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 Parentesi Vintage 18K Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Feasterville, PA
Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Hoop Earrings. Bvlgari. Hallmarked: Bvlgari, 750, 1988, Serial. Condition: Excellent. Includes our gift box. Crafted in 18k yellow gold and polish...
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Bulgari Alveare Vintage 18K Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Feasterville, PA
Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Earrings. Bvlgari. Hallmarked: Bvlgari, 750, Serial. Condition: Pre-owned. Includes our gift box. Crafted in 18k yellow gold and polished stainles...
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Bulgari Alveare Vintage 18K Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Feasterville, PA
Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Earrings. Bvlgari. Hallmarked: Bvlgari, 750, Serial. Condition: Pre-owned. Includes our gift box. Crafted in 18k yellow gold and polished stainles...
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
Bvlgari Tubogas 18k Yellow & White Gold Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Feasterville, PA
18k Yellow & White Gold Earrings with Tubogas Design. Bvlgari. Hallmarked: Bulgari, 750. Pre-owned. Includes gift box. Earrings measure 1" in length by .59" wide. Weight: 31.1 gr...
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari Vintage Pyramid 18k Yellow Gold Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Feasterville, PA
A pair of Bvlgari earrings, crafted in 18k yellow gold, featuring a unique geometric design. Each earring showcases a central diamond-shaped motif, framed by raised, angular lines th...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Honeymoon Hoop Clip On 18k Yellow Gold Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Feasterville, PA
Discover the understated elegance of Cartier's Lune de Miel earrings, a standout from the Honeymoon collection. Three staggered rows of polished gold cabochons wrap each earring, cl...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Alveare Earrings 18k Gold and Stainless Steel Ear Clip Hoops Parentesi
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Bulgari Original The iconic Parentesi collection, these ear clips are composed of gold and stainless steel. extension of the Bvlgari Parentesi and Tubogas styles. Made in the 1980's ...
Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel, 18k Gold
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
A striking pair of Bvlgari Parentesi hoop earrings crafted in 18K yellow gold and accented with polished hematite. Inspired by the iconic architectural motif that became one of Bvlga...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Alveare Gold and Steel Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 18k yellow gold and stainless steel Alveare hoop earrings by Bvlgari. Earrings measure 25mm (1" ) in diameter and 9.5mm wide. For non pierced ears, posts can be easily adde...
Gold, Steel
BVLGARI Gold and Steel Parentesi-Style Tapered Half Hoop Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Greenwich, CT
The earrings are a pair from BVLGARI's Parentesi line, built as tapered half hoops that widen from a narrow top to a broad curve at the base. Fluted 18k yellow gold links wrap the st...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Bulgari 1990 Stainless Steel 18K Gold Vintage Serpenti J-Hoop Ear-Clip Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as double j-hoop style earrings deeply grooved with "Serpenti" tubogas Alternating in pattern with yellow gold with stainless steel segments Completed by hinged omega backs ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
BVLGARI (Bulgari) yellow and white gold earrings 18K, circa 1990, Tubogas style
By Bulgari
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Bvlgari vintage earrings in yellow and white gold (18k). These Bvlgari earrings are crafted with yellow and white gold (18 Karat). Their design features alternating broad, rounded ...
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, 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.
