New Must-See Jewels From Marina B



I always like to think of Marina B as the Christine McVie to Bulgari’s Stevie Nicks, and two new collections have popped up since our most recent coverage of the storied Italian brand last fall.

Titled Simona and Trina, respectively, the new collections reflect the vision of creative director Guy Bedarida, who assumed the role, as well as that of the house’s majority owner, in 2017.

Both are a great example of his mission to honor, but also reimagine, the design codes established by Marina Bulgari, who founded the brand in 1976.

The well-preserved design archives have been a gold mine of inspiration points.

Archival Marina B Simona jewelry
Archival Marina B Simona necklace (1980) and bracelet (1981)

“Simona today is still recognizable as an iconic Marina B design but definitely has a lighter look; it’s easier to wear, more petite in scale in order to be more wearable,” says Bedarida, who previously held creative leadership roles at John Hardy and trained on the Place Vendôme as a designer at Van Cleef & Arpels and Boucheron. “There is also an evolution in the material as we use titanium for a better spring memory and to make it lighter weight.”

Marina B Simona Blue Zircon collar
Limited-edition Simona collar with blue zircon and diamonds in gold and titanium, $15,800
Marina B Simona bracelets
From left: limited-edition Simona bracelets with diamonds and spinel in 18k gold and titanium, $12,800, and in 18k gold and titanium with rhodolite garnet and diamonds, $15,900

As for the Trina, (Italian for lace) Bedarida looked to very iconic 1980s designs by Marina Bulgari, including the Rosemarie necklace (1985) and the Cristina necklace (1981, pictured below).

 

 

Archival Marina B Cristina necklace
The new Trina collection is inspired by the shapes on display in the classic Marina B Cristina necklace from 1981.
Marina B Trina necklace
Trina necklace in gold and diamonds, $40,000

“The concept was to translate these two strong, colorful, and very bold designs to create a delicate, diamond look for the new generation of today,” says Bedarida. “It was very important that it still speak to the Marina B heritage.”

Marina B Trina long earrings
Trina earrings in 18k gold and diamonds, $8,300

As such, Trina embraces the Marina “chestnut” silhouette in a modern way, casting it as a delicate, playful openwork motif.

Marina B Trina bracelet
Reversible Trina bracelet in 18k gold and diamonds, $21,000
Marina B Trina hoops
Trina hoops in 18k gold and diamonds, $10,500

“Trina was one of the first ideas that I had when starting to design the next generation of the Marina B brand,” says Bedarida. “It was three years ago. I was not yet the creative director, [but] I wanted to figure out: Is there a way to make the brand younger and more relevant to millennials? And the answer was yes.”

And from the look of things, we’re inclined to agree.

Top: Marina B’s iconic Simona design for a new era. The limited-edition Simona collar is made in titanium and 18k gold with rhodolite garnet and diamonds, price on request.

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Amy Elliott

JCK Contributing Editor

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