Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1516204
P H OTO BY G I A N PAO LO B A R B I E R I ( W E L L S H ); A L L CO U R T E S Y O F B U LGA R I THREE STORIED JEWELRY HOUSES CEMENT THEIR HERITAGE WITH INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE MOTIFS, DESIGNED TO DELIGHT AND ENTRANCE. BY LAUREN CARUSO Featuring perhaps the most recognizable and hallowed motif from the stor ied It a lia n jewelr y bra nd, Bu l ga r i's Ser pent i col lect ion ha s charmed, beguiled, and entranced wearers and onlookers alike since its debut in the 1940s. One of the few women's watches of the time, the distinctively exotic snakehead design—with a powerfully seductive sinuous shape—has never left the house's catalog, morphing along with the times over the ensuing decades. The serpentine motif is a longstanding symbol of transformation, sensuality, and divine wisdom—and Bulgari has consistently captured its allure though a discerning collection of coiling necklaces, bracelets, and rings, often with precious stones like rubies or emeralds for the eyes. Arguably, its biggest moment in the spotlight came compliments of Elizabeth Taylor, who famously donned the Serpenti wraparound bracelet watch while filming Cleopatra in 1962, inextricably linking her own persona to that of the film's namesake seductress. At that point, Bulgari hadn't yet expanded outside of Rome—but the rest was history. Now, the Serpenti collection, which has been worn by everyone from Diana Vreeland to Bella Hadid and Amanda Wellsh, is representative of the most beguiling kind of luxury, both on and oŽ the red carpet. BULGARI Serpenti CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT A diamond Serpenti cuff with emerald eyes; Serpenti diamond necklace; Amanda Wellsh wearing Serpenti jewelery; an early sketch of a Serpenti bracelet. JEWELRY HOUSES CEMENT THEIR INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE TO DELIGHT AND ENTRANCE. LAUREN CARUSO HEIRLOOMS in the MAKING from the col lect ion ha s alike since time, the seductive along with along with along transformation, captured bracelets, the eyes. compliments of wraparound linking her linking her linking point, history. everyone from representative of carpet. A diamond A diamond A Serpenti cuff with cuff with cuff emerald eyes; Serpenti diamond necklace; Amanda Wellsh wearing Serpenti jewelery; an early sketch early sketch early of a of a of Serpenti bracelet. CLOCKWISE FROM CLOCKWISE FROM CLOCKWISE LEFT diamond Serpenti cuff with cuff with cuff emerald Serpenti BAL HARBOUR 93