Buccellati specialises in engraving techniques to create special effects for its jewellery
The Italian fine jeweller uses engraving techniques such as Rigato, Telato and Modellato to create dazzling effects in its products
No other brand quite embraces Italian refinement like Buccellati does. Founded in 1919 in Milan by Mario Buccellati, who earned the nickname “The Prince of Goldsmiths”, the brand is known for its commitment to excellence. Since the opening of its first boutique, it has expanded its presence with stores in major cities around the world, including Dubai, New York, Paris, London, Beverly Hills, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
Buccellati first introduced its exclusive Italian designs to the Hong Kong market in 1970, when it opened its first store. This year, the brand continued its commitment to Asia’s world city with a new store, which opened in Harbour City, one of the city’s busiest shopping hubs, last month.
The secret of the brand’s popularity and longevity is its focus on heritage, craftsmanship and passion.
Take for example, its work with gold, which has been one of the foundations of Buccellati since the very beginning. Mario Buccellati developed his understanding of goldsmithing during his apprenticeship at Beltrami & Besnati, a famed jeweller and goldsmith company. Since then, Buccellati’s designs have consistently focused on highlighting traditional Italian goldsmithing techniques that have roots in the Italian Renaissance, a time when refinement and beauty were at their peak.
One has to look no further than the brand’s iconic Macri collection to see how its heritage and passion for craftsmanship have been translated into real life.
The Macri collection features the brand’s signature Rigato engraving technique, where parallel lines are engraved into the surface of a precious metal using a sharp engraving tool called a burin. Using a burin is no small feat, as it demands an enormous amount of deftness as well as talent; the exact angle must be used when making a cut in the metal, as going off by a single degree could ruin the work.
However, when successful, the end effect is a surface that mimics a textile look that also effortlessly catches the light to show off a luxurious sheen.