Bulgari Serpenti.
An iconic pairing of words if ever there was one.
Since Bulgari’s founding, the Italian jeweler has built a reputation upon unique designs.
The Serpenti — the snake-shaped watch released to much acclaim in 1948 and still produced today — is one of the most striking timepieces in the history of modern horology. The tubogas bracelet, meanwhile, has played a significant role in the Serpenti story. Named for the gas pipe from which it takes its aesthetic inspiration, this series of interlocking, hollow metal structures has come to define much of the classic Serpenti look. Indeed, wearing one signals good taste, an appreciation for watchmaking history, and a sense of individualism.
This particular Serpenti Tubogas dates to a time long before Bulgari was capable of manufacturing its own movements, and thus joined forces with some of the most prominent watchmakers of the day. Produced in the 1970s, it features a triple-wrap, 18K white gold tubogas bracelet fixed to a round, yellow gold watch head with a matching smooth bezel. Its intriguing dial is unusua: Executed in a champagne tone, it features black printed 'Breguet' indices, a matching black 'Breguet' handset, and dual signatures from Jaeger-LeCoultre and Bulgari. A blue cabochon crown operates the hand-wound JLC movement ticking a way within. The watch also comes with its period-correct leather-clad box with a padded interior.
Beautifully designed, this excellent vintage piece pairs one of the world's most important jewelers to one its most prestigious watchmakers in a fit of creativity and beauty. What more could one ask for in a watch?