June 2026
The international auction house Christie’s is offering a large collection of jewelry belonging to the Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, who passed away last year.
Great fondness for Buccellati and Bvlgari
Claudia Cardinale starred in 175 films between 1958 and 2022. She passed away last year at the age of 87. Christie’s is auctioning about 24 pieces of jewellery from her collection this coming week. As an Italian, she was not only a perfect ambassador for major Italian fashion houses, but she also had a great fondness for Buccellati and Bvlgari. One of these pieces caught my attention, and that is the gold bracelet and watch by Bvlgari in the shape of a snake coiling around your arm.
Snake: symbol of wisdom and eternity
Today, Bvlgari still sells jewellery in which the snake plays an important role. Since ancient times, the snake has been chosen as a symbol of wisdom and infinity and has been incorporated into jewellery for centuries, primarily in bracelets and sometimes as a tiara. The bracelet by Claudia Cardinale from the 1960s–1970s is very special. A watch is hidden inside the snake’s mouth. You can read the time by flipping the snake’s head up using its forked tongue.
The snake’s scales consist of rows of diamond-shaped plates enameled in various color schemes. For instance, there was a choice between cool colors in blue and white or warm shades in red and green. The bracelet is flexible so that the snake’s body rolls easily around the wrist.
Gaspipe, tubogaz, or spirotube
After the war, Bvlgari developed the gaspipe. This is a technique in which a gold wire is wrapped around a spiral, after which the spiral is removed. In this way, the gold wires rest on each other, creating a sturdy strand. Other names also used are tubogaz or spirotube. Various forms emerged during the 1940s and 1950s.
Emerald, ruby, or diamond eyes
The head was often also set with gemstones, such as pear-cut emeralds for the eyes, but ruby, diamond, and topaz were also used to bring the eyes to life.
Estimate between 150 and 250,000 euros
The auction is this coming week, and although I believe such an iconic piece really belongs in a museum, there will surely be a millionaire willing to pay between 150,000 and 250,000 euros for a jewel that belonged to one of the greatest actresses Italy has produced.
Signed jewellery for appraisal
Do you have signed jewellery from the main jewellery houses? Whether it is Italian, French, Belgian, Spanish, German, Spanish or American. I would love to see your pieces and see how I can help you.
P. 2014-2018, exhibition catalogue Bvlgari> 125 ans de magnificence Italienne Grand Palais, 2010
