On February 9, 2013, legendary Roman jeweller, Bulgari will open a special exhibition and retrospective in its Fifth Avenue flagship boutique dedicated to one of the most emblematic icons of its timeless style: Serpenti. The opening coincides with the eve of the Chinese New Year – the year of the snake.

Serpenti bracelet-watch in yellow gold and platinum, with emeralds and diamonds & Serpenti bracelet-watch in yellow gold and polychrome enamel.

The Bulgari : Serpenti Collection will present an extraordinar y range of snake bracelets, belts, watches and rings made by the legendar y Italian jewellery over the last seventy years. The state of the arts display designed by Fabien Iliou will include light panels with images of the legendary women of style—Elizabeth Taylor, Marisa Berenson, Veruschka, Benedetta Barzini among others—wearing Bulgari snake jewels over the years.

High Jeweller y necklace in white gold with round brilliant cut diamonds and pavé diamonds & Serpenti jeweller watch pink gold one coil bracelet

Highlights in the jewellery presentation curated by Marion Fasel include exceptional enamel, gold and gem-set watch bracelets made during the 1960s, a one-of-a-kind diamond, emerald and gold snake bracelet from the mid-century era as well as an extraordinary emerald, diamond and gold snake bracelet designed in 1970. A full range of the tubogas snake watch-bracelets made from the 1940s to the 1980s will reveal how watches have consistently been a part of the Bulgari snake collections. Historical material on display from the archives in Rome will include original drawings, works of art and classic advertising campaigns. Special guided tours will be offered.

Book, Bulgari : Serpenti Collection, written by jewelr y historian Marion Fasel and published by Assouline.

To commemorate the exhibition and celebrate the iconic brand, a book on the history of the Bulgari snake jewellery, Bulgari : Serpenti Collection, written by Marion Fasel and published by Assouline will debut and be available in wide release in March 2013.

The Serpenti exhibition will be open to the public from Sunday, February 10th through Thursday February 28th and then travel to select U. S . markets.