Creeping in every 12 years – 2013 being one of them – is the Chinese celebration of the year of the snake. Jeweller has joined in the festivities by exploring how this often maligned reptile has rattled the jewellery industry over time.
The snake is the sixth sign of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle and has become its own fashion statement. In the Chinese symbology, snakes are considered intelligent and cunning with a tendency to be unscrupulous, contemplative and private.
One mythical legend gives reason for the order of the 12 animals in the zodiac cycle. The story tells of a race that was held to cross a river, which determined the order of the zodiac calendar. In this race the snake failed to swim on its own so hitched a ride by curling around the horse’s hoof. At the finish line the snake jumped off, scaring the horse, and subsequently crossed the line before the horse, placing in sixth position.
Transcending legend is Bulgari’s strong correlation - unlike any other jewellery house - to the venomous reptile. For Bulgari, the snake represents wisdom, eternity and renewal, in which it forever conveys magnificence.
Its hypnotic Serpenti collection was first created in the 1940s and has since continued in popularity over the decades. Throughout these years the snake has reinvented its modernity and has subsequently become a style icon. Elizabeth Taylor, among other high profile celebrities, has worked the elegant Serpenti anthology, demonstrating its captivating femininity.
Featured below is a range of Bulgari Serpenti watches, including Elizabeth Taylor’s timepiece, which sold at Christie’s in December 2011 for $US 974,500 – 60 times more than its presale estimate.
The snake is the sixth sign of the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle and has become its own fashion statement. In the Chinese symbology, snakes are considered intelligent and cunning with a tendency to be unscrupulous, contemplative and private.
One mythical legend gives reason for the order of the 12 animals in the zodiac cycle. The story tells of a race that was held to cross a river, which determined the order of the zodiac calendar. In this race the snake failed to swim on its own so hitched a ride by curling around the horse’s hoof. At the finish line the snake jumped off, sca