The term 'Tubogas' refers to a difficult and highly-prized technique conceived and perfected by certain specialized goldsmiths in Italy during the 1940s. The literal translation of the word tubogas means 'gas-pipe' or 'tube-of-gas' as the finished design looks much like the gas hoses in use after the turn of the century. The process, executed entirely by hand using old-fashioned tools, involves wrapping continuous lengths of gold wire around a central core which is then heated, stretched and pressed over a period of several days to form a silky length of articulated gold, known for its extreme flexibility and durability. Tubogas creations, made famous by the workshops that supplied Bulgari in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, are the epitome of hand-crafted workmanship and design and exemplify the creativity and master craftsmanship of only a very few Italian goldsmiths working today.