{"id":18159,"date":"2026-05-21T19:39:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/18159\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T19:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:39:22","slug":"jake-gyllenhaal-on-bulgari-watches-jewelry-love-for-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/18159\/","title":{"rendered":"Jake Gyllenhaal on Bulgari, Watches, Jewelry & Love for Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMILAN \u2014 There is no doubt Jake Gyllenhaal cut a dapper figure at the unveiling in March of Bulgari\u2019s latest high jewelry collection, dubbed Eclettica. <\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tHe perfectly embodied the role of global brand ambassador. Donning a Bulgari<\/a> Bulgari watch, on the lapel of his black tuxedo jacket sparkled an Eclettica brooch in white gold with one antique cushion sapphire, fancy-cut diamonds and pav\u00e9-set diamonds. Tapped last month, Gyllenhaal<\/a> joined fellow brand ambassadors Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, Liu Yifei, Lisa Manobal and Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the event, but was the only man among them.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe annual showcase for Bulgari\u2019s high jewelry and accompanying watch, handbag and fragrance collections, the gala was held two months earlier this year and followed previous events in the past in Taormina, Rome and Venice. This year\u2019s black-tie gala had VICs travel from all over the world to Villa Arconati, surrounded by the Parco delle Groane, for a cocktail, a dinner under the stunning frescoed vaults of the 17th-century building, and a fashion show that featured live musicians and dancers, 3D screens and models wearing gowns by Francesco Murano, as well as a few male models who donned the brand\u2019s watches and high jewelry pieces.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Cesare<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tCesare Attolini wool 150\u2019s suit; Brunello Cucinelli cotton lightweight denim Western shirt; Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic watch in 37mm extra-thin titanium case, opaline titanium dial with rhodium-plated hands.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDanny Kasirye\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tCommenting on the appointment of Gyllenhaal, Laura Burdese,\u00a0Bulgari<\/a>\u2019s deputy chief executive officer, touted how the actor\u2019s \u201cartistic sensitivity and his ability to create sincere connections with people reflect the very essence of our maison. He brings depth, humanity and purpose to everything he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile the brand had a previous regional male brand ambassador, Gyllenhaal\u2019s appointment reflects a major strategic move by Bulgari, as well as the growing demand among men for jewelry that previously would have been considered for women only. Indeed, Jean-Charles Babin, Bulgari\u2019s outgoing CEO, pointed to the trend as one of the reasons the brand tapped Gyllenhaal and said it plans to increasingly highlight watches and jewelry that might appeal to men as well as women, stressing the company sees some of its designs as \u201cunisex\u201d rather than specifically for men.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 45-year-old American actor\u2019s body of work spans more than three decades, and includes a\u00a0BAFTA\u00a0<\/a>Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Jack Twist in Ang Lee\u2019s 2005 \u201cBrokeback Mountain.\u201d Since then he has earned acclaim for his performances in films ranging from \u201cJarhead\u201d and \u201cZodiac\u201d to Tom Ford\u2019s \u201cNocturnal Animals,\u201d as well as \u201cWildlife,\u201d \u201cThe Day After Tomorrow,\u201d \u201cSpider-Man: Far From Home\u201d and the series \u201cPresumed Innocent,\u201d to name a few. He has also performed on stage, for example in the West End production \u201cThis Is Our Youth,\u201d and in \u201cSea Wall\/A Life,\u201d which earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.<\/p>\n

\n\tOver the years Gyllenhaal has fronted campaigns aligned with his personal passions, such as sailing, for\u00a0Prada<\/a>\u2018s Luna Rossa fragrances, and manual craftsmanship, serving for Ginori 1735<\/a> as brand ambassador of the storied Italian porcelain and home decor products maker owned by Kering.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Brunello<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tBrunello Cucinelli Malfil\u00e9 cotton English rib sweater; Prada<\/a> virgin wool trousers; Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic watch, yellow gold case, dial and bracelet.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDanny Kasirye\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tIn advance of Watches and Wonders 2026 in Geneva \u2014 where Bulgari will show its latest watch designs \u2014 Gyllenhaal posed for the WWD cover shoot during his quick few days in Milan, in the garden of the Bulgari Hotel. Charming and relaxed, he chatted easily with the photographer, hair and makeup person and even a few fans who stood nearby and called out \u201cwe love you\u201d as he walked by.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere, the actor discusses how he treasures his first watch and the meaning it holds for him,\u00a0his relationship with Bulgari, his feelings posing for shoots, and his love for Italy.<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: Do you remember your first piece of jewelry and your first watch? How did they make you feel?<\/p>\n

\n\tJake Gyllenhaal: My first piece of jewelry was a watch I got for graduation from my parents and my grandfather. They all pitched in to get it for me, and that made it mean even more [special]. It wasn\u2019t just a gift, it felt like a reminder of everything it took to get there.<\/p>\n

