as the employees of the companies (especially those losing their jobs), Bulgari isn't in a significantly worse position than other luxury brands these days.

Via World Tempus (in French).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Famed Italian jeweler and luxury goods firm Bulgari plans to cut jobs, close stores and pare down its collections in the wake of a disastrous 45% drop in profits. The company, which was founded in 1884, has seen its watch business suffer badly in the economic downturn, with sales plunging 10.6%, Vogue UK reports. Accessories dropped 1.5% and jewelery, the company's core business, dropped 2.5%. On the plus side, perfume sales have increased by 12%, perhaps an indication that consumers see fragrance as a relatively affordable luxury. Sales in America and Europe were particularly poor, though the Middle East was up by 9%.

The company, a red carpet favorite of stars like Halle Berry, Keira Knightley and Kate Hudson, describes its jewelry as "pure luxury obtained by means of daring combinations, precious materials, purity of design and meticulous attention to detail." "[This year] will be a very difficult year," states Bulgari CEO Francesco Trapani, adding that future earnings are impossible to predict. "We don't feel able to give a number of any meaning because the situation is so very complicated." He is no doubt feeling somewhat overextended on the retail side with over 230 locations worldwide.

Bvlgari is 125 years old and is celebrating with a limited edition of 125 watches in honor of the brand's founder, Sotirio Bulgari. Honestly, I can never figure out when to use a "v" or "u" in the brand's name, as they themselves seem to go back and forth.

This Sotirio Bulgari watch comes in gold (either pink, yellow, or white) in a 42mm sized case. It is a stunning design when you first behold it, with elements both classic and contemporary. Most notable are the broad lugs that prominently spread outward. As an homage to tradition as well as pocket watches, the rear of the watch case opens with a view into the movement (covered by a sapphire crystal).

The unique argente dial is completely made by Bvlgari with hand applied markers and partial skeletonization. The hands, in gold, are faceted for an excellent look. Being an important watch for the company, the BVL 250 automatic mechanical movement is highly decorated with a number of polishes and finishes, as well as engravings on gold rotor. It is also a thin movement at about 3.73mm thick.

With an alligator strap and an important name to live up to, this 125th anniversary watch from Bvlgari utilizes every luxury treatment the distinguished brand is known to offer in terms of quality and presentation. It is something that needs to be experienced in person to fully admire. Look for them in select Bvlgari boutique stores worldwide.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The current economy has not been kind to Bvlgari, both in its watch and jewelry selling capacities. Not to be discouraged, Bvlgari has apparently returned to its roots with new designs that are attractive and conservative, though complex. A barrage of new models will be released at Baselworld in April, and the public reception of these watches will be an indicator of Bvlgari's short-term economic future.

New to the women's line is this updated "Bvlgari Bvlgari" (Bulgari Bulgari) Moon Phase watch. The classic name is taken from the double use of the brand name on the bezel. The dial is mother of pearl with diamond pavé decoration in a crescent moon shape. Opposite is the moon phase display also in mother of pearl. Other than the moon phase display, the complications are simple with just the time and a subsidiary seconds dial. Powering the watch is the automatic mechanical B77 movement, with applied Côte de Genève and perlage polish decorations.

The 38mm case is steel - as the company must remain a bit more modest these days - and is attached to a handsome white alligator strap with a folding deployment clasp. It is a fine luxury watch that is unmistakeably Bvlgari, exactly what the company needs right now. Availability starts in May at select Bvlgari boutiques.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

This is something I need! A cell phone strap. I know they sell them all over, but I never seem to see one when I'm thinking of it and inevitably my poor phone keeps hitting the pavement, the sidewalk, the tile, whatever! How many lives does a cell phone have, anyway? My little guy is well into the double digits, easy.

So anyway, Bulgari has come out with their own luxurious version of the cell phone strap, made of soft calf leather and palladium -- and a handy feature where the strap part disconnects leaving a cute cube pendant behind for easy reattachment (very handy). They also have other designs available on the website (I found them under "gifts") that come in other colors, along with some darling phone pendants as well.