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 Tubogas BB19 2T 18K Yellow & White Gold Ladies Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Bvlgari Tubogas BB19 2T Ladies Watch features a 19mm 18K yellow gold case and a fixed 18K yellow gold bezel engraved with the Bvlgari logo. It has a black dial adorned with gold hand...
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
Bulgari Tubogas Watch Bracelet BB 23 2T
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
18k white and yellow gold Tubogas bracelet with Bvlgari watch. Bracelet will fit up to 7" wrist, case - 23mm in diameter. Black dial with gold markers....
Bvlgari Bulgari Tubogas BB26 2T Stainless Steel and Gold Wristwatch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
An iconic Bulgari Tubogas wristwatch crafted in stainless steel and 18K yellow gold, this unisex timepiece features a 26 mm case with the si...
Stainless Steel
Bvlgari Bulgari Assioma 18 Karat Yellow Gold Large Dial Watch
By Bulgari
Located in Oakton, VA
Bvlgari Bulgari Assioma 18 Karat Yellow Gold Large Dial Watch - 209 Grams - 8 inches length Great Condition Please take a close look at the photos of t...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold SQ 22 2T Quadrato Tubogas Diamond Bezel Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Swiss Made Bvlgari 18k Yellow Gold Quartz Ladies SQ 22 2T Diamond Watch. A lady's gold wristwatch by Bvlgari from the Tubogas collection, quartz movement, square...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow 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 BB232T Tubogas Multi Gold Serpenti Round Dial Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bvlgari BB232T Tubogas Multi Gold Serpenti Round Dial Watch Bvlgari BB232T Tubogas Serpenti Bracelet Watch. The crafting of a Bvlgari Tubogas watch is a process that requires immens...
Gold, 18k Gold
Bvlgari Circa 1990 18K Two Tone BB 26 2T 26mm Dial Quartz Watch
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This Bvlgari BB 26 2T cuff watch from the 1990s is a beautifully preserved vintage piece that embodies the clean, architectural style the brand is known for. Crafted in 18K two-tone ...
Gold, 18k Gold
Bvlgari Bulgari Tubogas Gold Watch Oval Rare
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A vintage Bulgari Tubogas 18k gold triple wrap-around watch with an oval face. The case with a snap-on back is stamped with the maker's mark and a hallmark for 18k gold Equipped wit...
Gold, 18k 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
Vintage Piaget 18 Karat Yellow Gold Dress Watch Tiger's Eye Dial
By Piaget
Located in New York, NY
Maker: Piaget Model: Year: 1970s Material: 18k Yellow Gold Dial: Tiger's Eye Case Measurement: 28mm Movement: Manual Wind Condition: Very good Weight: 00 Grams Size: Fits Up to 7.0"...
Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Rare Audemars Piguet 18 Karat White Gold Cobra Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Maker: Audemars Piguet Model: Rare Cobra Year: 1978-1984 Material: 18k White Gold Dial: Midnight Blue Case Measurement: 27mm Movement: Manual Wind Condition: Very good Weight: 78 Gra...
18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Patek Philippe Model 4111/1 18 Karat Yellow Gold 1970s Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Maker: Patek Philippe Model: Ellipse 4111/1 Year: 1970s Material: 18k Yellow Gold Dial: Blue and Gold Markers Case Measurement: 20mm x 25mm Movement: Manual Wind Condition: Very Good...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Audemars Piguet 18 Karat Yellow Gold 34mm Hand Wound Watch
By Audemars Piguet
Located in New York, NY
Maker: Audemars Piguet Year: 1970s Material: 18K Yellow Gold Dial: Gold Case Measurement: 34 mm Movement: Manual Wind Condition: Pristine, like new Weight: 72 Grams Size: Adjustable,...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Rolex DateJust Model 69178 18 Karat Yellow Gold Rare Chevrolet Dial Box
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Rolex Model 69178 DateJust 18k Yellow Gold, 26mm Rare Chevrolet Dial made for Jubilee Anniversary, Automatic Movement, Made in Switzerland with Original Box and Booklet c.198...
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.
