Perfection goes hand in hand with tradition, and the fi nal result of every artisanal craftsmanship must be nothing less than magnificent

by expert craftsmen. The esprit of the Roman jeweller is also visible in some of the exceptional techniques of the jewellery making, adopted in the manufacturing of the leather accessories.

In designing a bag, much effort goes into research and investigation of precious skins, manufacturing techniques, metallic details and—Bulgari’s utmost obsession—colour combinations. Only a certain number of sketches are transformed into a first threedimensional model, the Salpa. The Salpa is an intermediate stage which anticipates the finalisation of the first prototype and which undergoes technical and stylistic analyses of the proportions and of the skins. For each new collection, around 250 prototypes are created, of which only half become models for sale.

The making of the bags is accomplished by using one of the oldest and most traditional techniques: the construction in form. This method is used for haute couture creations, and ensures that the perfect shape endures over time. The bag is moulded around a wooden sculpture to the closest millimetre

THE MASTER’S HANDS (From top right) The Serpenti collection uses different materials; Artisans clean and gold-plate the metal components; The lost wax casting technique; (opposite) CEO JeanChristophe Babin