Snakes have always been an important cultural symbol in human civilization. The legend of the spirit snake has existed since ancient times. Long before this symbol was introduced into the field of jewelry, the imagery of the snake was deeply rooted in all stages of the history of human development in both East and West. In Greek and Roman mythology, snakes possessed the powers of transformation and regeneration, which people believed could make their lives better. In oriental mythology, Nuwa, who created humans, has a human head and a snake body, and the snake can transform into a dragon after seven stages of transformation, reborn and immortal.
Complex, dynamic, sinuous and alluring, the snake totem symbolizes wisdom, infinity and new life. Plato once described ouroboros “Ouroboros” as the primordial creature of the universe in a state of self-eating. It is immortal and has a perfect biological structure. It is the energy of continuous renewal and iteration-the snake leads to the tail, forming an endless loop that continues to start and never ends. The ever-changing nature and eternal spirit of the snake has always been at the heart of Bulgari’s snake icon. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Serpenti design, Bulgari showcases the creation and evolution of this serpentine totem over the past 75 years through a fascinating feature film, telling the infinite energy and spirit of this symbol through a fascinating story scroll. As the scroll slowly unrolls, the original Serpenti secret watch jumps out onto the paper. From the colorful creations in different periods to today’s creative tailoring, the exquisite jewels on the timeline and their dazzling changes are dizzying.
This scroll illustrates the metamorphosis philosophy behind each iteration of Serpenti.
In 1948, for the first time, Bulgari drew on the symbol of the spirit snake that had existed for thousands of years, and launched the Serpenti series of bracelet watches. This design became Bulgari’s iconic work once it came out. The Serpenti series has a distinctive design style, which is bold, sexy and unique. The snake-shaped design winds around and wraps around the wrist lightly and lazily, charming and dangerous, full of mysterious and delicate temptation. The link of the watch chain adopts the cutting-edge Tubogas technology at that time, and the gold lace wraps around gracefully, which can fit neatly without welding. The dial is also the head of a snake, and its beautiful geometric shape becomes the finishing touch of the whole design. This design highlighted the future-oriented concept, combined with forward-looking jewelry manufacturing techniques, it became famous and successful when it was launched.
In the 1950s, Bulgari’s snake design ushered in its first evolution and iteration. The shape of the snake is more realistic: the shape of the snake head is vivid, and the rubies, emeralds or diamonds of the eyes play a finishing touch, making the shape of the snake more vivid. In the 1960s, Bulgari further visualized the snake and introduced the shape of the scales of the spirit snake. No longer constrained by the previous design model, Bulgari’s spirit snake intention has become more of a canvas at this time, giving creators full room to play under the theme. So we see the infinite possibilities of Spirit Snake: the matching of various sizes, colors and materials, bold and eye-catching color combinations, the introduction of non-traditional materials and the flexible use in the field of jewelry design. This is a creative rebirth. The scales of the spirit snake are vividly expressed, either through a layer of bright enamel, or with the help of gorgeous and gorgeous gemstones. This transformation has further improved the wearing comfort: like a new layer of skin, the bracelet is cleverly connected around the core, tightly wound and fit on the wearer’s skin, completely getting rid of the stiffness of metal welding.
After more than half a century and 75 years of precipitation and accumulation, the snake logo and Bulgari’s unique artistic style as a jewelry master have long been deeply intertwined. Combined with the characteristics of different eras, a fascinating form has been created, enriching the interpretation of the snake image by the hexagon. The Serpenti Viper series launched this year is different from the traditional retro design, but full of urban style. While subtly reproducing the layered scale shape, the image of the spirit snake has become more dynamic, fashionable and modern. By combining the flexible modular structure and different materials, the image of the spirit snake comes to life. It’s a fascinating transformation of style and creativity.
Bulgari’s serpentine totem is closely intertwined with female power, and this special meaning and mission is unmatched by any other icon. The agility and allure of the Serpenti meanders and coils around generations of women, clinging to their skin until they become one. They look calm and careless on the outside, but inside they have infinite fighting spirit and confidence, and are full of inner strength. At this moment, femininity is integrated with the brand. It tells the awakening and evolution of female power, and pours out the awakening of female consciousness and their self-determination. The sinuous and soft lines and elegant shapes burst out with the power of vitality and resilience like a tide, and finally sublimated into evocative aesthetics.
The closer you are to the end, the closer you are to the starting point, and it goes round and round. The legend of the spirit snake is far from over, and the story of Bulgari is about to enter a new chapter.
