A stepped gold ring set with a silver intaglio depicting a centaur and inscribed MAGNA GRECIA, CENTAURO IV SEC, in sterling silver and 18k. Bulagri, Italy

Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 by the Greek silversmith, Sotirio Bulgari. The house established its identity in the Eternal City, opening its legendary Via dei Condotti boutique in 1905 and later adopting the stylized BVLGARI logo as a tribute to classical Latin inscriptions. Under Sotirio’s sons, Giorgio and Costantino, the firm shifted from silver objects toward high jewelry, developing a distinctly Roman vocabulary rooted in classical architecture, ancient coins, and bold Italian design.

Early Bulgari jewels followed the French taste for platinum, diamonds, and Art Deco geometry, but by the 1940s and 1950s the maison had developed its own unmistakable style: yellow gold, strong volumes, cabochon-cut colored stones, and vivid, unexpected color combinations. During Rome’s postwar “Dolce Vita” era, Bulgari became closely associated with international film stars and high society, helping define a glamorous, modern Italian alternative to Parisian jewelry.

Bulgari’s most iconic designs include the Serpenti snake motif, first explored in the 1940s; Monete jewels set with ancient coins; the sculptural Trombino ring; and the flexible Tubogas technique, formed from coiled gold without soldering. Today, Bulgari is part of LVMH and remains celebrated as the Roman High Jeweler.