Rome Meets Abu Dhabi thanks to Bulgari

Bvlgari brought together the magic of Rome and Abu Dhabi for the unveiling of the new High Jewellery Jannah Collection.


Bulgari inhaugurates the first ever collaboration between the Italian jeweler and a member of the ruling United Arab Emirates Royal Family, Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The collection revolves around the five-petal flowers that adorn the marble ceilings of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and features exceptional pieces. Bvlgari proudly pays tribute to an unprecedented collaboration, the first of its kind, with Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the ruling United Arab Emirates Royal Family. A project flourished over two years, the Jannah Collection is the embodiment of both Bvlgari and Her Highness’s joyful and passionate love for life and devotion to heritage.
As the granddaughter of Sheikh Zayed bint Sultan Al Nahyan, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima grew up with the heavy responsibility that comes with being part of a powerful dynasty. Throughout her life, the young Princess found inspiration, guidance and beauty in her grandparents’ stories. Years later, when reflecting on their time together in the palace gardens, her Highness Sheikha Fatima realized these stories had planted in her soul the strong desire to continue this narrative and build her own vision for the future.

The result is a touching tribute to the Princess’s ideals through a fruitful collaboration between Bvlgari and Her Highness. The collection revolves around a five-petal flower, glorifying the bond between two wondrous cities – Abu Dhabi and Rome – with roots that run deep through time. More than merely a magnificent collection of jewels, the Jannah Collection is the story of two powerful families coming together in a celebration of shared values and reverence for heritage.

Thanks to her experience in various realms and her enthusiasm in continuing her grandfather legacy to build meaningful dialogues between civilizations; Sheikha Fatima demonstrates again and again that her ambitions are infinite. “There are a lot of similarities between Italian and Middle Eastern women…the warmth, generous hospitality, and sense of humor. Whether I’m in Italy or the Middle East, I feel at home," says Lucia Silvestri Creative Director for High Jewelry at Bvlgari. The story behind the birth of the Jannah Collection is one of love and dedication, never rushed but simply allowed to blossom in its own time. Lucia Silvestri, the Creative Director for High Jewelry for Bvlgari, spent many hours with her Highness Sheikha Fatima listening to her stories and vision for the future. Despite coming from two different worlds, they soon discovered a shared love for beauty and for family, and an unmistakable zest for life.

One of the recurring themes shared between these two new confidants, was the Princess’s admiration for her grandparents and their tireless pursuit for tolerance and peace in the region. The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, commissioned by Sheikh Zayed, is the most prominent embodiment of such values. Keen on preserving UAE heritage and infusing it with UAE’s future outlook, this partnership echoes the richness of the UAE and the integration of its elements in the global scene.

Lucia, having visited the Grand Mosque a number of times, was inspired by the delicate five petals flowers that adorn the Carrara marble ceilings and architecture: this was the genesis of the Jannah Collection and of its Five Petal Flower. “Baba Zayed, you realised a ‘Jannah’ on our soil, truthful to our heritage while embracing the world. Today I dedicate my ‘Jannah’ to you", adds Her Highness  Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The design process can follow different paths. With precious stones, the project often starts from the gem by sourcing the perfect stone. The research can be lengthy as each stone is sourced individually, bearing in mind the perfect combination of shape, color and cut. Once the gem is found, designers start playing with it, sketching the mounting and designing a harmonious combination with the other gemstones belonging to the final piece.

One of the very first pieces created for the Jannah Collection was a very significant sautoir. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima wanted to bestow an exceptional and personal piece upon her beloved grandmother. At the heart of the necklace lies a single, cushion-cut Colombia emerald of 13,38 ct . The cushion-cut on such a stone is a mark of the high craftsmanship enshrined in the jewel: the craftsman has reshaped and reduced the original stone with the sole aim of exalting its hidden beauty and shine.

As a final, secret homage, the Princess had her beloved grandfather’s name, “Zayed”, engraved in Arabic on the back of the pendant, thus keeping his name close to her grandmother’s heart. A recent addition to Bvlgari’s creativity, the poncho necklaces are outstanding and unique creations, requiring between 1.200-1.500 hours of work of a single artisan, assisted by a team of casters and gem cutters. This particular piece gracefully wraps the chest of the happy owner, resting on the collarbones and fully covering the shoulders with 41 round emeralds and 46 rubellite beads, among other precious gems and materials. “For me the poncho is something extraordinary, unusual. Bvlgari launched this magnificent new shape in 2018 for the Fiorever collection, today the poncho is one of our masterpieces. Her Highness Sheikha Fatima has stimulated me a lot for the creation of this jewel. In this very interesting cultural exchange she inspired me for a new creativity and the result was a very elegant and feminine, truly unexpected hair ornament", continues Lucia Silvestri Creative Director for High Jewelry at Bvlgari. The ring-bracelets are classic pieces of Arabic traditional jewelry, included in the collection as a true symbol of the links between East and West cultures. These bracelets gracefully adorn women’s hands, delicately following their movements thanks to a flexible, yet substantial, construction. Several ring-bracelets are presented in the Jannah Collection, making it one of the most representative styles of the assortment.

 

Bulgari 1


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