Marina Bulgari, Granddaughter of the Greek Founder of Bulgari, Dies

Marina Bulgari, the granddaughter of Greek immigrant Sotirios Voulgaris who established the iconic luxury brand Bulgari, also known as BVLGARI, has died in Italy. She was 93.

Marina Bulgari followed the steps of her grandfather and she was widely regarded as one of the most important women in jewelry.

Si è spenta a #Roma a 93 anni Marina #Bulgari. Visionaria designer, donna emancipata, apparteneva alla famosa dinastia di gioiellieri. #tg1 Barbara Modesti pic.twitter.com/atHclmSOZO

— Tg1 (@Tg1Rai) February 15, 2024

Her adventurous and ambitious spirit led her to leave her family’s famed Maison in 1976 to launch Marina B acquiring clients such as Sophia Loren and Ivana Trump.

Marina Bulgari “was a visionary and courageous woman”

Determined and able to make her own name whilst honoring her family’s nurtured passion and talented heritage, her unique style became world-renowned for its boldness and timelessness.

Rich and opulent yet so very contemporary, Bulgari invented her own gemstone cuts in addition to reinventing many others.

She successfully opened her first showroom in Geneva in 1978, which led to boutiques in Milan, Paris and New York and a worldwide clientele.

In 1996, the Saudi Sheikh Ahmed Fitaihi bought the company Marina B., but she continued designing impressive and original jewellery for many years.

“Mrs. Marina Bulgari was a visionary and courageous woman,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, chief executive officer of Bulgari.

“An exceptional designer who has been able to innovate in the world of jewelry in complex historical moments and with unparalleled determination. The audacity with which she lived her life made her even more unique and an example for those who had the privilege of living alongside her and for future generations. An unforgettable member of the Bulgari family.”

Bulgari created by Sotirios Voulgaris, a Greek immigrant, is famous for its high-quality jewelry, watches, fragrances, accessories, and leather goods.

With hundreds of mega-stores, hotels, and resort destinations around the globe, nothing about Bulgari today resembles the brand’s humble beginnings.

After all, not many would have imagined that the small jewelry shop a hard-working Greek silversmith named Sotirios Voulgaris founded in Rome back in 1884 would end up being one of the most recognized international brands worldwide.

Grandfather born in Epirus created luxury brand

The “father” of the high fashion brand was born in March 1857 in the Greek region of Epirus and was one of eleven children of his father Georgios Voulgaris and his mother Eleni Stronggaris.

In 1880, Sotirios moved to Italy for a better future with only a few cents in his pocket. His talent and passion working with valuable metals and stones earned him a few profitable jobs before he opened his own jewelry shop in 1884.

In its early days, Bulgari was noted for its silver jewels that were inspired by ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine art.

With hard work and dedication to his art, Sotirios Voulgaris laid the foundations of the unique Bulgari style while more and more stores kept opening across Italy.

In 1932, Sotirios died at the age of 75, leaving behind a great legacy to his two sons, Giorgio and Konstantinos (the father of Marina Bulgari), who were the ones responsible for the image Bulgari House today.