Bvlgari 18 Karat Tri-Color Gold Serpenti Tubogas Diamond Bracelet Watch

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.

Cellini has been New York's premier independent jeweler and haute horology salon for more than 40 years. Cellini is home to a rich assortment of exceptional jewelry, which includes everything from bespoke showpieces to elegant essentials. Alongside our own signature creations, Cellini also carries shimmering works of art crafted by distinguished designers including Carrera y Carrera, Sutra, Faberge, Masriera and Victor Velyan. Cellini is home to an unsurpassed collection of timepieces from the world’s most exclusive and innovative watchmakers and designers. Our extensive selection appeals to a wide range of horological enthusiasts, from those searching for their first fine timepiece, to seasoned collectors who appreciate seeing rare pieces they can’t find anywhere else.