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.
Rare Vintage Bvlgari Tubogas Parentesi Serpenti Bangle Bracelet 18k Gold & Steel
By Bulgari
Located in Birmingham, GB
Very Rare Vintage Bvlgari Tubogas 18k Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel Bracelet. Stunning Bvlgari bracelet with signature Tubogas Parentesi style. The origins of the Serpenti colle...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Bvlgari Bulgari Tubogas 18k Yellow Gold Steel Twist Bangle Bracelet Cuff
By Bulgari
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Bvlgari Parentesi Tubogas Bracelet Twist Cuff 18k Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel. Stunning Bvlgari bracelet cuff with signature Tubogas style. 18k yellow gold and st...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Bvlgari Bulgari Parentesi Tubogas Alveare Bangle Bracelet Cuff 18k Gold Steel
By Bulgari
Located in Birmingham, GB
Very Rare Vintage Bvlgari Bracelet Bangle Cuff In 18k Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel. Stunning Bvlgari bracelet cuff with signature Parentesi/Tubogas/Alveare style. An iconic geometr...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Rare Vintage Tiffany & Co 18k Yellow Gold Point Cuff Bangle Bracelet
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Tiffany & Co 18k Yellow Gold Point Cuff Bangle Bracelet. Fine vintage cuff bracelet from Tiffany & Co. with a pointed stud design. Rare and sought after piece. Made in ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Bvlgari Alveare Parentesi 18k Yellow Gold & Steel Spring Snake Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Birmingham, GB
Very Rare Vintage Bvlgari Alveare 18k Yellow Gold & Steel Spring Snake Ring. A beautiful vintage mixed metal gold and steel Bvlgari Alveare ring with flex...
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Mixed Metal
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Perlee Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Perlee Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet Superb Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet with signature Perlee Alhambra style. Diamond set clover...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Bvlgari 18k Gold Steel Tubogas Bangle, Italy, Circa 1940s, Unisex Design
By Bulgari
Located in istanbul, TR
Bvlgari Tubogas Bangle in 18k Yellow Gold and Steel Elevating the jewellery technique cherished by the Roman Maison since the 1940s into an ico...
18k Gold, Steel
Vintage BVLGARI JEWELLERY 18k white yellow gold twist bangle cuff bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage BVLGARI JEWELLERY 18k white yellow gold twist bangle cuff bracelet Reference: EHKO/A00004 Brand: Bulgari Material: Yellow Gold Color: G...
Yellow Gold
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Vintage Parentesi Cuff Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Bethesda, MD
Authentic Bvlgari Parentesi cuff bracelet crafted in 18K yellow gold and stainless steel. Features the iconic geometric Parentesi design with signature flush terminals and high...
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel
Bulgari Steel and Gold Parentesi Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Bethesda, MD
Crafted in Italy, this Bulgari Parentesi bracelet combines steel and gold for a sophisticated look. Weighing 60.5 grams with a flexible design, it offers comfortable wear on a 6.5-in...
Gold, Steel
Bulgari 1990's 18 Karat Yellow Gold Stainless Steel Vintage Saetta Cuff Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Comprised of flexible yellow gold and stainless steel geometric segments Featuring grooved yellow gold swirl motifs and steel geometric surrounds With high polish finish and open ter...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
Bulgari 18K Yellow/Steel Tubogas Ribbed Bracelet
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This striking Bvlgari Tubogas bangle bracelet features a wide, flexible coil of alternating polished yellow gold and stainless steel segments, c...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
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.
