A magnificent Bulgari Serpenti necklace sold for $920,000
It was the main course of a Sotheby's sale held on April 19 in New York. A magnificent Bulgari Serpenti necklace was indeed the star of this session, with a reserve price set at $800,000. It finally found a buyer at a price of $920,000, or approximately €821,000 . This Bulgari necklace has the characteristic of being able to transform into a... belt.
The most massive Bulgari Serpenti necklace ever recorded
According to Frank Everett, director of Sotheby's luxury division, this is the most massive version of the Serpenti necklace that can be found on the market. However, he was less forthcoming about the provenance of the Bulgari jewel in white gold with more than 200 carats of diamonds.
At 104 cm long, this snake jewel can be wrapped twice around the neck or used as a belt. The head of the snake is composed of a pear-cut diamond . With an estimate of 800,000 to 1 million dollars, this Bulgari Serpenti necklace was therefore sold in line with Sotheby's expectations.
Bulgari Serpenti, a necklace appreciated by stars
Recently, actress Charlize Theron was seen wearing a similar Bulgari Serpent necklace at the Academy Awards. Bella Hadid, Kiki Layne, Naomi Watts and Miley Cyrus are among the other celebrities who have been spotted on the red carpet with a Serpenti around their neck. A photo of Elizabeth Taylor, a lifelong Bulgari fan, also shows her wearing a Serpenti watch on the set of the film Cleopatra.
The theme of the snake in jewelry and watches
While Cleopatra is probably the most famous figure to wear snake-themed jewelry, Queen Victoria is no exception. We all remember the snake ring , a symbol of eternal love, that she received as an engagement ring from Prince Albert. It was this antique ring that started the Victorian trend of snake jewelry.
After all, it is just the return of a fashion that goes back to the dawn of time. The snake is one of the oldest and most common motifs in jewelry, with roots in ancient Greek and Roman jewelry .
From a contemporary perspective, no other house than Bulgari has distinguished itself as much in the field of snake jewelry, which has become its trademark .
“ Bulgari is really the gold standard for this theme, ” Everett said. “ It’s such an old and enduring motif that you could say the snake is to Bulgari what the panther is to Cartier. Many fine jewelry houses do snake jewelry, but no one does it as well as Bulgari .”
The origins of Bulgari Serpenti jewelry
The origins of the Serpenti collection date back to the 1940s. They coincide with the appearance of the flexible Tubogas bracelets that followed the shape of the wrists, like snakes, but without a head or tail.
In the 1960s, the style evolved to be more reminiscent of a reptile that would wrap itself around the wrist or neck of Bulgari's customers. Antique Serpenti jewelry from this period featured colorful scales made of enamel, onyx and/or stones, which were also used to create the snake's eyes.
Other exceptional antique jewels in this sale
320 antique jewels were part of this sale organized by Sotheby's. Other interesting pieces include an extremely rare antique Cartier brooch (mid-1920s) in coral, emeralds, pearls and diamonds, estimated at $250,000 to $350,000.
Another museum-worthy piece that was offered for sale was a Renaissance-style diamond and enamel sautoir necklace + earrings that was created by Paulding Farnham, creative director of Tiffany and Co. in the early 20th century. The set was created for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. These two exceptional antique pieces came from a private European collection.
