Snake charmers

Bulgari looks to the ophidian gaze as inspiration for its latest Serpenti jewellery collection. SARA WEE reports from Kuala Lumpur.

White gold necklace with emeralds and diamonds.

Veruschka, photographed by Gian Paolo Barbieri for Vogue Italia (1975).

The seductive eyes of Bulgari’s spirit animal – the serpent, its iconic motif since the 1940s - are windows to the soul of the Italian jeweller’s latest 21-piece Serpenti Eyes On Me collection. Snake eyes, in the form of almondshaped precious gemstones – rubellite, emerald or amethyst – are set into pink or white gold “heads”. The collection’s everyday piece is a pink gold ring whose amethyst eyes remain the centre of attention because of the simple, geometric snake-face design. For a night out, we have our sights set on the standout white gold bracelet with a total of 6.15 carats of paveset diamonds, accented by emerald eyes totalling 1.05 carats.

White gold bracelet with emeralds and diamonds, $63,000

Above: Benedetta Barzini, photographed by Gian Paolo Barbieri for Vogue US (1968). Right: Dendroaspis jamesoni jamesonii by Guido Mocafico (2003).

Clockwise from top left: Pink gold ring with amethysts, $2,000, white gold ring with diamonds, $8,000, pink gold ring with rubellites and diamonds, $3,900, and pink gold ring with rubellites and diamonds, $5,800.