Bulgari Ceylon sapphire and diamond 'Trombino' ring. Set to centre with one oval mixed cut natural unenhanced Ceylon sapphire in an open back claw setting with an approximate weight of 8.03 carats, flanked to either side with six rectangular step cut diamonds in open back half rubover settings with a combined approximate weight of 0.90 carats, further adorned by sixty-two round brilliant cut diamonds in open back grain settings with a combined weight of 1.90 carats. The total approximate diamond weight is 2.80 carats to an impressive cluster design with polished edges, a linear open gallery, and fancy shape open back holing, the trumpeting shoulders tapering through to a solid D-shape shank. Marked 20 carat yellow gold, signed 'BVLGARI', circa 1980, accompanied by Instituto Gemmologico Nazionale report #33617 and independent certificate of authentication from Bulgari author and specialist, Amanda Triossi MA FGA.
Conceived by Giorgio Bulgari in 1932, the very first Trombino Bulgari ring was set entirely with diamonds as an engagement ring for his future wife, Leonilde Gulienetti.
The Trombino is translates to 'little trumpet' and is one of Bulgari’s most instantly recognisable and iconic designs. Undeniably eye-catching, the Trombino Bombé cluster was pioneering as it enabled the central impressive gemstone(s) to stand proud as the centrepiece. The broad integrated shank of the Trombino design consists of grain set round diamonds with a graduated horizontally set row of baguette-cut diamonds tapering down from the central gemstone.
The Trombino’s undisputed high glamour profile proved irresistible to the jewellery cognoscenti of the 1930s and beyond. One of the most famous Trombino rings was bought by Elizabeth Taylor in 1971. The ring consists of a sugarloaf cabochon sapphire, weighing more than 25 carats, and realised $866,500 when it was sold at Christie’s in 2011.
