Valenza jewellery.
Valenza is a small, inconspicuous Italian town on the border of the provinces of Piedmont and Lombardy. The town is small and not rich in sights. The Romanesque-style Santa Maria Maggiore Cathedral, a few inconspicuous churches, cafes and shops. However, Valenza is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Hidden in the deserted streets are hundreds of workshops that handcraft exclusive jewellery. Valenza is the jewellery capital of Italy, which is well disguised. Jewellery in Italy, several millennia ago, was still engaged in Etruscans. Even then they were actively decorating themselves, which is confirmed by numerous excavations.
Now Italy ranks third in the world in the production of jewellery. India and China overtook it not so long ago, but in terms of design the Italians are certainly unrivalled. Two-thirds of all gold jewellery produced in the country is exported to all regions of the globe. The rest is sold within the country. Young jewellers are trained at the professional school “Vincenzo Melchiorre”, where experienced masters pass on to the younger generation the secrets of their craft, accumulated over the centuries.
About 70% of all precious stones imported to Italy are settled in Valenza. Precious and semi-precious stones such as pearls, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, aquamarines, tourmalines and topazes are used. Such treasures take your breath away. About a third of the city’s population works in the jewellery industry. By and large, Valenza is a big factory for processing gold and precious stones. There are some large enterprises here, but mostly they are small firms or family contractors employing three to five people. Jewellery shops are located throughout the town and there are numerous workshops in the neighbourhood. You don’t need to be an expert to know that this jewellery is unique, original and has a high standard of quality.
World famous companies place their orders in Valenza’s factories – Shopard, Bvlgari, Cartier, Rolex. Pasquale Bruni himself learned the basics of jewellery art in Valenza’s workshops. And the famous Damiani jewellery house was founded in 1924 by Enrico Grassi Damiani here, in his hometown of Valenza.
Many Italian jewellers started their journey into the profession in this town, where the greatest Italian masters lived and live. By combining form and colour with ease, they infuse them with real emotion. And these masterpieces can only be compared to Italian opera. Just as beautiful and unique.
You can visit the jewellery workshops and shops of Valenza.
