Bulgari’s 2024 Aeterna watch presentation centered on two Serpenti Misteriosi creations: Chimera, a white-gold serpent with serpent and lion heads, and Dragone, a dragon-inflected serpent watch with a Tubogas bracelet. Both use Bulgari’s hand-wound Piccolissimo mechanical micro-movement. The watches were part of Aeterna, the broader collection Bulgari introduced for its 140th anniversary—not the whole collection themselves.
What are the Bulgari Aeterna watches?
Bulgari announced Aeterna on 29 May 2024 to mark the Maison’s 140th anniversary. The company described the wider collection as comprising more than 500 creations across high jewelry, high-end watches, bags, and fragrance. Within its watch announcement, Bulgari Japan highlighted two models: Serpenti Misteriosi Chimera, reference 104078, and Serpenti Misteriosi Dragone, reference 104044. Bulgari Japan’s 2024 watch announcement
The presentation framed each watch as jewelry as much as horology: a sculptural Serpenti form conceals a tiny mechanical movement. Bulgari unveiled the broader Aeterna collection at Rome’s Baths of Diocletian in a private event organized with Italy’s Ministry of Culture and Fondazione Bulgari. Bulgari Japan’s Aeterna announcement
How do Chimera and Dragone differ?
| Model | Design and historical reference | Materials and setting | Wear and reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serpenti Misteriosi Chimera | Bulgari describes a flexible serpent ending in serpent and lion heads. The lion head draws inspiration from an archival Bulgari piece from the 1950s, according to the company. | White gold set with diamonds and emeralds; the product listing also specifies sapphire. | Reference 104078. Bulgari’s release describes a flexible serpent form; it does not specify a wrap count in the cited product details. |
| Serpenti Misteriosi Dragone | A serpent-and-dragon interpretation that Bulgari says revisits a historic watch associated with Elizabeth Taylor’s 1962 Cleopatra filming at Rome’s Cinecittà studios. | White and yellow gold, baguette, marquise, and round brilliant diamonds, with emerald eyes. | Reference 104044; triple-wrap Tubogas bracelet. Bulgari says the featured watch can be worn on either wrist and its removable movement can be turned 180 degrees to reverse dial orientation. |
These design histories and material descriptions are Bulgari’s own account in its 2024 release, rather than independent assessments. The same release says the featured Dragone takes more than 960 hours to complete. Bulgari Japan’s 2024 watch announcement
#1 Best Overall
- Elegant Snake Bracelet Design —— Inspired by modern jewelry aesthetics, this snake-shaped bangle watch blends a stylish cuff bracelet with a functional wristwatch. A bold yet feminine accessory that instantly elevates your outfit.
- Flexible Wrap & Comfortable Fit —— The open cuff snake bracelet wraps naturally around the wrist. Recommended for wrists approx. 15–17 cm/5.9–6.7 in, with a total length of 31 cm/12.20 in and band width of 0.8–1.4 cm/0.31–0.55 in. Fits most women's wrists. Easy to wear, no clasp needed, perfect for daily styling or special occasions.
- Reliable Quartz Movement & Daily Water Resistance —— Powered by a precise quartz movement to ensure accurate timekeeping. Simple to adjust and ideal for women who prefer effortless, low-maintenance watches. With 3ATM daily water resistance, it can withstand splashes, hand washing, and light rain (not suitable for swimming or showering).
- Perfect for Dress Up or Everyday Wear —— Whether paired with dresses, evening outfits, or casual looks, this bracelet-style watch works as both timepiece and jewelry—one accessory, multiple styles.
- A Meaningful Gift Choice —— A unique gift for birthdays, holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or anniversaries. A stylish watch that feels personal, fashionable, and thoughtful.
What movement and specifications do both watches share?
Bulgari’s product entries specify the same hand-wound Piccolissimo mechanical micro-movement in both models. The listed movement thickness is 2.50 mm, with an approximately 30-hour power reserve and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. These are launch specifications published by Bulgari; the release does not provide independent performance testing.
