It’s A Women’s World

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 as they were in the 1300s. 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, 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!

As far as I’m concerned, an outfit just isn’t complete without several great pieces of jewelry to top it off. I have tried many different styles of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings over the years, but hadn’t really found a look that suited me. Then I discovered Celtic jewelry and everything changed. I was hooked on Celtic jewelry immediately because it not only looked beautiful, but also allowed me to express my singular personality and help me stand out from the crowd.

There are many different styles of Celtic jewelry out there, so I’m always able to change up my look just enough for my liking. At first, I bought mass produced Celtic jewelry that I found at accessory stores at the mall. I liked these items because they were cheap enough for my budget, yet still looked good enough to get noticed by other people. Since this jewelry was so affordable, I was able to buy a lot of it without having to worry about the pieces getting lost, damaged or stolen, they would be easily replaceable.

Recently, my tastes in Celtic jewelry have changed quite a bit. The mass produced items that I used to buy just don’t cut it for me anymore. I’ve now developed an affinity for handmade Celtic jewelry and nothing less than that will suffice. I like the idea of wearing a truly unique ring or anklet, and knowing that there’s no exact copy of my Celtic jewelry out there. I first bought handmade Celtic jewelry at an outdoor market, and was very impressed by both the design and quality. Since the market was just a temporary setup, I would have to start looking for other places to buy similar handmade pieces.

I didn’t even bother going back to the mall because I already knew what I would find there. Instead, I checked the Internet to see who was selling handmade Celtic jewelry and at what prices. I discovered plenty of websites and auction sites that carried exactly what I was looking for, so definitely would be able to keep adding to my collection. The only thing left for me to do was settle on a couple of specific jewelers whose craftsmanship and artistry appealed to me and then place my orders.  As things stand now, I can’t imagine wearing anything other than handmade Celtic jewelry. I just love all my beautiful crosses, watches, and rings, and wouldn’t ever give them up for anything else!