Bvlgari Serpenti Jewelry Watch 101790
View Similar Items
Bvlgari Serpenti Jewelry Watch 101790
About the Item
- Creator:
- Design:
- Case Material:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 21st Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Southampton, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 1914901stDibs: LU6829614392
Serpenti Watch
While the BVLGARI Serpenti watch technically arrived first, it was a decorative bracelet from the Italian luxury jewelry house’s signature line that made a notable impact, thanks to a little help from Hollywood.
In 1962, the brand garnered international attention after its now-legendary serpent motif made its way into a photograph taken on the set of the star-studded historical epic Cleopatra. A BVLGARI Serpenti bracelet — with its stunning snake head encrusted with diamonds — was wrapped around the wrist of the film’s star, Elizabeth Taylor, and the already desirable design was suddenly splashed across the pages of the tabloids, particularly as news of the actress’s romantic affair with Richard Burton made the rounds. The serpent motif had by then been around for nearly 15 years, as Giorgio and Constantino Voulgaris — the sons of BVLGARI founder Sotirios Voulgaris who’d taken over the business when their father passed away in 1932 — introduced a wristwatch with a case that resembled the head of a snake in the 1940s.
Elegant and artful, BVLGARI’s snake motif began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. And fittingly, serpents have long been symbolic of time — of eternity and renewal. Credit for decades of demand for jewelry adorned with reptiles can be attributed to Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). When Taylor’s Serpenti bracelet appeared, the attention had artisans at BVLGARI exploring variations on the house’s popular theme, but the original snake, in 1948, was characterized by a golden yellow body, its tail and head encrusted with diamonds.
The debut of the inaugural Serpenti watch coincided with BVLGARI’s adoption of the Tubogas, or gas-pipe, goldsmithing technique, in which bands of gold are wrapped around a steel core without soldering, bringing the flexible braided bracelet to fruition. The design was quintessentially BVLGARI: bold, colorful and eye-catching. The snake was more abstract in appearance back then; over the years, the timepiece has assumed more of its namesake’s tangible physical features. Variations were introduced that had the face obscured by a hinged cover, which better emulated a snake’s head, and today, watches featuring the snake motif are available in a wide range of different styles, including bands dotted with hexagonal patterns inspired by snake scales and more.
Today Serpenti is one of BVLGARI’s most popular collections.
Bvlgari
Greek silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris arrived in Rome in 1881 and set up his own shop there in 1884, calling it Bulgari, an Italianization of his last name (eventually spelled BVLGARI, using the classical Latin alphabet in a nod to ancient Roman culture). In 1905, he opened the company’s flagship boutique on Rome’s Via dei Condotti. Since then, BVLGARI has looked to Rome as a source of reference for its fanciful and decidedly romantic designs for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other accessories.
Although the iconic jewelry house found success with its silverwork and Art Deco designs, popular through the 1920s, BVLGARI’s signature style — bold, often using yellow gold embellished with big colorful gemstones — began to emerge when Sotirios’s sons inherited the business, in 1932. The brand truly hit its stride in the dolce vita era of the 1950s and ’60s, when the founder’s grandsons Paolo, Gianni and Nicola Bulgari decisively departed from demure traditional styles to develop the house’s exuberant multi-gem looks, attracting celebrity collectors like Elizabeth Taylor.
In the 1940s, BVLGARI debuted perhaps its most famous design, the Serpenti bracelet watch. The piece’s snakelike coils were made possible by the tubogas jewelry technique, which links a flexible series of thin horizontal bands. Both the sleek, modern tubogas construction and the sinuous snake motif continue to be synonymous with the BVLGARI brand.
On 1stDibs, the collection of vintage BVLGARI jewelry includes rings, pendant necklaces, watches and other accessories.
