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.
An 18k Gold Bulgari Ring with Pink Tourmaline
By Bulgari
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18k yellow gold band ring asymmetrically set with 2 oval faceted tourmalines (app. 1.44 ct), one light pink and one bright pink, with a ribbed shank, signed Bulgari, circa 1990s. ...
Tourmaline, 18k 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
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, 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
Colleen B. Rosenblat Pink Tourmaline Gold Ring
By Colleen B. Rosenblat
Located in Hamburg, DE
This 18K rose gold ring with a gorgeous pink tourmaline 11.25 ct. is one of a kind
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
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
Beautiful Bulgari Bvlgari Tubogas Pink Tourmaline, Gold, and Stainless Steel Rin
By Bulgari
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Pink Tourmaline Weight: 0.60 carat Set in 18k Gold and Stainless Steel Signed Bvlgari Gold and Steel 750 Made in Italy Size 8 1/4 (not sizeable, but flexible) Gross Weight: 12.30 gra...
Tourmaline, Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
5.5 Carats Pink Tourmaline 18k Gold Ring
By Steven Battelle
Located in Soquel, CA
A bright 10 x 12 mm faceted oval Brazilian pink tourmaline floats almost magically above an interesting curved and split shank designed 18K ring. A really modern and clean presentat...
Tourmaline, 18k 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
Vintage Bulgari Serpenti Rubelite and Diamond Ring in Rose Gold
By Bulgari
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Bulgari Serpenti diamond ring set in 18k rose gold.
The ring is composed of a coiling serpent design, set with a vibrant rubellite and accented with...
Diamond, Rubelite, Other, 18k Gold, Rose 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.