- Winding: hand-wound
- Movement: Piccolissimo mechanical micro-movement
- Movement thickness: 2.50 mm
- Power reserve: approximately 30 hours
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour
In Chimera, Bulgari says the movement is concealed in the snake’s head. For Dragone, the company highlights the removable movement and its reversible dial orientation, which allows the watch to be worn on either wrist. Bulgari Japan’s 2024 watch announcement
Rank #2
- Dial design: Suit for 6.1-6.9 in wrist size. The shape of the dial is different from traditional circular or square dials, adopting a teardrop shaped design similar to a snake head. Celebrate the Year of the Snake with this Lunar New Year capsule, symbolizing wisdom and transformation. The streamlined contour makes the watch look more dynamic and artistic. The surface of the dial is made of mother of pearl material, which has a natural luster and delicate texture.
- Scale and pointer: The dial uses blue Roman numeral scales, which are particularly eye-catching on the mother of pearl dial. The pointer also adopts a blue design, decorated with a circle of shiny diamonds around the edge of the dial, adding a sense of luxury to the watch. The watch strap is made of stainless steel and features an exquisite mesh design, which not only enhances the comfort of the watch but also makes the entire watch more modern and fashionable.
- Lunar Snake Year New Year Gift: Luxury presents to yourself for birthday, an exquisite gifts to mother, wife for Mother's Day, anniversary, Valentine's Day and Christmas
- Womens Waterproof Watch: Square watch for women is a waterproof watches (waterproof to 30meters/100ft), making it suitable for everyday activities like hand washing or light splashes (not recommended for swimming or showering).
- MASTOP Women Watches: If you receive other colors, please contact us and we will send you a replacement separately.
What did Bulgari present beyond the watches?
The scale figures in Bulgari’s announcements describe different things. Its launch announcement refers to more than 500 creations in the wider Aeterna collection. In a separate report published after a Kyoto presentation on 4 July 2024, Bulgari Japan said approximately 400 creations—including high jewelry and high-end watches—were presented at the Kyoto International Conference Center. They are not two counts of the same event or collection subset. Bulgari Japan’s Kyoto presentation report
Jean-Christophe Babin, Bulgari Group CEO, praised the collection in the Japanese launch release, calling it—translated into English—perhaps the finest high-end collection in the 21st century. That is the company executive’s promotional opinion, not an independently established ranking. The release identifies Lucia Silvestri as Jewelry Creative Director. Bulgari Japan’s Aeterna announcement
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- 【Snake-shaped Watch】: Breaking from traditional watch design, it has a fluid snake body that wraps the wrist like an elegant snake, exuding vintage mystique. Paired with a teardrop-shaped dial, its soft contours echo the snake form, giving the wearer distinct elegance.
- 【Lightweight Watch】: With a dial measuring 27mm wide and 39mm high, paired with a tapered strap ranging from 8mm to 14mm, this sleek women's watch is perfectly designed to complement slender wrists. At just 11mm thick and weighing only 60 grams, it feels light and comfortable—even during extended wear.
- 【Diamond Watch】: The dial features classic vintage roman numeral hour markers—clear and striking, seamlessly blending recognizability with retro charm. Sparkling diamonds adorn the surface, refracting delicate brilliance under light. This luxurious ladies' watch fulfills women's pursuit of exquisite details and understated luxury.
- 【Quartz Watch】: This quartz analog watch features a premium quartz movement, ensuring precise and stable timekeeping performance for effortless daily use, seamlessly blending fashion and functionality. The copper alloy bracelet exudes vintage charm while offering exceptional durability, resisting deformation and wear even with prolonged wear.
- 【The Perfect Gift】: With distinctive snake vintage design and subtle luxury diamond accents, this vintage watch is an ideal gift for women. Whether for birthday, valentine's Day or anniversary, it’s a thoughtful present for mothers, partners or best friends. Its wrist refinements convey sincerity and preciousness of a carefully chosen gift.
How much do the Bulgari Aeterna watches cost?
Bulgari Japan’s 2024 launch product table marked the prices of both Chimera and Dragone as undecided. That release therefore does not establish a confirmed launch price, a current price, or present availability. For a current quote or stock status, check directly with Bulgari or an authorized retailer.
Are these the same watches as the current Serpenti Aeterna models?
No. Bulgari’s current official horology page lists products under the name Serpenti Aeterna, including references 104341, 104352, 104205, 104280, and 104312. Those listings are distinct from the two Serpenti Misteriosi references in the 2024 Aeterna announcement; the shared Aeterna name does not make the later-listed references the same watches. Bulgari’s current Serpenti Aeterna horology page
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
