Wearable Art

The name Bulgari brings to mind dazzling luxury in playful, stylish and graceful forms. Creating fine jewelry since its 1884 beginnings in Rome, Bulgari defines understated elegance. The jewel in Bulgari’s crown is the stunning B.zero1 ring.

The B.zero1 ring is an unmistakable symbol of Bulgari design. Introduced in 2000, the ring combined two timeless Bulgari motifs: the Tubogas and the “BVLGARI” logo. The spiral design is a metaphor of change and transition, a celebration of the coexistence of past and future. The name comes from B for Bulgari, plus ‘zero1’ or ‘01’ as a starting point—the universal ‘beginning.’ The first editions of this ring were instant classics in plain yellow or white gold. Shortly after, the ring’s proportions were modified from mono to multi bands, with or without diamonds.

London-based Anish Kapoor, one of the most influential sculptors of his generation, is known for his exploration of form and space, as well as his use of color. Often, the space around his massive physical structures is highlighted by the sculptures themselves, not simply as negative space, but as part of the complete visual experience.

Kapoor’s artistry has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. He has had solo exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts, London; the Hayward Gallery, London; ICA Boston; Guggenheim Museum, New York; and he is currently the subject of a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.

Bulgari has never before worked with a contemporary and prominent international artist to interpret a jewelry creation, and the B.zero1 ring is a piece of great distinction. It is Bulgari’s bestselling ring in the history of the company—well over 1 million pieces have been sold since its launch.

With Kapoor’s vision, the coveted ring is in good hands. The artist often manipulates various metals and plays with their ever-changing reflections, as well as with the idea of the “void”—the physical space around his creations. People who have admired Kapoor’s prominent public sculptures like Cloud Gate at Millennium Park, Chicago and Sky Mirror at Rockefeller Center, New York, will see many artistic parallels in this limited-edition ring—it is truly a work of art.

The concave surface of steel in particular was a source of inspiration for Kapoor’s B.zero1 creation. In pink gold and reflecting steel, Kapoor’s ring merges tradition with contemporary innovation. The curved body and the mirror-like surfaces, characteristic of his artwork, are set between two pink-gold rims in a shape that perfectly represents the contemporary Bulgari style. The distinctive Roman Bulgari logo is embossed along the rings’ outside edges.

The ring is a piece of Kapoor’s collection—a wearable work of art. It’s the ultimate pocket-sized sculpture for admirers of Kapoor and fans of Bulgari. The swirling metal ring will serve as inspiration for a larger work to be auctioned off later this year to benefit Save the Children’s Rewrite the Future program.

Outside of the jewelry world, Kapoor is currently working on the world’s largest series of five site-specific public commissions for Middlesbrough, England. The first of the series, Temenos, is due to be unveiled this month, as is the limited-edition B.zero1 ring by Kapoor. It’s available at all Bulgari stores in May.

Want to be the first to know more about this exquisite 10th Anniversary B.zero1 ring? Go here for behind-the-scenes news and interviews with Kapoor.