Lucia Silvestri: The Woman Behind Bulgari's Gems

Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari's creative director and one of the few women to hold the role of Buyer Director, travels worldwide to source precious stones. In an interview with Artribune, she describes her deep connection with gems, emphasizing that she must see and touch them in person before purchase. The negotiation process can take days, months, or even years, and she navigates a male-dominated industry with determination and experience. Her first major creation was a necklace with yellow and blue sapphires from Sri Lanka, which she bought and designed herself years before becoming creative director. The creative process begins at Bulgari's Rome offices, where she arranges gems on a table, mixing colors and cuts to envision high jewelry pieces. She often works with music, finding inspiration in the harmony of stones. Silvestri's career started alongside the Bulgari family, learning the trade firsthand. She recalls her first trip to Sri Lanka with Mr. Bulgari, driving hours into the jungle to meet a top sapphire supplier.