Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas Watch
View Similar Items
Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas Watch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Design:
- Case Material:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Movement:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2000's
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: NIT 22111stDibs: LU49517806442
Serpenti Watch
While the Bulgari 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 Bulgari 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 Bulgari 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, Bulgari'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 Bulgari 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 Bulgari’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 Bulgari: 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 Bulgari’s most popular collections.
Bulgari
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.
Although the house found success with its silverwork and Art Deco designs, popular through the 1920s, its 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.
- Bvlgari Tubogas Serpenti Ladies WatchBy BulgariLocated 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 Tubogas Diamond WatchBy BulgariLocated 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 Misteriosi Secret' Diamond, Onyx and Emerald Cuff-WatchBy BulgariLocated in New York, NYBvlgari 'Serpenti Misteriosi Secret' Diamond, Onyx and Emerald Cuff-Watch, with 40.37 carats total weight of diamonds All diamonds are E-G Color an...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
- "Etoile" Diamond Cuff WatchLocated in New York, NY"Etoile" diamond cuff watch made in 18k yellow gold. The front half of the cuff around the edges, face of the watch, halo and leaf designs around the watc...Category
Vintage 1980s Unknown Artist Cuff Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- Bvlgari, Diamond and Colored Spinel WatchBy BulgariLocated in New York, NYBulgari MOP, Diamond, and Colored Spinel watch 18k gold and diamonds with mop :TDW~ 0.70CT FG/ VS. "BVLGARI" "V.H" "GEPxxxx VH010" "FABRIQUE EN SWISSE" "AU 750 18K".Category
Late 20th Century Italian Artist Wrist Watches
MaterialsPearl, Diamond, Spinel, 18k Gold
- Etoile Diamond Cuff Watch Made in 18 Karat Yellow GoldLocated in New York, NYEtoile diamond cuff watch made in 18k yellow gold. The front half of the cuff around the edges, face of the watch, halo and leaf designs around the watch are pave set with round bril...Category
20th Century Artist Cuff Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bulgari 18 Karat Yellow Gold Tubogas Serpenti Bracelet WatchBy BulgariLocated in Milano, ITIt doesn't get better than this Bulgari Tubogas lady's snake bracelet watch in 18k yellow gold. This quartz watch has a small round head and black dial. An iconic watch you will wear...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bulgari Vintage Serpenti Tubogas Watch Rare rectangular case three goldBy BulgariLocated in Milano, ITA rare stunning vintage Bulgari Tubogas watch, made of 18k yellow, rose and white gold, circa 1970s. The gold watch features a rectangular case with a black matte dial. The dial equ...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
- Bulgari Tubogas Cuff WatchBy BulgariLocated in New York, NYA vintage and estate collection piece by Bulgari, comprising a stainless steel Tubogas watch designed as a cuff, featuring the iconic double Bulgari logo engraved around the dial. ...Category
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Bvlgari Tubogas Serpenti Tubogas SP35 SPG Ladies WatchBy BulgariLocated in New York, NYThe Bvlgari Tubogas Serpenti SP35 SPG Watch: A Timepiece of Elegance. Elegance, craftsmanship, and a touch of luxury – these are the defining characteristics of the Bvlgari Tubogas ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Stainless Steel
- Bvlgari Bulgari Two Color 18kt Gold Tubogas Serpenti Bracelet Watch VintageBy BulgariLocated in Milano, ITDesigned as a coiled tubogas band, terminating in a circular dial with Arabic numerals and baton indicators, Black Dial. Overall length approximately 360mm, expandable Quartz movement Caseback, bezel and bracelet signed Bulgari Caseback numbered BB 19 XXXXX Maker's mark for Bulgari, Italian maker's mark, Italian and Swiss assay marks 18 karat yellow and white gold Same reference can be found in BVLGARI "Serpentiform" book page 167. The watch fits regular wrist but its adjustable to larger and smaller sizes. Brief History : "The early 1970s so the rare sharing of names on the dial: Bulgari – Jaeger-LeCoultre or Bulgari – Vacheron Constantin...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bulgari Vintage Serpenti Tubogas Bracelet Watch 18Kt Gold Juvenia Oval DialBy BulgariLocated in Milano, ITA rare Beautiful Vintage Bulgari Tubogas watch, made of 18k yellow gold, circa 1966. The gold watch features an Oval case with a GoldAged-Champagne matte dial. The dial equipped with...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Wrist Watches
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold