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 (in the brand's logo, it's styled 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, Bulgari 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, Bulgari’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, Bulgari 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 Bulgari brand.
On 1stDibs, the collection of vintage Bulgari jewelry includes rings, pendant necklaces, watches and other accessories.
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 15 B6048715
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k white gold and diamond bracelet by Cartier from the Juste un Clou collection. The bangle is in the style of a nail and has 27 round brilliant cut diamonds pave set in the head...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 19 B6048719
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A stunning 18k white gold diamond bracelet by Cartier from the Juste Un Clou collection. The bracelet is in the style of a nail and has 27 round brilliant cut pavé diamonds set in th...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 19 B6048719
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A signature 18k white gold Cartier diamond bracelet from the Juste Un Clou collection. The bracelet is in the style of a nail and has 32 round brilliant cut pave diamonds set in the ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 19 B6048719
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A signature 18k white gold Cartier diamond bracelet from the Juste Un Clou collection. The bracelet is in the style of a nail and has 32 round brilliant cut pave diamonds set in the ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 16 B6048716
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An iconic 18k white gold Cartier diamond bracelet from the Juste Un Clou collection. The bracelet is in the style of a nail and has 27 round brilliant cut pavé diamonds set in the he...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Cartier White Gold Diamond Juste Un Clou Bracelet Size 16 B6048716
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An iconic 18k white gold Cartier diamond bracelet from the Juste Un Clou collection. The bracelet is in the style of a nail and has 27 round brilliant cut pave diamonds set in the he...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Bvlgari Serpenti Viper 18K White Gold Diamond Bracelet 2.80 Carats
By Bulgari
Located in Chicago, IL
An iconic Bvlgari “Serpenti Viper” bracelet, exquisitely crafted in 18 karat white gold and set with approximately 2.80 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds. This striking design reinter...
Diamond, White Gold
Bulgari 18K White Gold Diamond Pave Cuff/Bangle Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This sophisticated Bvlgari cuff bracelet, is a wide, flexible white gold band lavishly covered in pavé-set diamonds that create a stunning chevron or geometric lattice pattern. Feat...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamond White Gold Wide Flexible Bracelet Attributed BULGARI LUCEA Collection
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous flexible wide bracelet features four rows of round and square links set with round brilliant-cut diamonds of an estimated 24.0 carats. This magnificent 18k white gold b...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Bulgari Serpenti Viper White Gold Diamond Bangle Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Southampton, PA
A spectacular expression of Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti Viper collection, this exceptional bangle is masterfully crafted in 18K white gold and showcases a bold, sculptural silhouette i...
Diamond, Gold, White Gold
BULGARI B.Zero1 18k White Gold Diamond Bangle Bracelet, 1.27ct, Small
By Bulgari
Located in PARIS, FR
BVLGARI B.Zero1 bangle bracelet in 18k white gold and diamonds. Original price: €19,100. Condition: like new. Size: small. Wrist circumference: 6 inches. Width: 0.7 cm. Thickness: 0...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
BULGARI Serpenti Seduttori Diamond Sapphire White Gold Bangle Bracelet Box
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Bulgari bangle bracelet from the iconic Serpenti Seduttori collection features a snake design crafted in 18k white gold and set with a pair of blue sapphire eyes weighi...
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
Jewelry historian Vanessa Cron combed 1stDibs and selected some dazzling pieces with timeless appeal.
From Elizabeth Taylor to Zendaya, the Serpenti has been the accessory of choice for generations of it girls.
