For the world’s wealthiest, high jewellery ranks alongside property, private jets, and interplanetary travel as a symbol of luxury. Recently, Bvlgari, the Roman luxury giant, showcased one of its most expensive designs: a stunning diamond choker worth €40 million, worn by the brand’s longtime ambassador, Priyanka Chopra.
The Serpenti Aeterna necklace, hailed as Bvlgari’s most precious creation, features a 200-carat rough diamond. This masterpiece, unveiled to mark Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary, was designed by Lucia Silvestri, the brand’s jewellery creative director. The collection, celebrated at Rome’s historic Terme di Diocleziano, includes coiling snakes, cabochon-cut gemstones, and ancient coins.
The event was far from a traditional jewellery presentation. Breathtaking necklaces, secret watches, and earrings adorned models such as Mariacarla Boscono, Isabella Rossellini, and Carla Bruni, who graced the outdoor runway as night fell.
In the front row, Priyanka Chopra sat alongside fellow Bvlgari ambassadors Anne Hathaway, Liu Yifei, Shu Qi, Hikari Mori, and Alessandro Gassman. Chopra wore a monochromatic corseted Del Core gown paired with the Serpenti Aeterna necklace, featuring seven flawless pear diamond drops totaling 140 carats and 698 undulating baguette-cut diamonds. The necklace took over 2,800 hours to complete.
Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin referred to Chopra as his “queen,” though only a select few of the world’s elite can afford the Serpenti Aeterna necklace. One journalist speculated that Jeff Bezos might purchase it for his future bride, Lauren Sanchez. For those who can afford it, their Roman Empire of luxury awaits.
