What is Italian Gold? Why Is It Different?
What is Italian Gold?
In the fine and high jewelry space, Italian gold is widely revered. You may wonder: what makes it so different? In our article, we explore the characteristics that make them distinct and highly regarded.
What is Italian Gold?
Italian gold isn’t a specific type of gold. Rather, it is a term used to signify gold jewelry that is crafted in Italy – typically in areas like Vicenza, which is recognized globally for its masterful gold craftsmanship and highly refined 18k gold. From the imaginative jewelry design to the quality of material used, gold jewelry from this part of Italy is crafted with meticulous passion, heartfelt emotion, and time-honored techniques. Italian artisans continue to use traditional tools such as the burin, essential for Bulino engraving, which create intricate dot or line patterns by hand. This meticulous process ensures that each Italian gold piece is not just a piece of jewelry but a unique work of art.
Characteristics of Italian Gold
Italian jewelry is made distinct by 3 characteristics: their exceptional quality, their gold purity, and their skillful craftsmanship.
Purity
Italian gold jewelry is known for its high levels of gold purity, often crafted in 18-karat gold, which contains 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. This composition gives it a rich, luxurious tone that is both visually striking and highly durable. While 14k gold jewelry (58% gold) is also used for its durability, 18k gold remains the preferred choice for Italian gold jewelry due to its superior luster and hypoallergenic properties.
Color
A defining characteristic of Italian gold is its deep and rich hue. The high purity of 18k gold enhances the warm yellow tone, making it more radiant compared to lower-karat gold jewelry. Italian goldsmiths are also renowned for their expertise in white and rose gold, achieving elegant hues through expert alloy blending and masterful polishing techniques. The result is a striking brilliance that sets Italian jewelry apart.
A testament to the unparalleled skill of Italian artisans, Annamaria Cammilli’s maison is renowned for crafting 18K gold in eight distinctive shades: Black Lava, Chocolate Brown, Natural Beige, Ice White, Pink Champagne, Apricot Orange, Yellow Sunrise, and Lemon Bamboo. Through years of expertise, master artisans precisely blend gold and alloys in perfect proportions, ensuring each shade is consistently and flawlessly recreated time and time again.
Artistry
Italian gold jewelry is truly elevated to another level due to the extraordinary craftsmanship of its artisans. Though it has been centuries, some Italian goldsmiths still use age-old techniques that give their creations a distinct edge. Some of these techniques include Bulino Engraving and Tubogas.
- Bulino engraving is a traditional hand-engraving method that creates delicate, intricate patterns on gold surfaces. It is still used by the goldsmiths at Marco Bicego. Their Lunaria collection boasts this design style, featuring beautiful hand-engraved lines to create an exquisite texture on their gold creations.
- Tubogas is the seamless coiling technique that results in flexible designs with beveled edges, made without the use of soldering. A powerhouse Italian brand that is a master of this technique is Tessitore. Since 1888, they have been leaders in traditional Tubogas jewelry from Italy. Now led by the fourth generation of their family, their maison stands as a testament to their deep-rooted connection to age-old Italian techniques and masterful goldsmith artistry.
Adorn Yourself with Italian Gold at Scintilla Gioielli
As the only authorized seller of world-class Italian brands in Bangkok, Scintilla Gioielli is your destination for exquisite Italian gold in the Land of Smiles. Located on the M Floor of Siam Paragon, our multi-brand boutique offers over 20 fine and high jewelry brands. Let our experts share the story behind each masterpiece and advise you on which best suits your style. When you wear Italian gold, you wear more than just jewelry — you wear passion, art, and emotion.