Italian Jewelry Boxes

The Italian people are vivacious, expressive, artistic and are passionate about life. Everything is art! Whether you're talking food, festivals, drama or art, every Italian is an artist, and the rendition and presentation are beloved traditions of celebration.

Italian women are elegant when it comes to fashion, and shopping for jewelry to accessorize is almost a hobby.

Italian jewelry has a rich and interesting history and the craftsmanship is world-renowned. Come with me and see why.

Fine Italian jewelry making is a centuries old traditional art, and Italian jewelers today are as passionate about their craft today as they were in the 1300's. In fact, classical Italian jewelry made today still reflects the influences of ancient civilizations encountered in the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Egypt and Greece were particularly influential.

Over the centuries, various designs and techniques of many cultures have been synthesized into the Italian jeweler's repertoire, producing the stunning creations you'll find in Italian jewelry design today.

Gold is still the metal of choice of many Italian jewelry designers. Techniques gleaned from Etruscan designs dating to the 9th century B.C. are still in use today. One famous Italian artisan, Pio Fortuna Castellani, is credited with reviving the Etruscan technique known as granulation, a particularly beautiful and unusual effect in gold work. The House of Castellani carries on this work today, passed down from Pio Fortuna. Granulated gold work is revered by jewelry connoisseurs and today's top Italian jewelry designers passionately craft their works of art for many eager customers. The granulation technique is signature to classical Italian jewelry.

Sterling silver is not neglected by the Italian jeweler. Necklaces, pendants, earrings, pins, hair ornaments and bracelets are some of the types of adornments you'll find. Italian jewelry has a centuries-acknowledged reputation for creative pieces of the best quality.

Even costume, everyday-type Italian jewelry reflects the creative design and vivid imagery with which every Italian seems to be blessed. Everyday Italian costume jewelry is often vividly colored, elaborate, or simply over sized. The word “flair” comes to mind when thinking of their designs. Any Italian jewelry piece is bound to be a trend setter.

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Rome. My daughter and I were shopping near the Vatican one evening. The shops were each a work of art in their own right, and the Italian jewelry shops were spectacular displays of true art! So beautiful were these pieces, it made you want to eat them!

If you can't visit Italy, here's the good news: you can take a virtual tour of Italian jewelry shops right from your computer. Italian jewelry websites are as artful as their brick-and-mortar counterparts, with high-quality images of this luscious jewelry. Go take a look for yourself!