When asked to choose one watch amongst the Bulgari Serpenti which celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, I was at a loss. And with good reason, I might add. While the serpent form in jewels is ubiquitous, in Greek and Roman mythology, it was believed to possess transformative and ...
When asked to choose one watch amongst the Bulgari Serpenti which celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, I was at a loss. And with good reason, I might add. While the serpent form in jewels is ubiquitous, in Greek and Roman mythology, it was believed to possess transformative and regenerative powers for its ability to shed its skin.
Postwar, Bulgari’s Serpenti began with watches and jewels, and eventually incorporated leather goods. Later in the 1960s, the Maison created the first watches featuring a dial concealed by the serpent’s head. Gstaad habituée Elizabeth Taylor (1932– 2011) was a devotee of Bulgari and Serpenti in particular.
In the intervening decades, the striking colour combinations and unconventional materials coupled with hand-applied enamels and gemstones have borne testament to the jeweller’s art. With no soupçon of venom from this serpent, its sinuous and supple coils invite you to travel in time, across cultures as well as continents.
BY ALAN NAZAR IPEKIAN
Open daily in August from 10am – 7pm, Bulgari’s boutique in Gstaad is itself a hidden gem at the Park Hotel.
