Italian Gold Jewelry: Make a Statement with this Exquisite Metal
Italian mastery is known worldwide for its high-quality design and craftsmanship, a reputation that continues with treasured gold. Italian gold jewelry comes from renowned goldsmiths and artisans who produce beautiful jewelry with time-tested techniques. If you're considering adding to your jewelry collection with Italian pieces, discover what makes gold from Italy different from the rest.
What is Italian Gold Jewelry?
Italian gold generally meets high purity benchmarks and standards. Many pieces you'll find are 14kt or 18kt gold. This means that 14 or 18 of the 24 parts in the item are gold, and the remaining ten or six parts come from other metals. While Italian gold can technically come from any part of the country, the majority comes from several cities well-known for jewelry production: Arezzo, Florence, Milan, Torre del Greco, Valenza, and Vicenza.
In terms of the actual gold, nothing separates it from gold found around the world. The distinguishing features of Italian gold jewelry come from the handiwork and artisanship of each design. Italian culture reveres jewelry making as an art form, with families often passing this skill through the generations. This type of training leads to timeless pieces created with reliable and exquisite techniques.
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Our Office in Arezzo, Italy
Here at Ross-Simons, we're extremely proud of our in-depth knowledge of and experience with Italian jewelry. We have a very special asset to help us achieve our level of expertise—our team at our office in Arezzo, Italy. Together, we curate a gorgeous collection of the finest Italian jewelry, at prices you can afford.
By working side by side with the Italian manufacturers and designers on a daily basis, our team has the opportunity to see the product firsthand and to tailor collections our customers will love. We're very familiar with our customer's expectations, having learned over the years that they want something reminiscent of the country of Italy—unique and beautiful.
Arezzo, Italy is one of the most renowned cities in the world for its expert goldsmiths and artisans. The silver and gold factories carry on longstanding legacies of family-owned businesses, while investing in the newest technologies to craft next-level designs. Having this international office gives us direct access to the best sources of inspiration and the most impressive skills. The captivating muse of historical buildings, on-trend fashion and exceptional paintings at every turn encourages our expert design team to create authentic styles. Our Italian office also allows us to accelerate the design process and ensure superior quality in every piece.
From our exclusive Andiamo line and our handblown Murano glass pieces to timeless cameos and colorful enamel, we offer a variety of world-class made-in-Italy styles you can't find anywhere else. We invite you to explore the joy of Italian jewelry with Ross-Simons.
History of Italian Gold
The history of gold in Italy dates back to its roots as a civilization in Before Common Era (BCE) times. The features we now identify as Italian are visible when you look at jewelry from the Roman empire. At that time, jewelry artisans combined techniques and design features from northern Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of Europe. Leaders used gold as a status symbol and often chose to wear highly detailed pieces with high-quality yellow gold and bold gemstones. Pendants, chain necklaces, and earrings were popular styles during this time.
These trends flourished throughout the Renaissance and beyond, leading to the designs that consumers know and love today. During this period, the demand for gold items expanded rapidly. Artists began training as goldsmiths to meet this need while maintaining the high-quality standards set by royal families.
As you look through the history of Italian gold, you see many names of famous goldsmiths and jewelers. Some have set the bar high for jewelers and defined the trends that set Italian jewelry apart today. The most widely known Italian goldsmiths are Fornuto Pio Castellani, Sotirios Voulgaris, and Mario Buccellati.
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Identifying Italian Gold Jewelry
When shopping for American gold, you look for markings like 14K and 18K. However, other countries mark the gold content of their pieces differently. Creations with 14kt gold bear a 585 marking, while 18kt gold has a 750 marking and 24k gold has a 999 marking. This indicates how many pieces out of 1,000 are gold. This correlates with the standard karat markings. A 14kt piece features 14 of 24 total gold components, for a percentage of 58.3%, which is rounded up to 58.5% for a 585 rating.
Look for these markings on Italian gold jewelry to distinguish between fraudulent and genuine pieces. A "14K Italy" mark is often a sign of forged Italian gold, as "karat" markings are not generally used on Italian designs.
In terms of style, many characteristics set Italian jewelry apart. First, you may notice an abundance of link bracelets and necklaces. Italian jewelers have worked throughout the centuries on new and innovative ways to create distinguished, timeless chains that withstand daily wear. This includes everything from simple chain links to tightly interwoven crisscross chains. Italian jewelry often features intricate details that make you look a bit closer, like diamond-cut rings with aesthetically pleasing geometric markings that capture the light at every angle.
Other pieces give the nod to Italy's long, rich history with classic symbols and designs. You may see this in styles like family crest rings, stamped pendant necklaces, and religious motifs.
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Different Types of Italian Jewelry
Those interested in Italian gold can find it represented in chain-link bracelets, hoop earrings, statement rings, and other types of jewelry. Many Italian jewelers create an array of bracelets, from single-link chains to bangles and charm bracelets. More ornate bracelet options include those with interlocking chains that give added weight and shine to the piece.
There are also many options for Italian chain necklaces. Common styles include paperclip chains, pendants, personalized items, religious imagery, and charm necklaces. While many forms rely solely on gold for their shine and value, other types feature polished stones and rare gems for added color.
A beautiful array of Italian gold rings is available in all varieties of styles. Those drawn to the ornate fashion of older Italian pieces often select rings with intricate cutouts, mesh designs, and religious charms or themes. Additionally, this type of jewelry also has many simple, classic golden rings. A classic gold loop with a beautiful center stone or delicate design adds flair to any ensemble. Enamel rings bring vibrant colors and detailed designs to Italian statement rings.
Those interested in hoop earrings or other styles of Italian earrings have an abundance of choices. The intricate details found in many Italian chains are also prominent in earrings, creating tight knots and loops in hoop and stud earrings. Drop earrings with delicate filigree and lace patterns or gemstones that dangle are another popular choice in today's jewelry scene.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Italian gold produced?
This type of gold comes from anywhere in Italy, although some cities are more well-known for their thriving gold industry. Areas with large gold mines include Piedmont, Sardinia, and Pestarena. While gold may originate in these regions, goldsmiths in a wide variety of Italian cities mold it into beautiful jewelry designs.
How does Italian gold compare in cost to gold from other countries?
Prices are comparable to gold from other countries. Differences in pricing are often due to tariffs and additional taxes placed on imported gold. It is the craftsman and artistic details that contribute to pricing variances.
How can you style Italian gold jewelry?
Due to its high-quality workmanship, Italian gold jewelry is often the star of the outfit. This is particularly true if you select a piece with detailed accents or other attention-grabbing features. People allow their Italian treasures to shine by pairing them with simple pieces in a similar color scheme or design. In some cases, individuals altogether forgo other choices of jewelry to focus attention on their Italian ware.
What types of gold does Italian jewelry use?
Yellow gold is the most common option found in Italian designs. However, there are also many pieces with rose and white gold. Some sellers choose to make a statement with two-tone pieces that pair yellow with white or rose gold. This creates contrast and allows the jewelry to become the focus of the outfit.
Italian gold jewelry offers quality workmanship and timeless design features that match a wide range of personal styles. Each piece tells a story and brings a new layer of complexity to the wearer's jewelry collection.
