IN THE NIGHT GARDEN
Isabella Ferrari and
Franca Sozzani
Renowned for its enchanting beauty, the 16th-Century Villa Di Maiano in Florence was where Bulgari unveiled its opulent new High Jewellery collection, inspired by the art of Italian gardens. The gala dinner was hosted by Bulgari Group CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and Carla Bruni, who stars in the jeweller’s latest campaign. In attendance were actor and Bulgari’s brand ambassador for watches Luke Evans, Italian actress and Save the Children ambassador Isabella Ferrari, society darling HSH Princess Lilly zu Sayn Wittgenstein Berleburg, Indian actress Sonam Kapoor, models Toby Huntington-Whiteley and Max Emerson, and philanthropist Becca Cason Thrash.
As dusk fell upon the rolling hills of Fiesole, VIP guests mingled to the serene tunes of the harp before a spectacular High Jewellery show saw models gracefully strolling through the lush greenery. Later, French pop band Gipsy Queens livened up the evening with their signature sound, as did the live DJ-set performance by Graziano Della Nebbia and fascinating fireworks display.
The stunning Italian Gardens collection comprises 100 dazzling jewels, all evocative of the geometric hedges and flowerbeds that blossomed during the Rinascimento – a time when architects, painters, and sculptors the likes of Raphael and Michelangelo remodelled the very notion of beauty by exploring fresh ideas of nature and art. The result? Unique pieces of precious raw materials, with gems recalling the architectural motifs and vibrant flowers of these magnificent gardens.