Timeless Beauty: Hand Craftsmanship From Buccellati

Mario Buccellati opened the doors of his first jewelry store in the heart of Milan in 1919. Buccellati, who had mastered the art of traditional Italian goldsmithing during an apprenticeship at a leading Milanese goldsmith, intended from the outset to incorporate the same time-honored handcrafting skills into all his creations. Buccellati’s design sketches adorned the walls of his atelier, which was just a short distance away from Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala, and he built a clientele that included some of the city’s most prominent residents. 

Buccellati was dedicated to preserving the original handcrafting techniques, teaching the artisans in his workshop the fine skills necessary to achieve an extraordinary level of refinement. In doing so, he ensured that the ancestral Italian crafting traditions continued as the following generations of the Buccellati family led the company forward. 

 To this day, traditional Italian goldsmithing, artistry and craftsmanship remain the hallmarks of the brand. Every piece of Buccellati jewelry is entirely made in its workshops by hand, incorporating techniques that have been passed down in Italy for centuries.  

“The Buccellati style is an evolution born from its originator, from my grandfather, Mario, who left a very strong imprint on it,” said Andrea Buccellati, the brand’s Honorary President and Creative Director. “Subsequently, each generation has applied the working techniques, the design and the Buccellati style, reworking them in their own way while fully respecting the soul of the brand.”  

That soul, and the human touch, can be felt in every piece of jewelry that Buccellati makes to this day. The house’s iconic Macri collection is a case in point, incorporating the brand’s mastery of hand-engraving to create a rigato effect. The jewelry, which has very fine parallel lines painstakingly engraved onto its surface by a single craftsman, has a distinctive texture that captures the light in subtle reflections as its owner moves. The bracelets, earrings and pendants in the Macri collection also feature diamond accents set in star-shaped hand carved rosettes. 

Buccellati’s Opera collection features another traditional goldsmithing technique to create intricate tulle openwork. A signature style for the brand, the effect is achieved by hand-piercing a single sheet of gold, creating a pattern of tiny hexagonal cells. This exacting process, which results in a weightless sheer look similar to tulle fabric, requires extraordinary skill that takes years to master. The collection features rings, pendant necklaces and earrings crafted in white, yellow and pink gold, accented with a choice of diamonds, colored stones and enamel. The pendant necklaces’ supple chains, as with all Buccellati jewelry, are handcrafted with extraordinary finishing for exceptional comfort and beauty.   

The Hawaii collection is a further example of Buccellati’s intricate handcraftsmanship brought to life. The collection features interlocking circle elements, each of which is crafted by twisting fine gold threads. The collection was created by Mario Buccellati in the 1930s and is a “symbol of everlasting youth and elegance,” according to the brand. Bold, yet decidedly feminine, the Hawaii collection includes earrings, bracelets and necklaces crafted of white, pink and yellow gold. 

With its firm commitment to the finest handcrafting techniques including openworking, chaining, engraving and texturing, Buccellati has distinguished itself by its unwavering dedication to producing exquisite jewelry that stands the test of time.  

 The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for Buccellati.