Jewels! Conferences in Milan and Rome

People have always adorned themselves: the first jewels date back to pre-Palaeolithic and were made out of stones, bones, teeth, fish bones or shells. It is therefore clear the desire to stand out, showing off physical strength and talent, in hunting, fishing, and, not least, the desire to be protected by one or more talismans or good-luck charms.  The first decorated jewels date back to the Bronze Age, and, by using metal-working techniques, they became more elaborated and harmonious.
All ancient people, among which the Ancient Egyptians, which started working gold around 2500 B.C., made ornaments with a central role in religious ceremonies, and beautiful gold, silver and precious stones jewels. In the middle of the 15th century, the profession of the jeweller stopped being linked exclusively to the sacred and regal jewels production, while in the Renaissance, as also a consequence of the travels of the merchants towards the Far East and the New World, the desire to wear jewels, gems and extremely expensive pearls increased enormously. Slowly, the request for jewels started to spread also among the upper classes.  The 17th century was marked by the spread of diamonds, while in the 18th century the most peculiar models were abandoned in favour of more sober lines: the Empire style.
During the following century, the use of jewels spread also among the middle class, and we owe to Queen Victoria and her love for jewels their popularity and the use of sentimental jewels (also mourning ones). Between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century Art Nouveau characterized jewellery too, while in the 1920s, Art Deco proposed once again geometrical, rigorous and very refined lines with a predilection for platinum and white gold.  The economic crisis and the war marked the 1930s and 1940s: yellow gold got back to the top and gems were used together with synthetic gemstones, semiprecious, such as tourmaline and quartzes, and precious stones such as lapis lazuli, turquoises and malachite. 

At present, the way people buy jewels has radically changed: the large number of clients and the widespread consumerism favoured quantity to the detriment of quality. The huge number of brands standardized the market, and the consumer does no longer buy what fits him/her, but what is “fashionable”... alas! Such an approach, unfortunately, does not usually imply a quality purchase.  As a consequence of these considerations, we thought about organizing two meetings, in Rome and in Milan, to chitchat about jewellery current situation, hoping to be of some help to those who want to sell and buy a piece of jewellery with satisfaction and in full awareness.   

MILANO, Palazzo Serbelloni - 24 febbraio, ore 15.30
ROMA, Hotel de Russie - 3 marzo, ore 15.30