Pia Wurtzbach shares her dream Bulgari piece, revealing her interest in a men’s watch with a bold gray or black dial: “I’m eyeing the Bvlgari watch na men’s with a huge gray or black dial. So that would be my next one. I just think a woman wearing it looks so chic and it looks powerful when a woman wears it.”
PHOTO/S: @piawurtzbach on Instagram

Pia Wurtzbach is beaming with gratitude after being honored as the first-ever “Friend of the House” of Bulgari from the Philippines.

The luxury brand officially welcomed Pia into the Bulgari family at a special dinner at the Hapag restaurant in Makati City on Friday, July 5, 2029.

Bulgari’s “Friend of the House” Pia Wurtzbach with (L-R) Bulgari Philippines’ Jesha Abad, Jeffrey Hang, Sze Lin Teo and Joseph Munoz.

Pia, in return, expressed in her acceptance speech, “This is something that I manifested for a long time.”

For the unfamiliar, the title “Friend of the House” is a prestigious accolade granted by luxury brands to individuals who embody their values and have a natural affinity for their products.

Unlike formal brand ambassadors, they enjoy a flexible relationship, appearing at events, participating in campaigns, and promoting the brand organically on social media.

Pia revealed that her admiration for Bulgari led her to dig deeper into its story as soon as she began wearing its products.

She said, “I really wanted to know the brand very well. I wanted to stand here today knowing enough about Bulgari, being a real fan of the collections, really having a true appreciation for it.

“The people that work for the brand, they’ve been there for decades, and that’s a real testament of the core values that they both share.

“We know that the pieces are beautiful, stunning. Aesthetically, yes, it’s there, but the history behind it is also just as beautiful. The people behind it are also just as beautiful.”

PIA WURTZBACH’S BULGARI JOURNEY

Pia reminisced about her first visit to a Bulgari store, like it was love at first sight.

She recalled, “I was just shopping. I was in Solaire and I was going around the stores.

“And then I went into the Bulgari store. And then I tried a few pieces on.

“And then I was like, I came to life that day. I was like, ‘Wow, these pieces are so stunning. They’re so beautiful.’

“‘I’m going to come back,’ I said.

“And then that’s when I started attending events and starting to work with the brand. And to build a relationship with the brand.

“I also really fell in love with the pieces. And then, I have a few pieces myself that I wear every day.

“And then, so I was really drawn to it and really attracted to it.

Pia said she was especially fascinated by the story of the Serpenti collection, saying, “It really resonated with me, especially the story of rebirth and growing and evolving.

“And so, it kind of became a sentimental thing…. I really connect with that message, that we should keep growing, we should keep trying, we should keep building, keep evolving.

“Not necessarily becoming a different person or changing the way you are, but just keep getting better.

“Don’t be afraid of those challenges and those steps.”

Naturally, the Serpenti has become Pia’s favorite collection.

She said, “It was really the first one I tried when I walked into the store a few years ago.

“And even when I’ve been attending events, they always let me wear the Serpenti pieces.”

But what’s her dream Bulgari piece?

Pia’s answer surprised the select members of the press, including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), which interviewed her at the exclusive dinner.

She revealed she’s been scanning the Bulgari collection of men’s watches.

“I love watches. So I will wear a watch, even from the men’s collection.

“Right now I’m eyeing the Bulgari watch na men’s with a huge gray or black dial. So that would be my next one.

“I just think a woman wearing it looks so chic and it looks powerful when a woman wears it. So that would be my next.”

If given the opportunity to design a piece for the brand, she would love to create a watch.

Asked about the materials she would use, she answered, “I would choose a sapphire because that is my birthstone.

“And it’s also blue. And, as you know, for some reason, it just is my lucky color. So I would go for that.

“But also diamonds. Because diamonds go through a lot of pressure before they become the beautiful… piece that you see.

“Before it gets there, before it becomes beautiful and shiny and timeless, it goes through time, it goes through pressure, it goes through challenges.

“And I really resonate with that. I’ve been through many challenges in my life.

“But I feel like as long as you stay strong, this is gonna be so cheesy, you will shine like a diamond.”

PIA WURTZBACH’S DREAM COME TRUE

Pia shared in her speech that being honored as a “Friend of the House” was a dream come true.

She never imagined she would be officially working with the brand.

Articulating her thoughts, Pia continued to tell her story, “When I sat there [in Solaire] and I tried the pieces on, I never imagined that one day I would be standing here and be announced as a Friend of the House.

“And to be officially really be working with the brand. I thought it was kind of reaching for the stars a little bit.

“Of course, it’s a nice dream to have. But will that really happen for me? Like I wasn’t sure, you know.”

Her dream of becoming a “Friend of the House” for Bulgari grew more intense during her first Paris Fashion Week in 2023, where she had the opportunity to wear some of the brand’s pieces.

“When I went to the events and I wore the pieces, of course, I felt so beautiful, I felt confident, and I felt empowered…

“But I also felt like, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be amazing to be a part of the brand?'”

She had a strong memory of one pivotal moment from that trip, “I remember last year, September, it was my first Paris Fashion Week experience, and I was sitting in the van, and I was looking at the Eiffel Tower…

“And the Eiffel Tower, it sparkles every hour, I believe, for about five minutes.

“And then sakto, it just started sparkling, and I was sitting in the van, and I was looking at it, and I thought to myself, ‘This is where people go when they have big dreams, and they want to achieve those dreams.’

“It’s the same feeling I had when I was in New York, and I was walking through Times Square, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, like I’m very lucky to be here, this is where people go, because they have dreams.’

“And I felt that feeling again in Paris, as I was sitting there, and I thought, ‘I wonder if those dreams would come true for me.’

“So, I just worked hard, I was patient, I was clear with what I wanted to do, and I just trusted the process…

“And I guess the lesson there is that, don’t be afraid to dream big dreams, because you deserve it, and the time will come where you’ll realize those dreams, and you’ll think, I’m glad I tried.”

What’s next for Pia and Bulgari?

Pia said, “I am going to be proudly representing the Philippines again as I attend these events, whether it’s watches, high jewelry, accessories, if it’s presentations, if it’s trunk shows, if it’s shoots.

“I am so excited. We’ll be doing some beautiful magic together, and I am going to continue telling the story of the brand.”

CELEBRITIES AT BULGARI’S DINNER FOR PIA WURTZBACH

Meanwhile, some of the VIPs who came to celebrate with Pia were (L-R) model LA Aguinaldo, and GMA-7 actresses Gabbi Garcia and Max Collins.

Pia’s sister Sarah Wurtzbach was also present.

Chie Filomeno (middle), wearing pieces from Bulgari’s Divas Dream collection, was joined in the photo below by Gabbi (left) and LA (right).

Also present: beauty queen Katarina Rodriguez and fashion designer Mark Bumgarner.