Whether intricate and ornate or bold and simple, gold jewelry from Italy embodies prestige and luxury and represents the highest quality and stunning elegance.
It is common, in-fact almost habitual, that Italians seek to own and wear the most opulent gold jewellery pieces that they can afford to showcase their overall personal presentation and social status. This fixation on gold resonates with people with Italian identities more broadly.
The gold used in Italian gold jewelry is of the highest caliber, often referred to as "18 karat" or "750." This means that the gold is composed of 75% pure gold mixed with other metals such as silver, copper, or palladium to enhance its strength and durability.
Italian culture has long held wedding jewellery in the highest regard. In the 3rd century AD, iron was displaced as wedding band material by gold and silver, and today the precious metals are still used by Bulgari as a symbol of strength and an abundance and richness of love.
If you are looking to buy gold jewellery in Italy then no place could ever beat Vicenza. Vicenza is the Italian and indeed world capital of gold jewellery making.
With more than 8,000 metric tons, the U.S. gold reserve has almost as much as the next three biggest gold reserves combined. The next three countries with the most gold in reserve are Germany, Italy, and France, which have 3,355 metric tons, 2,452 metric tons, and 2,437 metric tons of gold respectively.
Italy is the world leader in gold jewelry, and these wearable masterpieces are often made using Italian gold from the region of Vicenza, known as the country's gold capital. Italian gold is renowned around the world for its distinct color and quality, and most Italian gold is 18 karats or higher.
Today, the cornicello is often worn as jewelry in Italy, the red horn charm is a symbol of hope and good luck. It is said to repel against the malocchio (evil eye) and promote good fortune. In addition to jewlery you can also find the cornicello charm hanging in peoples houses, above doorways or outside a window.
Il corno portafortuna (The good luck horn)
Perhaps the most common symbol to ward off bad luck is the Italian corno, also referred to as a cornetto (but be careful - it's not the one you eat for breakfast!). They represent strength and good fortune.
Italian Horn Charm in Gold
It doesn't get more Italian than our Italian horn charm! A "corno" or "cornetto" is Italian for "horn" or "little horn" and is an Italian amulet worn for good luck and protection from harm. DelBrenna's Italian horn charm features our beloved twist design for a little extra Italian style.
Completely pure gold isn't practical to use for most purposes, since it's too soft. However, if you're curious, there are some countries that produce gold that's as close to pure as possible. The country with the purest gold in the world is Switzerland, a country known for paying attention to quality.
The exchange rate makes it quite expensive!! Gold is a commodity that is traded world-wide at the same price. If it was cheaper in Italy, everyone would go to Italy to buy it, and the price would go up.
One of the world's most well-known Gold jewellery producers, with over 10,000 companies and 40,000 employed in the trade, Italy is home to numerous jewellery companies and has one of the world's most renowned jewellery houses - Bulgari.
The wearing of Italian gold bracelets is a sign of character and confidence; a means of expressing personality. Italian gold bracelets also convey aesthetic elegance and a sense of pleasure, for the wearer and for those who admire the bracelet.
Italian culture is fashion but jewelry is also a big part in Italian culture, gold necklaces, sterling silver are often bought at a young age with jewelry being given as presents for birthdays and communions. Creativity and Passion goes way back!
The emblem of the Italian Republic is characterised by three elements: the star, the cog-wheel, and olive and oak branches. The olive branch symbolises the nation's will for peace, embracing both internal concord and international brotherhood.
Many Italian New Year practices are aimed at bringing good luck and wealth in the coming year. For instance, both men and women wear undergarments of red, a color long thought to symbolize fertility and fortune.
Today, the Cornicello remains a popular symbol in Italy and among Italian-Americans, and it is still often given as a gift to protect against the evil eye, evil spirits and bad luck. It is normally worn as a piece of jewelry, especially by those of Italian descent but is also popular for many Americans that are not.
Trinacria – the three-legged symbol of Sicily
The name Trinacria also refers to a symbol that represents Sicily and its culture. It consists of a winged head of Medusa, a mythological creature with snakes for hair, surrounded by three bent legs and, occasionally, three ears of wheat.
The 'corna' or horned hand can be made by a hand gesture and is often seen as a pendant or as a charm in Sicily, Naples and Calabria. Worn as a necklace the cornicello necklaces and hand charms are symbols of good luck. The hand gesture can also be used by people in Italy as a superstitious sign to repel misfortune.
"Perfetto!” — “Perfect!” Sometimes, there can be true poetry behind a gesture, which is the case with the gesture used to communicate perfetto! (“perfect!”). The thumb and index finger form a ring, with the other three fingers fanned out.
In Italy, where it's called “malocchio”, the red cornicello is the most popular anti-Evil Eye charm. The earliest surviving evidence of this belief comes from ancient Mesopotamia (modern southeast Turkey/Syria/Iraq) in the form of incantations, eye-shaped amulets and references to the dangerous glance of the gods.
“Traditional Balsamic Vinegar DOP has now become known as Black Gold,” explains Francesco, “because of its dark color and its cost in both time and money.” While the main attractions for tourism in Emilia-Romagna, also known as the Motor Valley, remain fast cars and slow food, the fascinating world of balsamic vinegar ...
For example, an Italian gold jewelry piece is real is if it says 14K. However, this means that it only contains around 58% gold and then 42% other alloyed metals. Always be sure to look for the appropriate hallmark on the inside of the piece to ensure authenticity.
A cornicello (Italian pronunciation: [korniˈtʃɛllo]), cornetto (Italian for 'little horn' / 'hornlet'; [korˈnetto]), corno (Italian for 'horn"'), or corno portafortuna (Italian for 'horn that brings luck') is an Italian amulet or talisman worn to protect against the evil eye (or malocchio [maˈlɔkkjo] in Italian) and ...