One-of-a-kind Marina B ‘Fabiola’ Necklace made from Ceylon pear-shape blue sapphires, Turquoise … [+]
Marina B. has landed in Palm Beach. The storied jewelry brand founded in 1976 by Marina Bulgari and acquired by creative director Guy Bedarida in 2017 is the latest jeweler to participate in Sotheby’s Palm Beach gallery selling luxury items in a curated lifestyle retail setting. The storied auction house launched the new approach in November 2020 at The Royal Poinciana Plaza, selling fine art, design, jewelry, watches, and luxury cars direct to clients primarily via set pricing. The Marina B pop-up is now until February 13th, in time for Valentine’s Day and essential winter travel to the tony Florida enclave.
A jewelry-centric holiday isn’t the only reason the jeweler and auction house paired up. According to Bedarida, the setting and auction house have a long-time association. “Sotheby’s and Marina B have a long history, and regularly, there are spectacular vintage pieces that are going up for sale in auction. The partnership stemmed from this tradition and developed into conducting pop-ups and varying events to drive customer engagement for both brands. Our jewelry complements Sotheby’s so well because of the mutual love and connection of art,” he explains.
“It has added a new dimension to our client interactions: people love that they can negotiate discreetly and seamlessly, independent of the auction calendar,” says Joanna Gong G.G. Sotheby’s, Private Sales Director Specialist Jewelry Dept. of the new platform which offers both fixed and negotiable prices. Marina B is exclusively the jeweler participating in this Valentine’s Day luxury showcase.
From Left: Joanna Gong, G.G. Sotheby’s Private Sales Director, Specialist,Jewelry Department, Edna … [+]
The location of the gallery is also crucial. “Palm Beach has historically been the place where Marina B has many collectors, dating back to the 1980s. We also have a large clientele that has homes in Palm Beach that are based in New York and enjoy having a space to host them down in Florida.” On offer will be unique and high jewelry and the core collection. “Here we have clients who collect one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as those who enjoy Marina B. for everyday wear, so it’s important to showcase both,” Bedarida continues. Everyday pieces include the Soleil collection which is priced approximately $1,000 to $6,000 on average while high jewelry can range anywhere from $25,000 t0 $250,00 depending on the design and gemstones used.
MORE FOR YOU
Testament to this partnership between the Italian jewelry brand and the upscale Florida city is Bedarida’s participation in an unrelated upcoming talk. Later in the month, he will be speaking at The Lecture Series, a part of the Palm Beach Show of Jewelry, Art, and Antiques. He will talk about the brand history of Marina B. “I enjoy speaking of the brand to collectors and individuals new to Marina B, to keep the legacy alive and educate a new generation on the rich history of Marina B,” he asserts.
Marina B’s Trisola cuff in 18K gold and diamond pavè.
This novel selling approach isn’t new to the Bedarida, who has had a healthy trunk show business, especially with Middle Eastern clients. “For a mix of a few reasons, it’s strengthened our business. First, the Marina B rebirth is still very young and needs distribution points globally. That said, we like to keep the brand Marina B confidential and private for some of our collectors, keeping the exclusivity alive within the brand,” he says of the strategy adding, “It is a fantastic opportunity for me to meet the clients and learn their preferences. Often, we collaborate on designs to create custom pieces. It’s a favorite part of the business for me.”
Like many, the pandemic also shifted the sales mode to a digital format. “Shifting to e-commerce and digital outreach through social media has had a big influence on the business post-pandemic. We also pivoted to delivering jewelry to our client’s homes so that they can view it in the comfort of their personal space.” The pandemic also opened a new category for the jeweler, Marina B La Casa, formerly a special order for exclusive clients. “We are showcasing a permanent collection. A brand like Marina B is more than just a jewelry brand, it is a lifestyle brand, and we look forward to continuing to evolve and expand with our clients,” Bedarida notes.