\n\tEvery time I look at it, I think about the hard work, the long days, and the people who believed in me the whole way. It reminds me of my work ethic, but also that moment of celebration we all shared. I still cherish it today, and it always brings me back to that time in my life.<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD:\u00a0When did you first start to develop an appreciation for jewelry and timepieces? How did that begin?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: I think as a man, I really started to see watches as a way of expressing yourself. Any type of jewelry in general, something simple, can say a lot. In a lot of ways, it feels like an expression of self-respect, and sometimes a way to show your individuality.<\/p>\n

\n\tI also think there\u2019s something important about the idea of something that shines. Wearing something like that can be a reminder to carry yourself the same way, to show up with confidence and to put your best self forward.<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD:\u00a0What do you look for in these categories?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: I think jewelry is like art, and it\u2019s incredible to look around the world and see how everyone expresses themselves. Jewelry is art, each piece tells its own story.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: Do you like to change them often or do you prefer to wear always\u00a0the same pieces?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: I like to keep things consistent. Everything I wear is really personal\u00a0to me, and some pieces I\u2019ve kept and worn for years. They hold meaning, so I don\u2019t feel the need to change them often.<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: How did your relationship with Bulgari start and develop?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: The irony is that the very first piece of jewelry I ever bought for myself was a Bulgari watch. I still have it, and I really cherish it. When the company later approached me and showed me the Octo Finissimo,\u00a0I loved it! I had such a great meeting with the group of women leading it. They spoke about Bulgari as a family, and as a brand rooted in individuality and artistry.<\/p>\n

\n\tI was taken by their warmth, their intelligence, and their vision to make meaningful changes. I\u2019ve always admired people who want to keep evolving, and it was clear their leadership felt the same way. That made it an easy decision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: You carefully choose the brands you decide to endorse, so why Bulgari in particular?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: Bulgari is a timeless, extraordinary company that has somehow managed to stay true to itself even as it\u2019s grown. That\u2019s a hard thing to do. At the same time, they\u2019re looking to make interesting changes to keep growing, evolving, and reinvigorating the brand, which I found really inspiring. You can feel\u00a0the brand retaining what makes it unique but also moving in a new direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tI love the idea of constantly evolving, staying open to new inspiration, and not being afraid to take risks.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Brunello<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tBrunello Cucinelli Malfil\u00e9 cotton English rib sweater; Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic watch, yellow gold case, dial and bracelet; B.zero1 necklace with chain and small round pendant in 18-karat white gold.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDanny Kasirye\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: What did Bulgari represent for you before becoming an ambassador and how have your views of the brand changed since then?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: They really do an incredible job of making you feel like family. They\u2019re a very generous group of people, and they\u2019re admirable from the outside, even more so once they welcome you in. I think what really moves me is that there\u2019s a genuine, beating heart at the center of Bulgari, and I\u2019m honored to be a part of it.<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD: Generally speaking, do\u00a0you think men are more open to wearing jewelry today?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: Yes. Very much so!<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD:\u00a0 You have deals with two other main brands in Italy, Prada\u00a0and Ginori 1735<\/a>. What is your relationship with Italy and how do you choose your collaborations with brands?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: Prada and Bulgari, even though they\u2019re very different companies, share something really meaningful. They both have a deep respect for art, artistry, the artists themselves and maintaining the craft. They value people who are pushing boundaries and aren\u2019t afraid to take risks, and that\u2019s something I deeply connect with.<\/p>\n

\n\tThere\u2019s also something essentially Italian about both companies, a profound sense of culture, beauty, and passion that runs through everything they do. It\u2019s truly an honor to work with them. I love Italy so much. Any excuse to come to Italy, to be in its culture, connect with its wonderful people, enjoy the food, and immerse myself in the history and architecture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tWWD:\u00a0 You are of course used to being in front of a camera, but how do you feel posing for shoots? Have you gotten used to them?<\/p>\n

\n\tJ.G.: The irony is I\u2019ve never really felt totally comfortable with it. I love performing and expressing myself, but I\u2019m not focused on playing to the camera. My love is being able to connect with the other person in a scene, or with the artists around me.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat\u2019s what I really love about it. It\u2019s not the posing,\u00a0it\u2019s the collaboration and the connection. To me, art is collaborative, it\u2019s all about the people you\u2019re lucky enough to create and connect with along the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MILAN \u2014 There is no doubt Jake Gyllenhaal cut a dapper figure at the unveiling in March of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18160,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12776],"tags":[11637,13745,4955,13746],"class_list":["post-18159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bulgari","tag-bulgari","tag-ginori-1735","tag-lvmh","tag-prada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}