TIME ZONE
BY CAROL BESLER
T he serpent is Bvlgari’s most enduring motif, and the Serpenti Spiga is one of its most exotic interpretations. The bracelet of this supple, sparkling jewelry watch coils around the wrist, striking a life-like pose and giving off good vibes. The serpent is a symbol of eternity, perpetual renewal, wisdom, and seduction, and it has come to represent Bvlgari’s fearless sense of design. Before Bvlgari became known for its watches, it was famous for its jewelry, and in particular for its serpent-themed pieces, the likes of which have been worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Bella Hadid, Priyanka Chopra, and Zendaya. The Serpenti watch collections are an homage to the jewelry. The Spiga jewelry version of the Serpenti is made of gold and diamonds in an intricate matelassé pattern that resembles a stalk of wheat, which translates to spiga in Italian. Wheat is a symbol of fertility and prosperity, and was often linked to marriage in ancient Rome and Greece. THE MAGICAL BVLGARI SERPENTI
Production of the Serpenti Spiga watch entails skilled manual labor. Though each single modular element is cast and produced in series, it is always finished and meticulously assembled by hand. The two-row bracelets comprise 70 different elements, while the single-row watches comprise 40 links cast from 40 different molds. The process requires hours of skilled craftsmanship and consists of inserting the modular elements around an internal flexible spring. The gold links interlock seamlessly, requiring no soldering, creating a flexible band that is then shaped into bracelet watches, which fit perfectly and comfortably around the arm. The high jewelry version is adorned with more than 800 diamonds and a cabochon-cut blue sapphire on the crown.
14 WESTON JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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