The serpent, a selected motif by many industries since time immemorial, is feared and fascinating all at once. Since the Greek and Roman civilizations, it has been used to symbolize life, immortality, and wisdom. In Bulgari’s case, the serpent is associated with beauty and seduction, the snake being a longtime icon for the jeweler-slash-watchmaker. Since adorning Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra, the Serpenti has hypnotized many women into coiling their wrists with Bulgari’s precious metals and stones. The symbol has seen many iterations, and collectors of jewelry watches are now allured by the Bulgari Serpenti Incantati.
Release Date & Price
Release date: 2016
Price: starting at US$50,000
The Bulgari Serpenti Incantati is a showstopper as other timepieces from the collection, which is only apt because the word Incantati translates to “enchanting”. Although featuring the serpent, still, the Incantati is unique than the others because it is the first from the selection to have the entirety of the snake on the dial, instead of serving as the bracelet.
Specifications:
- Caliber: B033 quartz movement
- Case diameter: 30mm
- Function: Hour and minute
Pros
As one would expect from Bulgari, the Serpenti Incantati is stunning and eye-catching, with a design that does not mind subtlety and dials the glamour all the way up. The execution gives way to a very alluring dial that invites further inspection—tiny, beautifully cut diamonds both surround and decorate the dial, becoming even more captivating when reflecting light. The Serpenti Incantati, or enchanting serpent if you will, is distinctive in all the available options for colors in both the gems or the case. At 30mm, the case is already small, but the timepiece is even lighter owing to the fact that the design is simpler than other Serpentis. It beautifully clasps on the wrist with either the gem-adorned bracelet or the more conventional leather strap.
Cons
Tastes do vary, but for those expecting a more pronounced elegance as the other Serpenti pieces, the Serpenti Incantati may fail to meet that level because of its more regular form. The price is also very steep for most, owing mostly to the style than its timekeeping capacity.
Compare With
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire
- IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar “150 Years” Edition
- Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique
- Longines Master Collection Automatic
Image credits: Watchonista (featured image), Time Transformed, Luxatic, Deployant, Bulgari Casablanca, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, FHH Journal (article images)
