Among the many designs in Bvlgari's extensive repertoire, the Serpenti is arguably its most recognisable and synonymous with the House. Think of the snake in the context of luxury watches and jewellery, and Bvlgari's Serpenti would immediately come to mind.
Like many great design icons, the Serpenti has seen a slate of interpretations over the years. The serpentine design was first birthed by Bvlgari in 1948—a watch-bracelet in gold featuring the now-signature Tubogas technique—and has seen its design as well as silhouette reworked in many different ways. Life-like (yet still with an Art Deco influence) forms are often riddled with precious stones, while more contemporary abstractions add a sense of timelessness to the piece they're shaped into.
The Serpenti Viper was introduced a few years ago. Like its name suggest, the aesthetic of the Serpenti Viper is meant to exude a more energetic and somewhat menacing appearance. It's a bolder interpretation and not in the sense that it's a statement piece—there are certainly pieces intricately decorated with precious stones—but rather, the stylistic vibe is a contrast to the Serpenti's elegant aura. Think of the Serpenti Viper as the edgier update that’s versatile enough to be worn for just about any and every occasion.
The beauty of the Serpenti Viper lies in its stylised snake scale motif. It’s an expertly rendered gradation as each link—differing ever so slightly in size and scale—curves out of the head and down to its tail. This maintains the Serpenti’s distinct enveloping lines that instantly connects the wearer and the creation in a snug embrace. Whether it’s a ring, necklace, or bracelet, each piece interacts similarly as a mark of Bvlgari’s ingenuity and craftsmanship.
Sleeker than ever, the 2024 Serpenti Viper editions enrich the series further with designs crafted in 18-carat yellow and rose golds. Some are embellished with a touch of demi pavé diamonds while still maintaining the minimalist foundation of the series. The latest necklace, for example, features a gold chain with a coiled up Serpenti Viper pendant tipped with diamond pavé, each matching the scale of its placement.
The heroes of the collection—and arguably the most versatile—are the new rings and bracelets. A new single-wrapped ring is the embodiment of the Serpenti Viper. Available in rose and yellow gold, the design includes one with diamonds as well as a pure gold body. It’s perhaps the simplest form of the series yet at the same time, able to take on a new expression when stacked with either the same hue of gold or its other iteration. The same goes for the new single coil bangle bracelets. A piece has a presence on its own but thin enough to stack for those who’d rather make a bigger impact on the wrist.
Like the moulting of a snake’s skin, the Serpenti is no stranger to evolutions as it constantly does so. But with the Serpenti Viper, the attribute is more apparent as not only is a Serpenti Viper an evolved form of the Serpenti, it also can change within its own line—a personalised impulsivity, if you will. Now that’s rather menacing, don’t you think?
The latest Serpenti Viper collection is now available in Bvlgari boutiques and online.