- Bvlgari Octo Velocissimo Chronograph Watch 102116By BvlgariLocated in Southampton, PAThe simple yet complex look of this timepiece is also one of Gerald Genta's designs. The Bvlgari Octo Velocissimo ref.102116 features a 41mm-wide case fin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Bvlgari Serpenti 18k Rose Gold 0.83 Carat Diamond and Onyx RingBy BvlgariLocated in Southampton, PAHere is an emblematic piece of fine jewelry that will bring character to your fashion style. This Bvlgari Serpenti ring features a coiled shank with a serpent's silhouette. It has tapered rose gold blocks linked together end embedded with diamonds. A black onyx insert serves as the snake ring's "head." This brand new Bvlgari...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
MaterialsOnyx, Diamond, Rose Gold
- MB & F Horological Machine No. 3 Sidewinder Rose Gold Leather Watch HM3Located in Southampton, PAThe watch to wear when you want ingenuity on your arm. This MB&F HM3 Sidewinder features a unique 'spaceship' case in 18K rose gold measuring 47 x 50 x 16 mm. You have a three-display layout: a half-circle showing the date indicated by a rotating disc, and two time-indicating cones displaying hours and day/night indications. The front side of the watch offers a full display of the machine's super finish. On the case back are two large ceramic bearings. Inside this timepiece is a 36-jewel Sowind-base three-dimensional engine with 304 components. The movement was designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht and Agenhor. This pre-owned MB&F Horological Machine No. 3 Sidewinder Rose Gold Leather Watch...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grande Complication Watch 26065OR.OO.D088CR.01By Audemars PiguetLocated in Southampton, PAWho can say no to this exquisite rose gold Grande Complication from Audemars Piguet? A rare gem, this Royal Oak Grande Complication ref. 26065OR.OO.D088CR.01 is a skeletonized wristw...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Patek Philippe Vintage Carré-Tortue Watch 2488By Patek PhilippeLocated in Southampton, PAA unique piece to add to your collection is this unassuming yet highly sought-after Patek Philippe Carré-Tortue ref.2488 from the 1950s. It bears a 28mm square-turtle case in 18K yellow gold with a silvered dial and a thick crystal that gives depth to the watch. On its simple and unpretentious dial are thin gold baton indexes and hands, and a seconds sub-dial at 6. The top-quality, full-bridge manually-wound caliber 10-200 is behind this timepiece. The watch is worn on a black leather strap with a yellow gold tang buckle. This is a pre-owned Patek Philippe Carré-Tortue 18K Yellow Gold Square Watch...Category
20th Century Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Lacoste Capbreton Stainless Steel Watch 2010944By LacosteLocated in Southampton, PAThis is the Lacoste Capbreton watch, reference number 2010944. It is presented with a stainless steel case that measures 46 mm in diameter. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas Diamond WatchBy BvlgariLocated in New York, NYBulgari Diamond And Onyx 'Serpenti' coil Wristwatch in 18k Rose Gold. The watch has a quartz movement. Made in 18k rose gold. Set with 458 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing total...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Artist Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Onyx, Rose Gold
- Bvlgari Serpenti Rose Gold Diamond WatchBy BvlgariLocated in New York, NYBvlgari Serpenti Rose Gold Diamond Watch A limited edition Bvlgari wrist watch, featuring the brand's iconic snake motif surrounded by 174 round brilliant-cut diamonds of 12.89 cara...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- Bvlgari Tubogas Serpenti Ladies WatchBy BvlgariLocated in New York, NYBvlgari "Serpenti " Bracelet/Wristwatch In Coiled Rose Gold and Diamond and MOP 18K., quartz, composed of polished tapered scales accented by round diamonds approximately 2.50 cara...Category
1990s Italian Artist Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- Bvlgari Serpenti Watch with Diamond markersBy BvlgariLocated in Saint Louis, MOStunning stainless steel, Bvlgari serpentine, watch with diamond hour markers. These timeless iconic watches are perfect for every day, where we’...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond
- Bvlgari Diamond and Emerald Serpenti Watch BraceletBy BvlgariLocated in New York, NYBulgari Diamond and Emerald Serpenti Watch Bracelet An extremely rare and vintage diamond and emerald Serpenti watch bracelet. Signed: Bulgari and nu...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
- Bvlgari 18K Gold Tri Color BB191T Serpenti Tubogas WatchBy BvlgariLocated in New York, NYBvlgari 18K Tri Color BB191T Tricolor Tubogas Watch. This timepiece has become iconic almost the same time it came out. Now after so many years later the house of Bvlgari is bringin...Category
20th Century Italian Modern Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold