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 Serpenti Forever Shoulder Bag Leather Red Chain Gold Hardware
Located in Guangzhou, CN
Condition: Normal signs of use, scratches on hardware, and chain wear. Accessories: Mirror,Dust bag size: 19cm long and 15cm high Designer:BVLGARI Model: Serpenti Forever Should...
Chanel Red Chain Around Shoulder Bag
By Chanel
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Chanel red Lambskin mint chain around shoulder zipped bag with silver tone hardware. Collection 15. Includes original key holder, card and dust cover.
Gucci Red Pebbled Calfskin Small Dionysus Shoulder Bag
By Gucci
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Gucci Red Pebbled Calfskin Small Dionysus Shoulder Bag SKU: 151047 MSRP: 2425.00 USD Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Taking the fashion sphere by storm in...
Chanel Mini Accordion Flap Bag in Red Caviar Leather
By Chanel
Located in Milano, Lombardia
A refined expression of early-2000s Chanel, this Mini Accordion Flap Bag is crafted from iconic red caviar leather and dates to the Spring–Summer 2004 collection under Karl Lagerfeld...
Raspberry pink shoulder bag with snake head closure BULGARI
By Bulgari
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Raspberry pink shoulder bag with snake head closure. Purple rayon lining. Snap closure under the snake. 2 compartiments inside + one with zip closure. 2 ...
Chanel Red Suede Ruthenium Boy Bag
By Chanel
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Chanel Suede Boy Bag features red suede, interlocking CC Logo, antiqued silver-tone hardware, chain link handles and shoulder strap, and a push lock closure at the front. Comes ...
Bvlgari Serpenti Forever Small Leather Top Handle Crossbody Bag Burgundy
By Bulgari
Located in AUBERVILLIERS, FR
CONDITION: VERY GOOD Light rubbing around the corners, leather creases and scratches to the leather. Scratches to the hardware. Light stains. DETAILS Bvlgari Serpenti Forever Lea...
New Gianni Versace Couture Red Patent Leather Gold Chain Medium Shoulder Bag
By Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
This designer shoulder bag from Versace features an allover stitched quilt pattern on red patent leather. A gold tone chain and matte leather shoulder strap combines with a push-rele...
Chanel Red Quilted Patent Leather 2.55
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
2010-2011 Chanel Patent Leather Quilted Red 2.55 Reissue 225. Red patent leather with quilting, encircled by silver hardware. It also includes Coco Chanel's Mademoiselle Lock. The t...
Red Chanel Reissue 226 Double Flap Bag
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Red Chanel Reissue 226 Double Flap Bag. The Reissue 226 Double Flap Bag features a quilted leather body, silver-tone hardware, dual chain-link shoul...
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.
