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The Roman jewellery house Bvlgari has dazzled Tokyo with its largest-ever exhibition in Japan. The exposition, titled Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts, which is open at the National Art Center until the 15th of December this year, is a magnificent celebration of colour. The name, derived from the Greek words kalos (beautiful) and eidos (shape), perfectly captures its essence: a kaleidoscopic journey showcasing almost 350 masterpieces. Here, visitors can admire treasures from the Bvlgari Heritage collection as well as from prestigious private collections, which enter into a dialogue with works by three contemporary female artists – Lara Favaretto, Mariko Mori, and Akiko Nakayama.
This multifaceted journey invites visitors to discover Bvlgari’s masterful skill in working with precious gems and rare metals. The overall experience is enhanced by video projections, interactive spaces, and artistic dialogues that bring the world of colour of this iconic jewellery house to life.
For Bvlgari, colour is a signature. While the early twentieth century was dominated by monochromatic creations of platinum and diamonds, Bvlgari kickstarted a chromatic revolution after the Second World War. It was the first to combine rich sapphires, rubies, and emeralds with yellow gold – an approach that definitively changed the face of high jewellery. The brand also rehabilitated stones previously considered semi-precious, such as amethyst, citrine, and turquoise, and began to showcase the aesthetic potential of their rich hues. Furthermore, it highlighted their colour intensity with its characteristic cabochon cut, which enhances the depth and clarity of the stones, solidifying Bvlgari’s reputation as the unparalleled Master of Coloured Gemstones.
The exhibition guides visitors through three compelling thematic chapters that reveal the scientific, symbolic, and luminous aspects of colour. Among the exhibits shine such jewels as the legendary “Seven Wonders” emerald necklace from 1961, worn by stars like Monica Vitti and Gina Lollobrigida. The main star of the exhibition, however, is a breathtaking 1969 sautoir set with amethysts, turquoise, citrines, and other gemstones – a jewel that can be transformed into bracelets and whose extraordinary palette embodies the spirit of the entire exhibition.
The connection between Italy and Japan is also evident in the exhibition’s scenography, designed by the celebrated Japanese studio SANAA in collaboration with the Italian studio Formafantasma. The architects drew inspiration from the mosaics of the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla, creating a space where these motifs blend with Japan’s minimalist aesthetic. Through the universal language of colour, the Bvlgari Kaleidos exhibition thus celebrates the two cultures’ shared passion for beauty, art, and perfect craftsmanship.
