Why is jeweler and watchmaker Bulgari opening the largest jewelry production facility in Europe? The AFP carried the announcement and, doubtless, so did most of the other wire services. Those familiar with the current situation will indeed be encouraged by this news and reminded that the scenario is likely to be positive for jewelry in general and for the big names in particular. We expect to see much more activity in jewelry, particularly in mergers and acquisitions and growth in production capacity. In fact, Bulgari is perhaps the most famous of recent high profile acquisitions, after LVMH picked it up in 2011.

The new Bulgari premises in Valenza, Italy, are due to open in the second half of 2016 and will increase the LVMH luxury label’s production capacity. It is indeed excellent to learn that this expansion will be taking place in Italy, the home of the Bulgari legacy.

The structure, which is being designed by architectural firm Open Project, will be constructed using materials with a low environmental impact, and will aim to achieve LEED certification. It will consist of two buildings with markedly different architectural styles straddling innovation and tradition.

The plant will blend the rehabilitation of an existing building, an early 19th century farmstead, with a new three-level building designed to provide the entire structure with natural light and ventilation. You can just make out how this will look in the image above, and in the other pictures here.

The development will be used for the production process from the prototype to the creation of increasingly complex pieces and collection. It will also house the first Bulgari Academy, which will be created to provide permanent support and training activities for interns and new employees.

“With the building of the new Jewellery Manufacture, which will increase the Brand’s production capacity supplying the volumes we need to sustain the market’s growth, the Bulgari Group will have at its disposal the biggest Jewellery Manufacture in Europe,” said CEO Jean-Christophe Babin. “For Bulgari this project means investing in the inestimable value of Italian manufacturing art, which combined with creativity and style, is the distinguishing feature of the excellence of its products.”