Introduced in the 1940s, Bulgari’s Serpenti collection of snake-inspired accessories—a nod to founder Sotirio Bulgari’s Greek heritage and his adopted Roman home—has long been a hallmark of the brand.
But in February, select highlights from the collection, including bracelets, watches, rings and belts, will be on view in a new cultural light: the jeweler is staging a retrospective at its Fifth Avenue flagship in New York City to celebrate the Year of the Snake on the Chinese zodiac calendar.
Curated by jewelry historian Marion Fasel, the exhibition mixes standout pieces—including gem-set watch bracelets created during the 1960s and a one-of-a-kind diamond and emerald gold snake bracelet—with archival materials such as original sketches and former advertising campaigns.
If you can’t make it to the New York retrospective, pick up the accompanying tome by Fasel, published by Assouline, or catch the exhibit as it travels to San Francisco and Houston. Check bulgari.com for the schedule.