Elisa Piccini: «The aesthetic legacy is innate”

Can you recall the moment of your life when you decided to be a jewelry designer?

I am lucky because my uncle was an artist, not just a goldsmith engraver and he was also a collector of paintings and sculptures. A man who could be naturally charming in everything he did. Probably my “artistic” vision started thanks to him, even if I did not notice it at that time. I have always had a passion for painting and art and I have been raised in a creative environment and in a beautiful and vibrant city like Florence. So I decided to attend the most renowned school of gemology in the world, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in Los Angeles. The funny thing is that then, instead of just wearing jewels, a girl’s dream, I began to create them, giving shape to my inspiration. As a designer I am no longer the princess who wears jewels, but the one who creates special pieces and lets women feel like princesses.

Elisa Piccini and Mila Anufrieva

What does it mean for you to gather the aesthetic heritage of your family to build the future of Fratelli Piccini?

I feel very strongly the sense of belonging to my family and its great heritage. I am proud to be part of a family that made of its artistic qualities, professionalism and integrity its distinctive note. When you belong to something so relevant you must try to embrace this legacy and carry it on as best as possible, staying true to the principles that are the soul of our past. The aesthetic legacy is innate and I say this without false modesty. When you grow up in the midst of a family where art is part of daily life, you tend inevitably to look for the same aesthetic values all the time. My wish and my goal are to continue creating jewelry under the name of Fratelli Piccini. I hope our work and creativity will continue to stand out and Fratelli Piccini will continue to enjoy strong identity and appreciation worldwide.

Where do you find the inspiration for your artistic creations?

I am a curious person, I find inspiration from things, unexpected circumstances, and travels. The idea, the form you were looking for, at some point arrives and takes shape. I love colored stones, emeralds, rubies, sapphires.. I am fascinated by the diversity of the nuances of their color depending on where they come from and the latitude at which you look at them.

According to you what is the most valuable characteristic for a jewelry designer?

There are two key characteristics: the knowledge of technique and the artistic talent and lifeblood. The years at GIA refined my techniques as before I went there what happened was that I would create fabulous items on paper which were not feasible at the production stage. In the age of technology, the craftsmanship associated with advanced techniques is an incredible added value that allows you to surmount difficulties and leads to refinements and precision details not achievable with the use of technology alone. And of course craftsmanship is indeed the soul of any creation that aims for true excellence.