EMERALD GLORY

Written by: Jenna Delaney

In Bulgari’s ‘Garden Of Wonders’, glorious green gems glisten in more than 30 creations dedicated entirely to the extraordinary emerald — but we only have eyes for ‘Emerald Glory’, the pièce de résistance of the High Jewelry collection...

“Caution! Handle with care.” This is the message that often comes with High Jewelry, along with security guards, white gloves, and the occasional limbo, trying not to trigger alarming laser beams. High Jewelry is not meant to be accessible; you have to jump through hoops just to be in its presence, never mind wear it. But this is what makes it so powerful: the meticulous detail, the savior-faire, the complex designs, and the exceptional stones all set in a showstopper of a piece.

There is nothing effortless about thousands of hours of handwork, and yet, a necklace such as this, named the ‘Emerald Glory’, looks effortlessly beautiful. With an intricate texture that imitates the softness of lace, ‘Emerald Glory’ decorates the neck like a regal collar, punctuated with a set of eleven pear- shaped emeralds sourced from Colombia, totaling 42.02 carats, flawlessly calibrated in terms of clarity, color, cut, and size.

The necklace is an intimidating piece, especially when lined-up with the entire ‘Eden: The Garden of Wonders’ collection, Bulgari’s latest High Jewelry offering of 140 standout designs. Among them, the emerald shines the brightest, nestled within 30 of the creations, including ‘Emerald Glory’. And yet, despite the necklace’s imposing silhouette, the design is surprisingly wearable. The white gloves come off! Created with transformability in mind, ‘Emerald Glory’ can be worn iN different ways: as a diamond and emerald necklace entwined together, as two separate necklaces, and as a tiara – the ultimate symbol of power.

To achieve the necklace’s unique wearability and the distinct layering of shapes, Bulgari orchestrated a symphony of different skills and talents, resulting in the balance between the detachable elements and the extraordinary gem setting. Each white gold element was individually molded to frame the 73 pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamonds (totaling 110.39 carats), which cascade from the Colombian emeralds. A triumph of Bulgari’s hallmarks as a High Jeweler, ‘Emerald Glory’ required over 3000 hours of handwork, but it’s not a fragile ornament to be locked away. It’s a gift from nature, picked from Bulgari’s Eden; made to be worn, adored, and always handled with care.