1. 116 indonesia tatler . december 2015
very precious to me. They are pure souls,” said
Brody when asked about his involvement with
the charity. “Bulgari has enabled me to go to
Nepal, and I was also able to bring funds back
for a shelter in Queens that was affected by the
hurricane a couple of years ago. It’s an honour
that a luxury brand with such specific values
chose me to represent them. As a film actor
who has a unique approach to acting, to have
a brand that finds that uniqueness something
they can relate to is a huge compliment.”
When the conversation steered to the
subject of his favorite timepieces, Brody
named the Bulgari Octo and Finissimo as his
preferred models. “I like the juxtaposition
between masculinity and gracefulness in the
Octo design, and I gravitate toward the art
deco elements in Finissimo,” he described.
The Witching Hour
Magic happens at night, as they say, and this
certainly rang true with Bulgari. Coming
to the end of a winding road in the vast
courtyard of Tokyo National Museum,
two lone figures stood in the middle of the
immense space. Thierry Marty and Pascal
Brandt greeted guests and led the way into
the museum amid an unusually thick darkness
blanketing the early hours of the evening.
Walking past two imposing stone lions and
into the retrospective, one was swathed in a
kaleidoscope of colours in the foyer; a burst
of jewel-toned hues dancing pirouettes on its
walls. Their rich colours shrouded the space
and gave the sensation of being in a different
world—of being inside a highly stylised film.
The dark, glamorous cinema-like
atmosphere of the retrospective, which
showcased 250 rare pieces highlighting the
brand’s evolution and creativity since the 19th
century, was an apt setting that underscored
the brand’s intimate relationship with film.
A movie star, iconic films, and dazzling jewels were
the explosive combination that made up Tokyo’s
The Art of Bulgari: 130 Years of Italian Masterpieces
retrospective. Olivia Hidajat reports
Movie Stars
mid the hubbub
in Tokyo’s Bulgari
Ginza Tower
during The Art
of Bulgari: 130
Years of Italian
Masterpieces
welcome ceremony, an inconspicuous cocktail
cart was silently wheeled in, on which
Adrien Brody sat with a grin on his face and
arms insouciantly crossed. The first shriek
of surprise from a guest diverted onlookers’
attention to the hallway. With an amused
chuckle, the quirky actor jumped up and
landed in the middle of the floor, greeted by
the audible delight of spectators.
The silver flashes of cameras bathed the
room, their roaring clicks echoing within
the walls when Brody stepped up onto the
podium, sandwiched between Country
Managing Director of Bulgari Japan Thierry
Marty and Bulgari International Watch
Communication Senior Manager, Pascal
Brandt. When a journalist proposed the
question of his favourite Bulgari timepiece,
Brody affectionately called out to his mom
in the audience to hand him the Bulgari Octo
Finissimo, which he secured on his wrist.
A conversation with Brody revealed that
prior to his stop in Tokyo, the benevolent
actor, accompanied by his mother, had visited
Nepal to represent Bulgari for the non-profit
Save the Children foundation. The organisation
provides shelter and focuses heavily on
education for underprivileged children.
As a representative of Bulgari, Brody spent
time with children who were affected by
Nepal’s earthquake in April. “Children are
As much the stars of movies
as the legendary actresses
who wore them, Bulgari
pieces that spent ample time
in front of the cameras were
beautifully commemorated at the
retrospective.
Iconic Serpenti pieces that made
movie history together with the late
Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra were
featured in a dedicated section in the
museum, along with jewels that held
significant emotional attachment to
the actress.
Bulgari’s Historical Archive Expert
and the curator of the retrospective,
Monica Brannetti, shared the story of a
diamond and emerald ring gifted to Taylor by
her then-husband Richard Burton, which was
then purchased back by Bulgari. Before parting
with the ring, the illustrious diva expressed
her wish to have the ring in the possession of
someone who will receive the stunning jewel
as a token of love, just as she had received it as
a symbol of devotion from Burton.
The retrospective ended in a dark room,
in which a compilation clip of the moments
that Bulgari has spent in film were projected
on a wide screen. The short film summarised
the evolution of the brand, tying up the
retrospective in a glamorous package. As guests
walked out of the museum, the retrospective
left a sweet, lingering aftertaste, like walking
out of the cinema after a poignant film.
indonesia tatler . december 2015 117
style | spotlight
DYNAMIC TRIO Bulgari’s Thierry Marty and Pascal Brandt with Adrien Brody