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Snakes On Rodeo Drive - Inside Bulgari’s Serpenti Jewelry Pop-Up

For millennia, people have been terrified by snakes slithering, cobras striking, and boas squeezing. Snakes, on the other hand, are fascinating due to their sly power and cunning resulting from a unique evolution. Let's see what's inside bulgari’s serpenti jewelry pop-up.

Apr 06, 20231 Shares173 ViewsWritten By: Johnny K.Reviewed By: Luke Williams
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  1. Bulgari's Serpenti Collection - From Elizabeth Taylor To The 2023 Oscars And Beyond

For millennia, people have been terrified by snakes slithering, cobras striking, and boas squeezing. Snakes, on the other hand, are fascinating due to their sly power and cunning resulting from a unique evolution. Let's see what's inside Bulgari's Serpenti jewelrypop-up.

Since the creation of its now-iconic Serpenti jewelry in 1948, Bulgari has recognized the allure of snakes.

Bulgari's Serpenti Collection - From Elizabeth Taylor To The 2023 Oscars And Beyond

The Serpenti collection, famously worn by Elizabeth Taylor — about whom Richard Burton once said, "The only word she knows in Italian is Bulgari" — made a glamorous appearance at the 2023 Oscars on March 12.

Serpenti - The Symbol

Presenter Pedro Pascal wore not one but two ringsby Serpenti, and actresses Angela Bassett, Cara Delevingne, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge all wore necklacesby Serpenti that were embellished with diamondsand emeralds.

On Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, you can find a special pop-up shop that is the first of its kind for the Italian jewelry firm Serpenti to open in the United States. The pop-up is open today and will remain open until April 16.

Visiting the store, which is celebrating the collection's 75th anniversary, provides an in-depth look at how snakes have inspired innovation at Bulgari over the years.

Bulgari's iconic Serpenti designs range from the house's flexible Tubogas bracelets, which twist around the wrist and feature "a precious head with eyes in rubies, emeralds or diamonds that conceal the dial," according to Bulgari creative director Lucia Silvestri, to the introduction of Serpenti necklaces in diamonds in 2012.

A jewelry maker at the Bulgari workshop adds a diamond to the head of a snake in the house’s Serpenti collection
A jewelry maker at the Bulgari workshop adds a diamond to the head of a snake in the house’s Serpenti collection

At the pop-up, visitors will not only have the opportunity to discover incomparable designs, such as high jewelry, fine jewelry, secret watches, and leather goods, but they will also gain insight into the creative process, the craftsmanship behind the glamour, innovative advertising campaigns over the years, and a look at some of the iconic women who have been charmed by Serpenti, such as the legendary editor of Vogue Diana Vreeland and current style star Zendaya.

The recipient of the Emmy Award for Euphoria sported a gorgeous 93-carat emerald necklace called the Serpenti Hypnotic Emerald.

This necklace also appeared in the documentary Within the Dream, directed by Matthieu Menu and shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021.

The documentary discussed the history of Bulgari as well as the creative process that went into the company's jewelry collections. Particular attention was paid to the Serpenti series as well as the Hypnotic Emerald necklace and its origins.

Says Silvestri of the magnetism of serpents:

The symbolism of this icon is indeed very powerful and fascinating and has its roots in very ancient times. In mythology, for example, it was believed to possess transformative and regenerative powers as well as healing ones because of its ability to shed its skin. This fascinating metamorphosis, combined with its seductive allure, makes it an icon that perfectly represents evolution, strength, and self-determination as well as an intrinsic elegant spirit and charisma.- Silvestri

Angela Bassett at the 2023 Oscars wearing a Bulgari High Jewelry Serpenti necklace in white gold with two pear-shaped diamonds
Angela Bassett at the 2023 Oscars wearing a Bulgari High Jewelry Serpenti necklace in white gold with two pear-shaped diamonds

Inside the ephemeral shop, look for a sculptural installation inspired by serpent shapes and purposefully left unfinished by Italian artist Davide Quayole.

The Bulgari 75th anniversary Serpenti pop-up shop can be found at 431 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

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