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.
Bvlgari vintage 18k tricolor gold Tubogas watch
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exceptional vintage Bvlgari Tubogas watch is a striking 1980’s design, beautifully crafted in 18k yellow, rose, and white gold. The seamless combination of three gold tones crea...
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari Tubogas BB191T Serpenti 18K Yellow, White & Rose Gold Ladies Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Bvlgari Bvlgari Tubogas BB191T Serpenti Tri-Color Ladies' Watch. Features a 19mm 18k yellow gold case and a rose gold stationery bezel. The black dial is adorned with gold hands and ...
18k Gold
Bvlgari Tubogas BB232T 18K Yellow, Rose & White Gold Ladies Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Bvlgari Tubogas ladies' watch BB232T. This timepiece features a 23mm case made from 18k yellow gold, with an 18k yellow gold fixed bezel engraved with the Bvlgari logo. The black dia...
18k Gold
Bvlgari Tubogas BB232T 18K Yellow, Rose & White Gold Ladies Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Bvlgari Tubogas ladies' watch BB232T. This timepiece features a 23mm case made from 18k yellow gold, with an 18k yellow gold fixed bezel engraved with the Bvlgari logo. The black dia...
18k Gold
Modern BVLGARI White/Yellow Gold Tubogas Open Flex Cuff Quartz Lady 23mm Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bvlgari 18K Yellow/White Gold Tubogas Quartz Bangle Wrist Watch • 18k gold watch weighs 77g • Watch case measures 23mm (25mm with crown) • Bracelet width is 15mm • Black dial • Quar...
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Serpenti Vintage BB19 1 T Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Serpenti Vintage BB19 1 T Watch. Bulgari’s Tubogas Snake watch is an internationally recognizable classic. Immaculately crafted from 18K yellow gold, this ra...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari Parentesi 18K Yellow Gold BJ 01 H54486 Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
The Bvlgari Parentesi 18K Yellow Gold BJ 01 H54486 watch is a refined example of the brand’s timeless Italian design from the 1980s. Crafted entirely in 18-karat yellow gold, this ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
W 1 in Dm 0.75 in L 6 in
Bvlgari Bulgari Parentesi Gold Watch and Parentesi Bracelet 18k Gold Set
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A bold vintage set featuring an 18k Bulgari Parentesi watch paired with a coordinating bracelet. The set is designed with the iconic geometric ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Bvlgari Bulgari 18 Karat Gold Model BB302T 30mm Dial Tubogas Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bvlgari Bulgari 18 Karat Yellow and White Gold More Rare Large Dial Tubogas Watch Model: BB 30 2T Size M 30mm Dial - this model is more rare as they made fewer with this larger d...
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Bulgari Tubogas Gold Watch Bracelet BB 26 2T
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bvlgari Tubogas 18k gold watch bracelet, featuring slightly flexible design. Bracelet will fit approx. 7" wrist, case is 26mm in diamet...
Gold
Tiffany Gold Wristwatch, Circa 2000
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Elegant 18K white gold Tiffany quartz wristwatch, circa 2000, has a 28mm x 39mm case with snapback, stylized corrugated bezel, with matching Tif...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. Lady's Platinum Wristwatch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Platinum Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, for Tiffany & Co, circa 1924, is a fine Art Déco, platinum, diamonds and onyx rectangular,women's wristwatch with platinum and diamond mesh ba...
Diamond, Onyx, Platinum
Marci Zelmanoff: Mixed Metals Ring
Located in New York, NY
Signature style elongated ring by Marci Zelmanoff, made in the 1970’s, hand fabricated in twisted sterling silver wire with a center dome of 14K gold. ...
14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
Tiffany & Co. Cufflinks
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Antique Tiffany & Co black onyx cufflinks, circa 1915, set round slightly concave onyx in platinum and 14K gold. The cufflinks measure 1/2" in diamete...
Onyx, 14k Gold, Platinum
Magnificent Gem Kunzite Sapphire gold Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
A delicious cocktail ring from Omi Privé, the 12.39 carat pink kunzite surrounded with rose-cut ombré sapphires shading from pink to rose to lavender, accent...
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Kunzite, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Earl Pardon Modernist Brooch
By Earl Pardon
Located in New York, NY
Earl Pardon (1931-1991) is considered one of the foundational artists of the Modernist jewelry movement. Trained as painter and sculptor, he found his niche in precious metal. The br...
14k Gold, Sterling Silver
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.
