About the Brand:
Aldo Cipullo is mostly known as a creator of the famous Cartier Love bracelet. However, he designed several iconic pieces, and his talent was appreciated by David Webb and Tiffany & Co.
His father was a costume jewelry maker, and Aldo worked as an apprentice at one of his workshops. But Cipullo’s ambition went further than Italy where he was born. After he turned 23, he moved to New York to study at The School of Visual Arts.
In 1969 Aldo Cipullo started to work for Cartier, and his glorious journey began. Very soon after Cipullo came up with the idea of Cartier Love bracelet. The new design made a big splash in the jewelry world. It was a completely new perspective of the classic look. There is a story behind creating Love bracelet. It says Cipullo was heartbroken at that time after a failed love affair. He wanted to lock in his memories as it was all he had left. Being fascinated by industrial features of New York City and all things hardware, he drew his first draft of the bracelet.
Another emblematic piece by Cipullo called Juste en Clou (Just a Nail) came up in 1971. The minimalist, wrapped around nail-looking gold bracelet was a great success. Today the yellow gold, rose gold and white gold Cartier Nail bracelet is still in production.
A few years later in 1974, despite all the success he gained being a Cartier designer, Cipullo opened his own shop. Freedom to create allowed him to embody all his whimsical ideas. His concept was making jewelry with purpose and meaning. He wanted his clients to wear jewelry day and night and that’s lead him to the functional design. In 1978 the American Gem Society invited Cipullo to create a collection using only gemstones native to the United States. It was another Cipuillo’s triumph. 31 items were made with Montana sapphires, Arkansas diamonds, and Arizona turquoise. Today the collection is displayed in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
During his bright yet not long enough career — he died being only 48 — Aldo Cipullo considered the role of the jewelry as to protect, communicate, and commemorate. His design communicates all these elements to the fullest.
About Vintage Jewelry:
Vintage jewelry is something we can talk about for days. Since the subject is that big and has multiple aspects to discuss, we’d like to focus on the most important parts of it. So, what is vintage jewelry? Why it’s so appealing? And how to buy your vintage jewelry online?
In the industry, different sellers and makers have different opinions on the time period when vintage jewels were made. Here at Nadine Krakov, we consider vintage as anything being made between 50 and 100 years ago. Therefore, all jewelry produced from 1930 to 1980 called vintage. This time frame is comprised of Art Deco , Retro and styles Mid-Century.
Why do we love vintage jewelry so much? It’s all about the quality of making and – of course – the look.
Vintage pieces were mostly made by hand or at least hand-finished while modern jewels are mainly cast. As the lifestyle back in the days was much slower, jewelry makers literally had more time in their hands. Skilled craftsmen honed their craft and reputation. They couldn’t allow a flimsy, poorly done piece to ruin that. Mass market jewelry didn’t exist at that time. Each little detail of a piece was executed thoughtfully and with the high quality in mind.
How to shop your vintage jewelry online? Ask questions about maker’s marks and hallmarks, request a video of the piece, and show it to your jeweler. The easiest way to be confident with your purchase is to find a trustworthy, reputable seller. And if you are happened to be in Beverly Hills area, just google “vintage jewelry near me”, find Nadine Krakov Collection store and stop by for a good chat with a sip of champagne.
