If extremely special Italian jewelry, preferably from an atelier that is relatively unknown in the United States, tops your Las Vegas jewelry shopping list, a newcomer to the Couture show might be the ticket. Gismondi 1754, a company that has been family-owned and operated since the 18th century, will have velvet rolls upon rolls filled with high jewelry pieces resplendent with emeralds, pink sapphires, and diamonds and some contemporary, ultraglamorous gold designs that look plucked from a 1970s-era Vogue fashion spread.
The Gismondi family and its jewelry business were born in Genoa, Italy; the firm is currently headquartered in Portofino. “I get so much of my inspiration from our seaside locations and the Riviera with its rich colors, textures, and architecture, but I am inspired everywhere I go in the world,” says company chief executive officer and creative director Massimo Gismondi.
The atelier and production facility is based in Valenza, Italy, which “truly represents the most important Italian district for high jewelry production in terms of settings, design, and realizing superior production with specialty stones for our collections and our exceptional one-of-a-kind pieces,” says Gismondi.
What sets its aesthetic apart from its industry peers? “Basically, we have classic designs in which the stone or stones is the star,” explains Gismondi. “Using various shape stones of different sizes, directions, and heights gives each piece a unique appearance. We tend to use the least amount of metal possible in our settings to create depth, light, illusion, and to allow for the experience of the stones in a more 360-degree perspective. This takes more time, effort, and cost to achieve, but it is a specialty of our pieces.”
Despite a robust presence with a number of eponymous boutiques across Europe, everywhere from Prague to Milan, Gismondi 1754 is carried stateside only at select Neiman Marcus stores and key specialty jewelry retailers. As such, the Couture show is an exciting opportunity for the brand to forge new connections with like-minded jewelers.
“From our time as designers of specialty pieces for the pope and the church in the 18th century through today, we combine our passion and old-world craftsmanship into our modern works,” says Gismondi. “Much like all of the houses a hundred years ago, we still use specialty techniques, but we add a contemporary touch and elements of surprise to each piece, often unexpected and always unique.”
Here’s a sneak peek at just a few must-see examples…
Top: Aura collection earrings in 18k gold and diamonds, $19,195. See all of Gismondi 1754’s newest collections at Lafite-321 at the Wynn Hotel during Couture 2019, May 30–June 3.
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