STYLE | up Lucia Silvestri close Jewellery Creative Director for

LEARNING THE TRADE by the Bulgari family. At that According to Silvestri, those time, the brand had only five first few months were a pivotal shops in the world, and the period for her. “I was fortunate process of creating a piece of enough to have Paolo Bulgari, jewellery involved only a tight one of the grandsons of the circle comprised mostly of founder of the maison, to family—and Silvestri. Today introduce me to the world of she heads the jewellery True blue gemstones. When I saw all the creation and gemstone gemstones together, I fell in love acquisition department The intense blue of is one of the new with this world instantly and I behind a Bulgari network knew this is what I wanted to that has grown to some year’s sizzling shades. Charlene Co highlights some do.” She decided to leave her 300 stores, constantly spectacular pieces that showcase the stone’s hue biology studies to focus on her surrounded by the gems and job at Bulgari. After a couple of jewellery she’s so passionate years working for the maison, about. BACKGROUND she was travelling the world with Lucia Silvestri was an 18-year- the Bulgari brothers on their olour authority Pantone eye-catching, old biology student when purchasing trips and attending has spoken: lapis blue elegant piece she filled in for a woman who meetings with the world’s is among the year’s using lapis worked in Bulgari’s gemmology foremost gemstone experts. hottest hues. Finally, the lazuli for the dial of department while she was on tantalising trio often-overlooked lapis its La D de Granville, maternity leave. What was to LIFE OF GEMSTONES Divas’ Dream Gioco e Vanità lazuli—with its gorgeous framed with spessartite garnets and have been a four-month stint Before taking on the crucial necklace and bangle, and deep blue and golden . This is a case of the blues turned into a fruitful career with task of gems acquisition, Ispirazioni Italiane ring, all by Bulgari pyrite inclusions—has its time to shine. you wouldn’t mind having. the brand that has now spanned Silvestri spent years sorting Chaumet uses this opaque stone beautifully more than 35 years. through gemstones purchased in its water-inspired high jewellery collection Lumières d’Eau, which presents water in its various states—from pounding waves deep hues From top: Chaumet Lumières d’Eau necklace; Van to delicate dripping icicles. The Lumières Cleef & Arpels L’Arche de Noé perroquets and d’Eau long necklace, in particular, is quite the elephant clips; Chopard Happy Diamonds watch; stunner. Chaumet’s craftsmen have set it with Piaget lapis lazuli plate earrings; Niin Zayah ring diamonds, , spinel, tanzanite and cascading lapis lazuli beads. ultramarine Van Cleef & Arpels, meanwhile, renders If lapis blue is a tad too intense for a few pieces for its 60-piece clip collection, L’Arche de Noé, in lapis lazuli. One, the your taste, these more subtle shades perroquets clip, features carefully cut lapis may be right for you Ornella lazuli and turquoise as feathers. Lapis lazuli is Iannuzzi also used to make the body of the L’Arche de Noé elephant clip, which is set with diamonds Monica and buff-topped round sapphires. Vinader Piaget’s 18K white earrings feature lapis lazuli plates complemented by pear- shaped paraiba tourmalines and 138 brilliant- cut diamonds, and will frame your face beautifully. Hong Kong jewellery brand Niin’s Zayah statement ring has lapis lazuli as the centre stone, set on brushed gold-plated Tayma sterling silver. likewise could not resist Giampiero the opaque gemstone, seeing it as the Bodino perfect material to create a dramatic dial. Anabela Chan Chopard, for instance, opts for a lapis lazuli Cartier dial on one of its iconic Happy Diamonds watches, providing a striking contrast against its 18K white gold case and five moving diamonds. Dior, meanwhile, renders an

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