The Tamesis
The jewelry house’s Serpenti design was originally popularized by Elizabeth Taylor, another brunette star of the 1960s, who wore a gorgeous version of the watch while on set. Cleopatra In Rome. (The Italian film company was so involved in Taylor’s mid-production romance with co-star Richard Burton that the couple once hid from paparazzi in a VIP money room on Via Condotti.)
The popularity of snake pattern jewelry can be traced back to ancient Egypt about 5,000 years ago, and was also popular during the Victorian period. In 1839, Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria an 18-karat gold snake-pattern ring of his own design.
But just as the leopard is synonymous with Cartier and the camellia is synonymous with Chanel, snakes are also inextricably linked to Bulgari. The snake first appeared in the jeweler’s history as a gold Tubogas watch back in 1948, and has since been launched in various jewelery versions and is loved by A-list stars. Diana Vreeland wore the 30-inch Serpenti design around her waist, while Zendaya, Susan Sarandon and Bella Hadid have all worn the style on the red carpet.
Lipa was appointed Bulgari global ambassador in February and has been wearing a series of sparkling Serpenti necklaces in recent months. She paired a giant Serpenti necklace with a sparkling Jean Paul Gaultier dress in Cannes last month, and paired another necklace with a tattered electric blue Gucci dress at an Elton John AIDS Foundation event in March.
