Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 by Greek Silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris (in Italian: Sotirio Bulgari), and is a luxury brand known for its craftsmanship of watches, jewellery and accessories.
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The business quickly became a success, as English tourists in Rome greatly appreciated the silver ornaments created by Bulgari. The first store was opened on Via Sistina in Rome, but the success soon led to the opening of a new store on Via Condotti, which would become Bulgari’s flagship store.
When Voulgaris’ sons Giorgio and Costantino joined him in the business, they suggested the company should focus on high jewellery in order to grow, and the Bulgari style, embracing vibrant colour combinations and unmistakable motifs, began to emerge. During the 1970s, the flagship store became one of the favourite meeting places for movie stars and socialites, and the brand’s international recognition grew so much that it expanded throughout Europe and to the United States.
In 1977, Bulgari introduced the Bulgari Bulgari, which has the brand’s most distinctive design and remains its most famous watch. In 2000, Bulgari’s strategy was one of aggressive verticalisation, with the acquisition of the luxury watchmaking brands Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta, among others. Since 2011, Bulgari has been owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world’s leading luxury group. Still, it remains one of the finest and top-selling watch-building companies in the world and pursues a continuous search for perfection and technological development.
