About Italian jewelry
Italian jewelry history
Italian jewelry style is deeply rooted in the history of the region. The beginning of it can be marked as far as 700 BC. What we consider today as the Italian style was impacted by the ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan cultures.
Italian jewelry of all time is mostly made of yellow gold. This metal has been favored the most by Italian makers. In the Etruscan region goldsmiths developed such processes as alloying and engraving, also the granulation method got perfected and became a signature. In the later Middle Ages the most sought-after jewelry pieces came from Vicenza and Florence. During the Renaissance era, the art of jewelry making was as much important as painting and architecture. Later, in the Baroque era, jewelry design shifted from bold and straight forward pieces to intricate and more detailed. Today Italian jewelry style and look depends on a certain maker. However, “made in Italy” jewelry always relates to luxurious lifestyle, timeless design and exquisite manufacturing.
Italian chains
Italy's chain production started somewhere back to the ancient times, as braided chains were found in Ur and Uppsala at the archaeological sites. They were crafted by using knitting technique and were precursors of the modern link chains.
It thanks to Italian makers, we have Figaro, Anchor and Spiga links today. Those links could be a result of reinvented and reimagined Catholic rosaries. In our time Italian gold chains are well-known for its durability and great design.
One of the Italian makers, UnoAErre, gave 18k gold Italian chain a worldwide fame in the 1980s. Gucci became a synonym of anchor chains. Tubogas design invented by Bulgari is iconic and used by many designers not only in chains but for making gold tubogas bracelets, earrings and rings.
Italian makers
So many great jewelry brands came from Italy, it's really challenging to mention just a few. Vhernier, Roberto Coin and of course Bulgari could be the first who come to mind when we think of the Italian makers. We also should mention Carlo Weingrill, a jewelry house from Verona. Their high-quality pieces have been sought after in the last few decades. The house has been family owned by four generations of jewelers. Passing family traditions of workmanship is another staple of Italian jewelry making. Italian cultural heritage, high-skilled makers and great quality materials keep going the never-ending popularity of Italian jewelry.
About vintage jewelry
Vintage jewelry is something we can talk about for days. For such a big subject with the multiple aspects to discuss, here 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 comprises of Art Deco, Retro and Mid-Century styles. Why do we love vintage jewelry so much? It's all about the quality of making and, of course, the aesthetic.
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.
All the above is especially important when you are looking for a vintage engagement ring. If you want to find a special, one-of-a-kind engagement ring, look no further because we’ve got you covered. Either it's a perfect diamond ring or a stunning color gemstone ring, we have a great variety to choose from.
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.
