Jewelry History Was Made at The Met Gala Last Night
There was Choupette, and the Diet Cokes of course, but jewelry also had a place in Karl Lagerfeld’s heart. He had an impressive personal collection that included Art Deco brooches and was famously partial to pieces by the legendary Suzanne Belperron. What might he have thought of the jewels on the red carpet last night at the Met Gala to celebrate A Line of Beauty, the exhibit honoring his life and work? Well what about the one that made history?
It even has a name. It’s known as the Bulgari Laguna Blu and is a 11.16-carat pear-shaped blue diamond. It has, until now, been owned by the same European collector who purchased it in 1979 when it was set in a ring by Bulgari. If you were friendly with this collector-or even somehow had found yourself in the same room as them-then you have been lucky enough to see this extremely rare stone in person. If not, last night at the Met Gala would mark the first time it has been seen in public in 40 years.
And what does it look like now? In a first for the house, Bulgari collaborated with Sotheby’s to create an exceptional high jewelry piece for this year’s Met Gala showcasing the historic stone. Laguna Blu, on loan from Sotheby’s, was flown to New York to be mounted on a Bulgari high jewelry necklace designed especially for the evening.
And after the big night? The stone, exceptional in color and size, will soon become the center of a landmark sale when it is auctioned in Geneva next month at the Magnificent Jewels auction, and expected to fetch upwards of $27 m USD. It was worn last night by Priyanka Chopra, Bulgari Global Ambassador with a black and white Valentino gown. The shape of the necklace, with its interlocking baguette and pave diamonds set in platinum, is inspired by the bay laurel wreaths worn by Greco-Roman emperors. It is, to borrow a phrase, a line of beauty.
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