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 Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Topaz 18k Gold Signet Bezel Rubover Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Cut Blue Topaz 18k Yellow Gold Signet Style Ring. This rare VCA piece features a top grade round cabochon cut vivid blue topaz set in a fine 18k...
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Bvlgari Doppio Curoe Blue Sapphire & Diamond 18k Gold Bypass Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Bvlgari Doppio Curoe Blue Sapphire & Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Bypass Ring. The rare Bvlgari bypass ring from the iconic Doppio Curoe r...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier Blue Sapphire Oval Ellipse 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring 49
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Cartier Vivid Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Band Ring. Stunning yellow gold ring set with a fine vivid blue sapphire. Fine jewellery houses like Cartier only use t...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Cartier Vivid Blue Sapphire Oval Ellipse 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Cartier Vivid Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring. Stunning yellow gold ring set with a top quality natural vivid blue sapphire. Fine jewellery houses like Cartier ...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Diamond And Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Three Stone Dome Daphne Ring
By Cartier
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Cartier Diamond And Blue Sapphire 18k Yellow Gold Three Stone Dome Ring. Stunning yellow gold Cartier ring set with a beautiful 3.5mm centre diamond with F/G Colour and VVS ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Sapphire & Diamond GIA Certified 18k Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels GIA Certified Ceylon Blue Sapphire And Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Cluster Cocktail Ring. A stunning vintage ring with a classic floral design typica...
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Bulgari Tronchetto 18k Yellow Gold Custom Cut Blue Topaz Band Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Montclair, NJ
–Stone(s)– (1) Natural Genuine Blue Topaz - Custom Cut - Channel Inlaid Set - Blue Color - 13.1x8.2mm (approx.) Material: Solid 18k Yellow Gold Weight: 7.54 Grams Ring Size: 6.0 ( f...
Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 1980s Doppio Gold Ring, 1.7ct Blue Topaz & 1.13ct Iolite, Italy
By Bulgari
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A gem-set doppio ring by Bvlgari. Signature piece of design, created in Rome Italy by the acclaimed jewelry house of Bulgari. This popular ring is part of the iconic doppio collecti...
Iolite, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 1990's Iolite Aquamarine 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Three Stone Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an emerald cut iolite weighing approximately 0.97 carats - transparent medium violetish blue in color Set east to west and flanked by emerald cut aquamarines - weighing app...
Aquamarine, Iolite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
David Yurman 18k Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ring with Diamond Halo Size 9
By David Yurman
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Gorgeous Blue Topaz Ring by David Yurman Features Faceted Blue Topaz with Diamond Halo Dimensions of Topaz = 23.54 x 19.63 x 10.15 mm Size 9 Total Mass = 27.6 grams Piece is in Good ...
Diamond, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Marina B Yellow Gold Blue Topaz Ring
By Marina B
Located in New York, NY
An 18k yellow gold open back ring by Marina B, with oval 13.5 x 10mm blue topaz. Ring size 7, top is 15mm wide. Marked: Marina B, 750, 119012. Weight - 19.6 grams.
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Yellow Gold
Rossella Ugolini 18 Karats Yellow Gold Satin Oval Dome Blue Topaz Fashion Ring
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Fashion ring designed by Rossella Ugolini, 18k yellow gold domed ring, handcrafted in Italy. Embellished with a Blue Topaz gemstones faceted oval cut (10 x 8 mm) in solid 18K yellow ...
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Rose Gold, White 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.
