Collier Monete

Monete" choker necklace in 18k (750 thousandths) yellow gold featuring a curved gourmette link holding a pendant centered on a reproduction of an antique Roman Republic silver denarius, the medallion highlighted with a sapphire cabochon and round brilliant-cut diamonds; removable central medallion. Signed "Bulgari" on the clasp and monogrammed - bears the distributor's signature "Giansanti Roma" on the pendant. Gross weight: 142 g. Approx. 42 cm long. The first Monete jewels appeared in 1966. Bvlgari decided to pay homage to the past glory of the Roman Empire by equipping its jewelry creations with ancient coins. The jewelry stemmed directly from Nicola Bulgari's lifelong passion for numismatics, as she set about designing jewelry around ancient Greek and Roman coins, historical heirlooms. The contrast between modern aesthetics and the history associated with the coins was entirely in keeping with the innovative image of the jeweler from the Eternal City, and the new creations blended so well with modern fashion that they were produced for over twenty years with virtually no change. Bibliography: Bulgari, Daniela Mascetti, Amanda Triossi, Ed Leonardo, 1996, p119 to 132.