The Bulgari Serpenti Motif: An Understated And Elevated Style Icon
The newest Serpenti Viper capsule collection proves once more that the world-famous motif can be styled to suit both minimalists and maximalists
Last year Bulgari’s Serpenti collection reached a special milestone, celebrating 75 years since it embarked on its meteoric rise to becoming a modern icon of fine jewellery design. The Serpenti motif embodies Bulgari’s signature design codes: avant-garde artistry, audacious silhouettes and a flair for the exotic and unexpected.
Now one of the most instantly recognisable motifs in jewellery making history, Bulgari’s Serpenti draws upon the ancient symbolism of snakes, which represent power, strength, rebirth and transformation across many cultures, both now and throughout history.
Following its launch in 1948, the Serpenti collection began to attract the attention of tastemakers and Hollywood starlets alike; Diana Vreeland, fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar USA from 1936 until 1962, was a loyal champion of the snake motif, while Elizabeth Taylor famously wore Serpenti jewels on the set of Cleopatra in 1962. Its cult-worthy appeal hasn’t abated; Serpenti pieces regularly grace the red carpet and effortlessly adorn the likes of Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, Bella Hadid and, of course, the Maison’s global brand ambassador, Zendaya. In the latest iteration of this iconic collection, the A-list actress wears a new capsule collection of contemporary jewels that offer the ultimate versatility, crafted from 18-karat gold with demi-pavé diamond details.
Available at bulgari.com, the 2024 Serpenti Viper collection features a chic edit of new pieces, including a single wrap ring, the perfect mid-size hoop earrings, a sinuous coil bangle and a petite yet punchy pendant. The capsule collection offers chameleon-like charm for both minimalists and maximalists alike – each piece can be worn independently as a subtle accent to elevate denim and summer staples on dressed-down days, or stacked several at a time to deliver serious scintillation.
Delve into archival pictures and the Serpenti has always exuded this elevated yet understated quality – whether worn with capri pants and a tank top like Elizabeth Taylor, or by Cara Delevingne on the Oscars red carpet, the Serpenti effortlessly adorns and adapts. This metamorphic nature, and the snake’s unique ability to shed its skin and perpetually renew chimes well with the start of the summer season – simply choose the pieces that reflect your personal proclivity for diamonds – subtle, stylish, or sensational.
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