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Bvlgari Melone returns in gold pleats and vivid silk

The Italian jeweller's sculptural clutch from the 1970s re emerges with contemporary refinement. Mary Katrantzou reimagines its iconic fluted silhouette in pleated gold finish aluminium and personalises it with twelve interchangeable tassels in vivid shades.

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A woman in a sleeveless black dress holds a gold pleated Melone clutch with an orange silk tassel against a bright yellow background
Bvlgari (@marykatrantzou)

Originally conceived in the 1970s, the Melone clutch returns from the Bvlgari Archives. Gold pleats catch the light as the bag rounds into its signature form, a sculptural evening accessory that has always belonged somewhere between handbag and objet d’art. The Melone takes its name and distinctive form from the melon fruit, whose associations with abundance, prosperity and vitality inform the design.

Overhead view of the gold pleated Melone clutch with the white mother-of-pearl cabochon closure, hands positioned around it against a blue background

Mary Katrantzou, Bvlgari’s Bags and Accessories Creative Director, approaches handbags as wearable art, infusing them with Bvlgari’s jewellery making heritage. The pleated gold finish aluminium catches light across the entire surface; a white mother of pearl insert sits within a cabochon inspired fitting, echoing the rounded forms associated with jewellery. The refinement lies in precision rather than embellishment: the metalwork alone carries the weight of the design.

Close detail of a black silk tassel hanging from a cord attachment against a blue background

Melone comes with interchangeable black and ivory silk tassels, with 12 additional colours available to personalise the design. Each new shade allows the piece to shift its mood, from amber and coral to charcoal and navy, while the fundamental architecture of rounded volume and fluted surface remains unmoved. The characteristic fluted silhouette, generous proportions and sculptural surfaces have been reimagined for a contemporary audience while retaining the character of the original creation.

The Melone clutch can be discovered by appointment at Bvlgari Boutiques.

Imagery courtesy of Bvlgari (@marykatrantzou).

Overhead view of the gold pleated Melone clutch with the white mother-of-pearl cabochon closure, hands positioned around it against a blue background
Close detail of a black silk tassel hanging from a cord attachment against a blue background

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