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 Diamond Onyx 18 Karat White Gold Flip Signet Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Signet style ring centers an 11.0 mm circular disk center that flips on an axis One side is bead set with clustered round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing approximately 0.20 carat tot...
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Bvlgari Ceramic 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Chandra Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a carved ceramic sugarloaf measuring 15.0 x 9.0 mm - opaque glossy white Displaying grooved linear waves throughout Bar set in flaring shoulders Completed by high polish fi...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bulgari 2000's Topaz 18 Karat White Gold Contemporary Metropolis Statement Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a rectangular buffed top aquamarine tab set east to west Measuring 12.5 x 16.0 mm transparent light blue in color Flanked by grooved shoulders inscribed with brand name Com...
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Bulgari 1990's Diamond 18K Gold Steel Vintage Parentesi Tubogas Omega Cuff Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as stainless steel tubogas cuff style ring with yellow gold terminals Designed as grooved "Parentesi" omega motifs bead set with diamonds Round brilliant cut - weighing appr...
Diamond, Stainless Steel, Steel, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Bulgari 1990's Diamond Tourmaline 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Passo Doppio Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a domed form pavé set with round brilliant cut diamonds Weighing approximately 1.16 carats total - G color with VS2 clarity Flanked by carved faceted tourmaline inlay mea...
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bvlgari Ceramic 18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Chandra Ring
By Bulgari
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a carved ceramic sugarloaf measuring 15.0 x 9.0 mm - opaque glossy white Displaying grooved linear waves throughout Bar set in flaring shoulders Completed by high polish fi...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Bulgari BVLGARI BVLGARI Onyx Signet Ring in Yellow Gold
By Bulgari
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Bulgari BVLGARI BVLGARI onyx ring set in 18k yellow gold.
The ring is composed of a bold signet-style design, featuring a ...
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
BVLGARI Milano Signature Cocktail Ring In 18Kt White Gold With Round Onyx
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
Signature cocktail ring designed by Bvlgari. This is a beautiful signature ring created in Italy by the jewelry house of Bvlgari, between the 1990 and 2000. The ring is part of the ...
Onyx, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Bulgari Twisted Ring in 18 Karat White Gold, Diamonds and Onyx
By Bulgari
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
BVLGARI FLIP DIAMOND & ONYX 18 K WHITE GOLD RING, Size 49, very tiny (US ring size 4.75)! Retail price: 2500 US$ Every woman will be mesmirezed weari...
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
BULGARI Intarsio Diamond Onyx White Gold Ring
By Bulgari
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Bulgari cocktail ring from the elegant Intarsio collection features a geometric cutout design crafted in 18k white gold and set with black onyx and brilliant-cut round ...
Diamond, Onyx, White Gold
Bulgari Bulgari Large Onyx 18K White Gold Cocktail Ring, circa 2000
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
A commanding Bulgari “Bulgari Bulgari” ring, crafted in 18-karat white gold and centered by a broad disc of polished black onyx. Measuring approximately one inch in diameter, the gen...
Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
Bvlgari Bvlgari Flip MOP Black Onyx 18k Rose Gold Ring Size 6.5 EU 53
By Bulgari
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Brand: Bvlgari Collection: Bvlgari Bvlgari Material: 18k Rose Gold Gemstones: Mother-of-pearl and black onyx Design: One ring with a rotating double-sided disc — mother-of-pearl on o...
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose 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.
