Marina B. Rings
No stranger to fanciful, bold jewelry designs, Marina Bulgari is the granddaughter of the founder of the legendary luxury house BVLGARI. In the 1970s, she established her own brand, Marina B, and her vibrantly colored, exclusive accessories were widely coveted by jewelry lovers of the 1980s. The same goes for the collectors of today.
When her grandfather Sotirios passed away in 1932, Marina Bulgari’s father Constantino took over the iconic jewelry house alongside his brother Giorgio. Since she was a child, her passion for art and design was wholly enriched and broadened thanks to the historically celebrated family business that was growing in popularity around her. She studied at Saint Mary’s College in England and upon graduating began to contribute her own designs to BVLGARI. When her uncle Giorgio died in 1966, Marina began to help run the business. When her father passed away in 1973, she took his place at the luxury house and remained there for three more years before striking out on her own.
The first Marina B boutique opened in Geneva in 1978. In the years that followed, more locations were established in Milan, New York City and Paris. Marina’s brand embodied luxurious, easy-to-wear jewelry — for women, by women. Women of the era were newly independent, and the jewelry industry — its workshops, boutiques, and other areas of the business — had long been led by men. Alongside Marina, the likes of Elsa Peretti, Angela Cummings and a range of others whose work is still being brought to light today would change that.
Elizabeth Taylor — a dedicated enthusiast of BVLGARI’s dazzling eye candy and the sinuous snake motif that has come to be synonymous with the brand — was among the high-profile admirers of Marina B jewelry in its early days, and her accessories could frequently be seen as part of Taylor’s red carpet ensembles. Marina drew on Japanese and Byzantine traditions and created adornments that were stylized and graphic. Her work was fresh and innovative — for her Pneu collection, she created earrings that could be worn as either drop earrings or studs and in 1980, she unveiled a unique gem cut she called the Chestnut, which landed somewhere between a trilliant cut and a pear cut. This would become a signature of the brand.
Marina introduced other major collections such as the Shirine in 1984 as well as the Atomo and Cardan collections in 1989 before retiring during the 1990s. Ahmed Fitahihi, a Saudi Arabian sheik, bought the company in 1999 before it changed hands again in 2011 when it was acquired by the chief executive of Windsor Jewelers, Paul Lubetsky. In 2017, Italian-born French jewelry designer Guy Bedarida — an alum of Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels and a former creative director at John Hardy — took over as majority shareholder and creative director at the band.
Hollywood starlets how found a lot to love about Marina’s designs over the years. In addition to Elizabeth Taylor, her work was worn by Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly. Marina B choker necklaces are popular among contemporary musicians like Rihanna who wore one at the opening ceremony of Rihanna Drive in Barbados and Alicia Keys, who donned a Marina B choker at her 2013 Superbowl performance.
Find Marina B earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets on 1stDibs.
Early 2000s Italian Modern Marina B. Rings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1990s Italian Modern Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Marina B. Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Marina B. Rings
Amethyst, Topaz
1980s European Vintage Marina B. Rings
Blue Topaz, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s French Vintage Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Marina B. Rings
Amethyst, Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Diamond, Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Marina B. Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Marina B. Rings
Diamond, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Marina B. Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s French Vintage Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Citrine, Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Marina B. Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Marina B. Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Modern Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Marina B. Rings
Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Gold
20th Century Marina B. Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Marina B. Rings
Chalcedony, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Art Deco Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s American Marina B. Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Marina B. Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Marina B. Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Marina B. Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modernist Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Marina B. Rings
Amethyst, Topaz, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Marina B. Rings
Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Marina B. Rings
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Marina B. Rings
Amethyst, Citrine, White Gold, Yellow Gold