As the first woman to oversee her family’s jewellery dynasty, Carolina Bucci knows a thing or two about breaking glass ceilings. The Italian designer is the fourth generation of jewellers after her great-grandfather opened a workshop in Florence in 1885, specialising in pocket-watch repairs. After studying jewellery design in New York, she returned
to the family business to build her own eponymous contemporary jewellery line. In 2003, she launched her first hand-braided 24k gold Lucky bracelet, which appeared on the wrist of none other than Carrie Bradshaw, propelling the designer to worldwide fame. Today, Bucci is known for fine jewellery that is both playful and sophisticated as well as her collaboration with Swiss watch brand Audemars Piguet. Here, she shares her favourite timepieces
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition
I had introduced the frosted gold finish in 2016 as part of the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak for women, and it had been amazing welcoming the whole AP family to Florence for the launch – especially as I got to spend time with Jacqueline Dimier. But I had always wanted to do something in yellow gold and so for my LE in 2018 I did exactly what I had dreamed of, and also replaced the tapisserie with a mirror. Still my all-time favourite watch.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Carolina Bucci Limited Edition
This was my second LE and I loved moving away from gold and out of my comfort zone to design a watch made from ceramic. This was another technical challenge for AP production to make the holographic tapisserie but they nailed it.
Audemars Piguet VZSS 1955
I’m not an expert on watch movements or even that interested in them really, but the aesthetics of this example are truly beautiful, and I know that this VZSS movement is really special. It’s a simple design from a time when almost all of these watches were produced individually.
Rolex GMT-Master II Root Beer
This is my husband’s watch, but I love how the rose gold works with the steel and how all of that ties in with the brown and black bezel. We’re opening a store in California soon so I use it regularly for its original purpose too… to keep track of LA time.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
When my first son was born, my husband bought me this watch with his time of birth engraved on the back/flip side. It’s a very special memory of a minute in time that changed my whole life.
Audemars Piguet Cobra with diagonal diamond dial
This is my latest purchase. I was looking for something vintage, came across this and had to have it. I think these designs from the 1970s and ’80s feel so fresh and daring, and I love how the heavy gold look of the bracelet works with my jewellery.
