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.
Bulgari, Italy rubellite tourmaline, emerald and diamond ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century cocktail ring comprised of a rubellite in a diamond and marquise-cut emerald surround, in 18k. Atw rubellite tourmaline 3.26 cts, emerald 2.58 cts, diamond .80 ct. Bulg...
Diamond, Emerald, Rubelite, 18k Gold
Mid-Century Marchak France aquamarine and ruby statement ring
By Marchak
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century aquamarine, ruby, and gold cocktail ring, centered by a step cut aquamarine in a surround of cabochon rubies, the shoulders further set with cabochon rubies, and with a...
Aquamarine, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
French buff-top amethyst and peridot cocktail ring
Located in New York, NY
An amethyst and peridot gold ring, centered by a buff-top amethyst, flanked top-and-bottom by buff-top peridots, in a ribbed mount, in 18k. France. Face: 3/4" wide, 3/4 long
Amethyst, Peridot, 18k Gold
Boucheron, Paris Retro emerald and gold cocktail ring
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A Retro gold cocktail ring comprised of a central emerald flanked by bands of scrolled, invisibly set emeralds, in 18k and platinum. Boucheron, Paris. Atw emeralds 3.15 cts. Boldly ...
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
French antique gold and garnet harem ring
Located in New York, NY
A Victorian garnet and gold harem-style ring, comprised of four, half-bands centered by bezel-set, foiled garnets, giving way to a tapering shank, in 18k. France.
Garnet, 18k Gold
Mid-Century Marchak, Paris Multigem Giardinetto Ring
By Marchak
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century, gold, jardiniere ring comprised of two gold bands suspending a basket of flowers in diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, in 18k and platinum. Signed Marchak, Paris, n...
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
An 18k Gold Bulgari Ring with Pink Tourmaline
By Bulgari
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18k yellow gold band ring asymmetrically set with 2 oval faceted tourmalines (app. 1.44 ct), one light pink and one bright pink, with a ribbed shank, signed Bulgari, circa 1990s. ...
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Bulgari Doppio Ring with Tourmaline and Peridot, c. 1980
By Bulgari
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A signature design by Bulgari, created in Rome during the 1980s, this ring belongs to the iconic Doppio collection and exemplifies the house’s bold yet sophisticated design language....
Peridot, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari 1.68 Carat Tourmaline Yellow Gold Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Stamford, CT
Pastel pink tourmaline bezel set Bvlgari ring. 1.68ct pink oval bezel set Tourmaline, 18k yellow gold setting. 1 oval pink tourmaline, approx. 1...
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 1990's Diamond Tourmaline 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Passo Doppio Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a domed form pavé set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing approximately 1.16 carats total - G color with VS2 clarity Flanked by carved faceted tourmaline inlay mea...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari "Doppio" Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Created in the 1980s, this unusual early Bulgari "Doppio" ring is composed of pink tourmaline, peridot, and 18K gold. The twin stone form is set with a cabochon pink tourmaline and p...
Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Bulgari Burmese Ruby Diamond Cocktail Ring.
By Bulgari
Located in London, GB
Bulgari Burmese ruby and diamond ring. A natural unenhanced oval old cut Burmese ruby is set horizontally to centre in an open back rubover settin...
Diamond, Ruby, 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.
