BUCCELLATI JEWELERS

Buccellati is a luxury jewelry brand known for its exceptional craftsmanship and intricate designs. The brand was founded by Mario Buccellati in Milan, Italy in 1919. Mario was known for his skill as a goldsmith and was inspired by the Renaissance art and architecture of his native city.

Buccellati is renowned for its signature style of handcrafted jewelry that combines ancient techniques with modern designs. The brand is known for its textured surfaces, intricate filigree work, and use of precious materials such as gold, silver, and precious gemstones.

Some of Buccellati's most famous works include the "Honeycomb" collection, which features a unique pattern of interlocking gold circles, and the "Ramage" collection, which features delicate gold leaves and branches. Buccellati has also designed pieces for several famous clients, including the Italian royal family and various celebrities.

In addition to jewelry, Buccellati also creates luxury home decor items, such as silverware and picture frames, using the same techniques and attention to detail as their jewelry pieces.

Buccellati continues to be a family-owned and operated business, with several boutiques located around the world. Their commitment to exquisite craftsmanship and unique design has earned them a reputation as one of the world's leading luxury jewelry brands.

History-

After returning from war in 1918 to find that the company he had dedicated himself to since the age of twelve had been sold, Mario Buccellati (1891-1965) took matters into his own hands and decided to repurchase it. This led to the transformation of Beltrami e Besnati, a prestigious jewelry firm in Milan where Mario had apprenticed as a goldsmith, into Mario Buccellati in 1919. The brand set up shop in the city center on Largo Santa Margherita, supplying Milan's high society with exquisite jeweled crowns, necklaces, cocktail rings quickly establishing a loyal following. In 1921, Mario was invited to showcase his jewelry at the palazzo in Madrid, where he was supported by the Spanish Royal family. By 1925, he had opened a second boutique in Rome's Via Condotti, followed by another in Florence, solidifying his success in the Italian luxury jewelry market.

Mario Buccellati's jewelry was characterized by his mastery of gold work, a craft he was deeply fascinated by and sought to explore to its fullest potential. He delved into research on age-old techniques and experimented with antique-style tools to bring his design visions to life. The Renaissance era had a profound influence on his work, particularly the lavish fabrics, delicate damasks, and intricate Venetian laces, which he aimed to replicate in his jewelry pieces. His commitment to the art of engraving was unparalleled, striving to imbue every inch of gold with intricate designs and a range of engraving styles. He sought to create the same sense of weightlessness, fluidity, and texture in metal that was typically associated with fabric. No surface was left untouched as he elevated the art of engraving to new heights in his pursuit of crafting the most exquisite and unparalleled jewelry pieces.

At the young age of 14, Gianmaria Buccellati (1929- ) started working alongside his father, learning the ropes of both the business and the goldsmithing craft. When Mario Buccellati passed away in 1965, Gianmaria took on the responsibility of managing the workshops and overseeing the creative direction of the company. Alongside his brother Luca, he focused on expanding the business in the United States, while his brothers Lorenzo and Federico managed the existing shops in Italy. However, disputes eventually arose, leading Gianmaria to break away from the family business and establish Gianmaria Buccellati boutiques in the Far East, starting with Hong Kong in 1970, as well as in the Middle East and other parts of Europe. In 1979, the brand became the first Italian jeweler to establish a presence in the iconic Place Vendôme in Paris, joining the ranks of established French houses such as Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Cartier.

When Gianmaria Buccellati was the president of the Italian Gemological Institute, he emphasized not only the beauty of the jewellery but also the quality of the gemstones used. In 1978, his son Andrea joined him in the business and the father-son duo worked together to expand the company globally. In 2000, the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. held an exhibition that celebrated the work of Mario and Gianmaria Buccellati, and in 2004, Gianmaria unveiled the Animalier collection. The collection, which includes unique brooches inspired by Gianmaria's love of baroque pearls, features a variety of animals with intricate details.

In 2011, the Mario Buccellati and Gianmaria Buccellati brands merged into a single entity, Buccellati. The majority stake of the company was sold to the Italian equity fund Clessidra in 2013. Andrea became the president of the company, and he is supported by his brother Gino, who manages the silverware production, and his sister Maria Cristina, who oversees the PR side of the business. Lucrezia, Andrea's daughter, joined the family business in 2014 and became the co-creative director, the first female designer in the company's nearly 100-year history. She aims to continue the tradition of creating fine, handcrafted jewellery that the Buccellati brand is renowned for, and to ensure that her great grandfather's legacy will endure for many years to come.