Bulgari Just Opened the World’s Largest Luxury Jewelry Manufacture

Business, it would appear, is booming for . The company just enlarged its manufacture by 204,514 square feet to 355,209 square feet. It is the largest single-branded precious jewelry manufacture in the world. The sprawling space in the countryside of Valenza, Italy, is seen by the house as its testament to ensuring its products are “Made in Italy.” It is also committing to hiring 500 new craftsmen and creating a total of 1,600 jobs total by 2029; plus, it has set up a school inside to train potential new hires and aspiring jewelers.

“To us, this is a very important day—a historic success not only for Bulgari but for jewelry as a whole,” said , CEO of Bulgari and the newly minted CEO of LVMH watch division, at a press conference at the manufacture yesterday. The site, however, will only make jewelry for Bulgari. Production is for all its gems, including high jewelry. (Unique pieces, however, are typically made in Rome.) The expansion has doubled the company’s production capabilities and we saw first-hand a slew of Serpenti pieces in the works including several Serpenti Viper bracelets, a high-jewelry Serpenti watch, and a Diva’s Dream necklace, to name a few.

The expansion, however, is about more than just increasing production. The manufacture will bring more of the craftsmanship process in house, as well as allow for further development of new techniques. Of course, it also shows incredible foresight to bring as much production as possible back home at a time when global trade is at a turning point. “Even in this time of global uncertainty, we reaffirm our confidence in the medium- and long-term growth of the luxury market, and we remain strongly committed to investing in Italy,” said Toni Belloni, president of LVMH Italy, at the press conference.

The company is also committed to keeping its manufacture sustainable. In an effort to pay respect to its bucolic surroundings, the building operates on renewable energy with a geothermal system and over 4,100 solar panels. It covers up to 50 percent of the energy needed on site, while the remainder is supplied by other renewable sources. The building also has a plastic-free policy, and there is even a bee farm on the grounds that produces Bulgari honey.

But the most important part of the manufacture is the school, which will transmit knowledge to future generations of jewelers. “The school has been created in a partnership with a very famous, renowned Italian jewelry School, which is called TADS in the region of Napoli,” Corinne Le Foll, CEO of Bulgari’s jewelry and high-jewelry division, told Robb Report. “It will be the first jewelry school located inside manufacture, welcoming students that will attain a diploma, that will be validated and recognized officially by the Italian government and at the end, [graduates] will either to start their career and Bulgari or go out and discover the world.” It’s not unusual for both jewelry and watchmaking houses to support schools that train and recruit new talent, as it becomes increasingly difficult to find workers wanting to pursue skilled craftsmanship techniques.

Two female employees from the company were asked to speak at the conference. One, referred to simply as Amanda, said she came to work at Bulgari in 2022 from China. “How did I come to Bulgari? I think it’s destiny,” she effused. “I love working with my hands and I’m happy to face all the challenges and I find the perfect balance between craftsmanship and technicality that makes this brand truly fascinating. I’m also drawn to the DNA and heritage of this international icon, and having this opportunity to experience a continuous flow of learning is truly extraordinary.”

Since the original manufacture in Valenza opened in 2017, the manufacture has already grown from 370 jobs to 1,100 today. Beloni added that beyond Bulgari, the LVMH group has 66 workshops in Italy and two Italian brands turning 100 this year, Loro Piana and Fendi. “We have developed our capacity to create and entertain high levels of craftsmanship, knowledge, and heritage,” said Belloni of the Bulgari and the larger group. “We need to keep working with new generations to ensure the system is flexible. We are leaders in our industry, and the inauguration today is a good example of that.”

Credit: robbreport.com