Lot Essay
As the emblem of the Roman jewelry house Bulgari, the serpents are anchored in the history of humanity, especially in ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythologies; they are a recurrent figure in jewelry and symbols of eternal renewal, wisdom, vitality and seduction.
Thanks to the advent of the Tubogas band design, Bulgari was able to replicate the exotic fluidity of the serpent on the wrists of their most exclusive clients. By the 1960's, celebrities and upper echelon were spotted donning the serpent at the most lavish events. Elizabeth Taylor became a prestigious muse for Bulgari, wearing a magnificent gold, diamond, and emerald 'Serpenti' bracelet watch in the film Cleopatra in 1962.
The present timepiece is decadently dressed with green, red, black and white enamel 'scaglie' links that articulate against the yellow gold tubogas ground. The serpent is enhanced with cabochon emerald eyes and a playful forked tongue. Further confirmed by the Extract from the Archives from Vacheron Constantin, it is an exceptionally early example of the iconic Bulgari Serpenti dating to 1970.
For a drawing of a similar enamel Serpenti design circa 1967 from the Bulgari Heritage Collection, see Bulgari: Serpenti Collection by Marion Fasel.
Thanks to the advent of the Tubogas band design, Bulgari was able to replicate the exotic fluidity of the serpent on the wrists of their most exclusive clients. By the 1960's, celebrities and upper echelon were spotted donning the serpent at the most lavish events. Elizabeth Taylor became a prestigious muse for Bulgari, wearing a magnificent gold, diamond, and emerald 'Serpenti' bracelet watch in the film Cleopatra in 1962.
The present timepiece is decadently dressed with green, red, black and white enamel 'scaglie' links that articulate against the yellow gold tubogas ground. The serpent is enhanced with cabochon emerald eyes and a playful forked tongue. Further confirmed by the Extract from the Archives from Vacheron Constantin, it is an exceptionally early example of the iconic Bulgari Serpenti dating to 1970.
For a drawing of a similar enamel Serpenti design circa 1967 from the Bulgari Heritage Collection, see Bulgari: Serpenti Collection by Marion Fasel.