Understanding the Heritage and Craftsmanship of an Italian Jewelry
A piece of Italian jewelry is much more than just an elegant choice of adornment for discerning individuals. The ‘Made in Italy’ tag in jewelry carries such distinguished heritage that dates back to 700 BCE, the intricate design influenced by the Greek and Roman empire, the mix of ancient craftsmanship and modern technology, the quality of materials and so much more.
To understand the full extent of what exactly goes into a piece of Italian jewelry, we must first explore its rich history and artisanal practices that shaped Italian jewelry over the centuries to where it stands today.
Crafting Gold the Ancient Way
Master artisans who create distinguished pieces of Italian jewelry adhere to certain techniques. Manufacturing gold for those one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets and more by hand started with wrapping a gold sheet around a metal rod until it reaches ideal thickness. Then, the artisans will twist, hand-hammer and coil to mold a perfect shape waiting to be modeled further into a final product.
Making a piece of gold can be so complicated that an experienced craftsman can manufacture only 30 cm of 18K gold chain in a day. In this day and age, Italian artisans seek to combine such ancient techniques with innovative materials such as titanium alloy, which is widely used in an aerospace industry, to exceed themselves in the most creative of ways.
Ever since gold made its inception and Italian jewelry began around 700 BCE with the Etruscan civilization, which is now Central Italy, gold has been the material of choice for all before gemstones were common. Even though the initial Italian craftsmanship approach is less refined at first, the practice has been developed over the centuries into a unique and delicate art with Greek and Roman influences. Today, fine and high Italian jewelry has a high standard of 18K (75% gold) which is the best purity of gold possible in the industry whereas fine jewelry from other region may be made using 14K gold.
Jewels bearing the ‘Made in Italy’ tag are guaranteed of their superior craftsmanship, premium materials, classic designs and practicality that people will continue to cherish for a lifetime.
Owning a made in Italy piece means appreciating the brand’s unique approach represented through their signature style and intricate artisanship. For instance, a Vincenza brand ‘Fope’ is revered from their ‘Novecento mesh’ chain that later became the ‘Flex’It system’. This unique aspect gives every Fope jewelry the ability to expand and shrink to a comfortable fit thanks to numerous 18K gold springs masterfully placed within the jewel itself.
Aside from Fope’s unique approach of manufacturing a comfortable jewel, other Italian jewelers such as Marco Bicego distinguished themselves with the use of ancient engraving techniques. Their ‘Lunaria’ collection features a distinctive hand-brushed texture that creates a unique, shimmering effect that can be achieved with the traditional ‘Bulino’, a special tool made for hand engraving.
While some Italian brands highlight one or two astounding qualities, some high jewelry brands go above and beyond to perfect all aspects of what makes an Italian jewel truly unique, a true masterpiece. From the concept of the piece, quality and rarity of the finest gemstones, intricate craftsmanship and months of working to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Great example of Italian jewelry in this class is from Scavia Gioielli and Palmiero Jewelry Design.
Take a look at this highly complicated Palmiero Arborea, inspired by natural beauty. Each piece is crafted entirely with 18K white gold and decorated by hand and colourized with the finest diamonds to achieve outstanding elegance. Discover more here: www.scintilla.acemsweb.com/product-category/palmiero
Should you wish to own an Italian jewel that will retain its value for life, one that combines practical value with exceptional design, craftsmanship and rich heritage, schedule a visit to our boutique today and explore our curated collections of world-class Italian brands at:
SCINTILLA GIOIELLI
Siam paragon, Shop 46A, M Floor, 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 2 610 9378
Email: [email protected]
Line: @scintillabkk