Sotirio Bulgari
About
Sotirio Bulgari was born in 1857 in Greece. The Bulgaris descend from an ancient family of Greek silversmiths whose activity began in the small village of Epirus, where Sotirio, the founder of the family, made precious objects in silver.
He moved to Rome in 1879. Armed with his skills as a silversmith, Sotirio Bulgari sold silver at Trinita dei Monti. In 1884 he opened his first shop in Via Sistina in Rome.
With the help of his sons Costantino and Giorgio, in 1905 he inaugurated the shop in via Condotti, which still today is Bvlgari's flagship store.
After Sotirio's death in 1932, his two inherited the business. They had been helping their father and already knew the ropes of the jewelry business. The brothers developed an interest in precious stones, and it was them who originally developed the "Bvlgari style" as we know it today.
In 1950 BVLGARI came into international attention when they began to make innovative jewelry for some of the most famous women, including the actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Today, Paolo Bulgari and Nicola Bulgari, respectively Chairman and Vice-Chairman, together with their nephew Francesco Trapani, Chief Executive Officer, manage the company's development with the intent of better serving an international market, while remaining fine and prestigious jewelers.
The Look
Bulgari jewelry design is distinctive and often imitated (and counterfeited). In the 1970s, many of the more expensive Bulgari pieces (such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings) were characterized by instantly recognizable, bold, almost brutal designs combining large and weighty gold links with black-surfaced steel. Genuine Bulgari items usually have a unique serial number that is registered with the company.