When the lights dimmed at Vogue World: Hollywood, the Paramount Studios backlot shimmered like a reel from vintage cinema. Through the haze of nostalgia and glamour walked a vision straight out of the golden age of film — a modern Cleopatra draped in Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti Dragoni jewels. Wrapped in coils of yellow and white gold set with emeralds and more than 18 carats of pavé diamonds, she embodied the essence of Elizabeth Taylor, the woman who forever entwined the Roman jewelry house with screen royalty.

It was a fitting tribute to Taylor — whose love affair with Bulgari began more than sixty years ago on the set of Cleopatra and continued to sparkle throughout her storied film career.

A Roman Love Story: Taylor and Bulgari

The legendary partnership between Elizabeth Taylor and Bulgari started in 1962 when she arrived in Rome to shoot Cleopatra, one of the most ambitious and expensive films ever made. Between scenes at Cinecittà Studios, Taylor would often sneak away to Via Condotti, where the Bulgari flagship beckoned with its glittering treasures.

“Filming Cleopatra in Rome had one undeniable perk — daily visits to Bulgari,” she once joked.

Her then-husband, singer Eddie Fisher, was eager to keep her attention and presented her with a spectacular emerald and diamond brooch-pendant and matching drop earrings from the jeweler’s atelier. Despite his efforts, their marriage would not last — but Taylor’s infatuation with Bulgari certainly did.

Elizabeth Taylor, during the filming of the movie “The V.I.P.s” in London, 1963. She wears a convertible brooch-pendant in platinum with emerald and diamonds, 1958, from the Bvlgari Heritage Collection, formerly in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor.Photo: Grazia Neri

The Serpent That Stole the Spotlight

During this period, Taylor also acquired one of Bulgari’s most enduring creations: the Serpenti Tubogas watch. The design — its flexible gold bracelet coiling like an ancient asp — became a signature piece for the actress. Off-screen, she wore it with effortless glamour, the golden serpent glinting against her famous violet eyes and sharp Cleopatra eyeliner.

That jeweled serpent soon became symbolic not just of Bulgari’s craftsmanship but of Taylor herself — a woman both dangerous and divine, capable of commanding a room with a single glance.

From Cleopatra to Cultural Icon

Taylor’s devotion to Bulgari extended far beyond Cleopatra. The jewelry house adorned her in several later films, transforming screen moments into fashion history. Whether portraying powerful queens or modern socialites, she embodied the same magnetic elegance that made her one of Hollywood’s brightest stars — and one of Bulgari’s most treasured muses.

Elizabeth Taylor, during the filming of the movie “The V.I.P.s” in London, 1963. She wears a convertible brooch-pendant in platinum with emerald and diamonds, 1958, from the Bvlgari Heritage Collection, formerly in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor.Photo: Grazia Neri

Her personal collection grew to include numerous Serpenti pieces, emerald parures, and one-of-a-kind jewels now preserved in the Bulgari Heritage Collection. Each piece tells a story of passion, power, and cinematic allure.

A Legacy That Still Shines

At Vogue World: Hollywood, the recreation of Taylor’s Cleopatra reminded audiences why her influence endures. More than half a century later, her connection with Bulgari remains one of the most glamorous love stories between a star and a jeweler.

Photographed by Hunter Abrams

Elizabeth Taylor didn’t just wear jewels — she gave them character, emotion, and immortality. And in doing so, she ensured that Bulgari’s serpents would forever glimmer in the collective imagination, coiled between cinema and legend.