Bulgari Unveils Revamped New York Flagship Store

Designed by American architect Peter Marino, the new-look store is teeming with eye-catching elements, from the baroque-style door to the 1960s Gio Ponti chandeliers which were originally hanging in the prestigious Parco dei Principi hotel’s ballroom in Rome

“We have a mix of Italian masters of design as well as new modern designs by Peter Marino,” said Silvia Schwarzer, the Interior Design Director at Bulgari.

“The chandeliers, were in the Parco dei Principi hotel’s ballroom in Rome and were designed by Gio Ponti in 1960. They’re original. We also have Gio Ponti furniture. Other elements like the staircase, the pantone mesh featuring the Bulgari eight point star—those were designed by Peter Marino, so the mix of the two is very important for us because we start from our roots but are always looking to innovate."

On the mezzanine floor is a lounge housing a selection of vintage Bulgari trinkets. The loune was inspired by the Salottino Taylor private room at the Via Condotti boutique in Rome where Elizabeth Taylor tried on jewels in the 1960s, 

Bugari are marking the opening  with a capsule collection of jewellery inspired by New York, using lapis lazuli, coral and diamonds to pay tribute to the colours of the American flag.

The brand’s Creative director, Lucia Silvestri, who created the collection, named a bracelet as her favourite item from the series

“It’s almost three-dimensional and it’s very soft and sophisticated and it’s so New York,” she said. “This kind of craftsmanship is something only Bulgari can do. I really wanted to do something special, but you know it’s difficult because even in the ‘70s we did such extraordinary pieces

“Those pieces are still very modern. So I wanted to do something with the same spirit but very contemporary.”

Founded by Sotirios Voulgaris in 1884, Bulgari has grown to become one of the world’s most iconic fashion and jewellery brands.