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.
BVLGARI ITALY 18k Yellow Gold, Pearl, Diamond & Cabochon Emerald Earrings 1980s
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bvlgari Italy 18k Yellow Gold, Pearl, Diamond & Cabochon Emerald Earrings Vintage 1980s Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly...
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI ITALY 18k Yellow Gold, South Sea Pearl & Baguette Diamond Earrings 1980s
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bvlgari Italy 18k Yellow Gold, South Sea Pearl & Baguette Diamond Earrings 1980s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of earrings...
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI ITALY 18k Yellow Gold, Diamond & Ancient Roman Coin Monete Earrings Rare
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bvlgari Italy 18k Yellow Gold, Diamond & Ancient Roman Coin Monete Earrings Vintage 1980s Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of earring...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
TIFFANY & CO. PALOMA PICASSO 18k Yellow Gold & Onyx Clip On Earrings 1980s Rare
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso 18k Yellow Gold & Onyx Clip On Earrings 1980s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of earrings. S...
Onyx, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI ITALY 18k Yellow & Blackened Gold Tubogas Hoop Clip On Earrings 1980s
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bvlgari Italy 18k Yellow & Blackened Gold Tubogas Hoop Clip On Earrings 1980s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer pair of earrings. ...
Gold
JEAN MAHIE 22k Yellow Gold Ravioli Motif Clip On Earrings 1970s Vintage
By Jean Mahie
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Jean Mahie French 22k Yellow Gold Ravioli Motif Clip On Earrings Vintage 1970s Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible French designer pair of earrings ...
Yellow Gold
Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Mother of Pearl Earrings BV04-072826
By Bulgari
Located in Southampton, PA
These vintage Bvlgari clip earrings are crafted in 18K yellow gold, each designed as a round polished disc with an abstract cutout pattern of gold droplets and dots set over a mother...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari Bulgari 18k Gold Mother of Pearl Clip-On Earring Disk Shape
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
These Bulgari clip-on earrings are made in 18k gold and designed as discs, with an abstract cutout pattern of droplets and dots. The openwork design reveals the luminous mother-of-pe...
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari Mother-of-Pearl Optical Ear Stud Earrings 18K Yellow Gold Vintage Italy
By Bulgari
Located in Lisbon, PT
Bulgari Mother-of-Pearl “Optical” Ear Stud Earrings in 18K Yellow Gold, Late 20th – Early 21st Century, Italy, with Bulgari Box. An emblem of timeless Italian sophistication, these ...
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 1980's 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Puffy Gancio Link Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as double signature chestnut motif forms Interlocking in the center as "Gancio" pattern With high polish finish throughout Completed by posts with hinged omega backs Stamped...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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
Bulgari Diamond Pearl Earrings 18K Yellow Gold South Sea Pearl 1980s
By Bulgari
Located in Fairfield, CT
Bulgari Diamond Pearl Earrings 18K Yellow Gold South Sea Pearl 1980s These Bulgari earrings are made in 18k yellow gold and set with white South Sea pearls framed within octagonal ...
Diamond, Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 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.
