Buccellati Jewelry – Origins of an Italian Jewelry Dynasty
Gianmaria and Lucretia Buccellati, who founded the company in 1830, were born in Rome and studied metals and gemstones during the Renaissance Period. Their sons joined the family business and opened stores in Florence and Rome, and later a store on Fifth Avenue. Their legacy is still going strong today, with four stores in Italy and two in New York City.
Gianmaria Buccellati
Mario Buccellati was born in 1891 and began his career as a jewelry apprentice in Milan. He then served in the First World War, returning to Italy to take over the family business. In 1919, he purchased the firm Beltrami e Besnati and opened his own store in Milan. The Buccellati family name is still synonymous with elegance and classicism.
The Buccellati family has represented the company for four generations. Today, Andrea Buccellati designs jewels, while Gino Buccellati oversees the silver jewelry manufacturing company. Rosie Buccellati is the company’s scope manager and Maria Cristina manages public relations. Gianmaria Buccellati’s legacy lives on in the company’s fine jewelry.
Since 1919, the Buccellati jewelry house has produced fine jewelry in Milan. Gianmaria Buccellati, the son of the founder Mario Buccellati, creates life-size drawings on his own. The Buccellati style celebrates natural forms and shapes, and most pieces are one-of-a-kind pieces. Some pieces are limited to productions of just a few pieces. Buccellati designs are inspired by nature and Renaissance architecture. Buccellati jewels are often handcrafted, with metal surfaces engraved or embellished by artisans. Quality and style are always top priority.
Mario Buccellati’s death in 1966 left his children to run the family business. Gianmaria, Luca, and Andrea Buccellati took over the business and expanded its reach abroad in the 1970s. During this period, the Buccellati brand was sold to a holding company in China, and the brand subsequently expanded its worldwide presence. At the present, the Buccellati family has a worldwide presence with stores in Hong Kong, Japan, and Monte Carlo.
The Buccellati family company continues to produce high-quality handmade jewelry. Its pieces often feature engraved gold, and are found in exclusive boutiques around the world. Gianmaria Buccellati’s jewelry is not only beautiful, but it also retains contemporary tastes. So, whether you’re looking for an elegant dress or a stunning pair of earrings, this exhibition will satisfy your needs.
Lucretia Buccellati
Lucretia Buccellati, the first woman to design jewelry, is renowned for her distinctive style. Designed with a unique texture and color palette, her jewelry evokes the look of textured gold fabric or honeycomb. Its distinctive design also makes use of multiple metals, such as silver and gold, to create a unique look. Buccellati jewelry has become a part of the Italian culture and is sought after by collectors and celebrities alike.
During her time studying jewelry design in New York, Lucretia worked part-time for Buccellati in New York. In 2013, the Buccellatis sold 67 percent of the company to Cressida Capital Partners. The company expanded internationally, opening stores in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Paris. Lucretia Buccellati’s sexy collections are influenced by nature, art history, and classicism.
Gianmaria Buccellati, the second woman to design for the Buccellati Jewelry House, also contributed to the family business. Gianmaria was a connoisseur of metals and stones and incorporated these elements into her designs. The Buccellati family has a proud tradition of engraving jewelry, and her style is distinctive and elegant. The Buccellati brand has a long history of excellence in jewelry making, and is now among the most highly-rated designer brands in the world.
The Centennial Celebration of Buccellati spanned the past century, and included a retrospective exhibition and auction at Sotheby’s Paris. Today, Buccellati is recognized worldwide for its blend of Italian history and style, from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. The company’s design philosophy is close to its heritage and includes contemporary elements. A Buccellati watch is an iconic example of the exquisite craftsmanship of Italian jewelry.
Lucretia Buccellati was born in Milan and trained in the family’s family business. She is a skilled goldsmith who blended yellow gold with white gold to create unique designs. In her jewelry, Buccellati employed the technique of “rigato” etched finish, which involves engraving parallel lines into the metal’s surface. This technique creates a regal decorative backdrop for the central rosette and maximizes the brilliance of the inlaid stones.
Tradition-based design
The traditions of Italian jewels have inspired the design of Buccellati pieces. The brand is rooted in Milan, Italy, and features an artistic blend of high-end design and Italian splendor. Gianmaria Buccellati took inspiration from the Medici’s commissioned pietre dure chalices to create a series of “precious objects.” His designs begin with clear crystal bases, which are then adorned with gold and precious stones. These objects were designed to be worn for pleasure rather than for sale.
While most pieces were designed by the Buccellati family, modern influences have shaped the company’s current collection. Buccellati is celebrating its centennial anniversary by handpicking 200 pieces from its archives and presenting them at Sotheby’s Paris in October. This collection highlights the Buccellati brand’s heritage, as well as pieces created especially for D’Annunzio. The Buccellati family’s collections have won awards from leading international jewellery exhibitions.
The history of Buccellati jewelry goes back generations, as it descends from the great Renaissance artists Benvenuto Cellini, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Bassio Bandinelli. These Italian jewelers believed that the act of fashioning precious objects is essential to the creation of universal art. Their jewelry reflects their aesthetic, and they find inspiration in anything and everything. They are a beacon of quality in this day and age.
In addition to incorporating Renaissance elements into their designs, Buccellati has a strong focus on classic Italian engraving techniques. He engraves gold with ancient tools, resulting in hand-engraved patterns. The resulting jewelry often looks like luxurious fabric or woven silk. Buccellati has a small studio that employs both young and old gold-workers. This allows for seamless integration of centuries of tradition with modern designs.
Mario Buccellati’s son Gianmario took over the business in 1965, and began working at age sixteen. He mastered the full range of traditional jewelry making techniques and sought to distinguish himself from his father’s work. Today, Buccellati jewelry is sold all over the world and has even been featured in museums and galleries. That’s the history of Buccellati. So, it’s no surprise that the brand has continued to flourish and expand its international presence.
Unique hallmark
Mario Buccellati was born in Ancona, Italy, in 1891. In 1903, he began working as a jewelry apprentice in Milan. When World War I broke out, he was sent to fight, but returned in 1918 and started a jewelry business of his own. This story is a great testament to the quality and design of Buccellati jewelry. In 1919, he opened his own flagship store in Milan and established himself as the “Prince of Goldsmiths.”
Designed over four decades, Buccellati pieces are still unique in their engravings and textures. Many of their pieces are handcrafted and use very little machinery, making them uniquely Italian. Many pieces feature naturalistic motifs and gemstones. The Buccellati jewelry dynasty’s designs are still in production, and the Buccellati brand is one of Italy’s most prestigious.
The renowned Milan-based Buccellati jewelry house is expanding in China. In December 2016, the Gansu Gangtai Group purchased 85 per cent of the company’s stock. Chinese royalty have taken notice of Buccellati’s designs, and local guests have even bought PS50,000 gold cuffs. The designs are not only beautiful, but also affordable, and the heirloom quality is still intact.
The Buccellati jewelry dynasty is still rooted in the family’s passion for excellence in jewelry making. Mario Buccellati’s great-granddaughter, Lucrezia, spearheads the jewelry lines that draw inspiration from famous artwork. The Buccellati jewelry line continues to cater to a younger audience, but still boasts the fine craftsmanship of the past. So whether you’re looking for a timeless piece, the Buccellati jewelry line will surely be the perfect choice for you.