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.
BULGARI Tubogas Serpenti Pink Tourmaline Yellow Gold 3-Row Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Bvlgari Serpenti 3-row ring from the classic Tubogas collection features a slightly adjustable wrap design crafted in 18k yellow gold and accented with a pear-cut pink ...
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI Spiga Diamond Pink Rubellite Heart Yellow Gold 3-Row Adjustable Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This stunning ring from Bulgari's iconic Spiga collection features a flexible 3-row design crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with a heart-shaped pink rubellite and brilliant-cut ro...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
BULGARI Parentesi Light Green-Blue Beryl Diamond Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous cocktail ring from Bulgari's elegant Parentesi collection is crafted in 18k rose gold and accented with a 20.0 mm green-blue beryl stone and pave brilliant-cut E-F-G VV...
Beryl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Diamond Green Agate Yellow Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels ring features a domed design crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with green agate and brilliant-cut round D-E-F VVS1-VVS2 diamonds weighing an es...
Agate, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Marquis Green Chalcedony Yellow Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous rare Van Cleef & Arpels cocktail ring features a marquise design crafted in 18k textured yellow gold and set with a marquise-cut green chalcedony. Made in France circa ...
Chalcedony, Yellow Gold
Cartier Le Baiser Du Dragon Garnet 18k Yellow Gold Ring 53
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous Cartier cocktail ring is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features a cabochon garnet set in a geometric crown. The 14.7mm x 14.9mm buff-top cushion-shaped garnet has dark...
Garnet, Yellow Gold
Bulgari, two-stone, two-toned tourmaline ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
A white and yellow gold ring designed as two stacked bands with a tourmaline and a rubellite in navette-shaped settings, in 18k. Bulgari, Roma * Free shipping * Includes letter of a...
Rubelite, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI Celtaura Pink Tourmaline 18K Yellow Gold Ring US 6
By Bulgari
Located in Tokyo, JP
■ Item Number: 24471230 ■ Retail Price: - ■ Brand: BVLGARI ■ Product Name: Celtaura Pink Tourmaline ring ■ Reference Number: - ■ Material: Pink Tourmaline / 750 K18 YG Yellow Gold ■ ...
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 1990's Diamond Tourmaline 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Passo Doppio Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a domed form pavé set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing approximately 1.16 carats total - G color with VS2 clarity Flanked by carved faceted tourmaline inlay mea...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Pink and Green Tourmaline Yellow Gold Bypass Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Pink & Green Tourmaline Bypass Ring By Bulgari. With 1 round bead cut pink tourmaline 7.5mm and 1 round bead cut green tourmaline 7.5mm Details: Ring Size: 4.5 (resi...
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Doppio Ring with Tourmaline and Peridot, c. 1980
By Bulgari
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A signature design by Bulgari, created in Rome during the 1980s, this ring belongs to the iconic Doppio collection and exemplifies the house’s bold yet sophisticated design language....
Peridot, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari 1.68 Carat Tourmaline Yellow Gold Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Stamford, CT
Pastel pink tourmaline bezel set Bvlgari ring. 1.68ct pink oval bezel set Tourmaline, 18k yellow gold setting. 1 oval pink tourmaline, approx. 1...
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.
