Buccellati

Buccellati Holding Italia is an Italian jewellery and watch company. It was formed in 2011 through the merger of two previous luxury brands ''Mario Buccellati'' and ''Gianmaria Buccellati'', the names of two master goldsmiths who were father and son. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss holding company Richemont.

History

In 1919, Mario Buccellati opened his first enterprise and, after the establishment of stores in Milan, Rome and Florence, began the development of his overseas business by opening a new store on Fifth Avenue in New York in 1954 and another in Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida in 1958. In 1949, Mario Buccellati was commissioned to create an icon by Pope Pius XII for Princess Margaret to mark the extraordinary power of the first visit of a British Royal to Vatican City in hundreds of years. This magnificent work of art can be admired today at the Chianciano Art Museum in Tuscany.

In 1965, after the death of Mario, the management of the firm was conducted by four of his five sons. In 1971, the new brand ''Gianmaria Buccellati'' was launched by one of Mario's sons, who started a separate business from his brothers, and in 2011 came to an agreement with his relatives for the brand ''Buccellati'', then ''Buccellati Holding Italia'', reshaping the company.

Gianmaria Buccellati, son of founder Mario Buccellati, continued the family tradition by designing jewelry pieces that began as life-size drawings made by hand. His designs were often unique, with some produced in limited editions. His work drew inspiration from nature and Renaissance architecture, frequently incorporating elements such as baroque pearls and detailed hand-engraving, which gave the metal surfaces a fabric-like texture.

In December 2016, China's Gansu Gangtai Holding Group bought a controlling 85% share in Buccellati.

In September 2019, Compagnie Financière Richemont acquired 100% of Buccellati from Gangtai. In the same year, the Maison celebrated its hundredth anniversary since its foundation that took place in 1919 with the opening of the first boutique in Milan, Largo Santa Margherita, next to the famous La Scala Theatre. The acquisition did not have an impact on Richemont's operating results in that fiscal year.

Expansion

Gianmaria set up shops in Paris on Place Vendome, London, Moscow, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hong Kong, Milan via Monte Napoleone, Costa Smeralda, Capri, Elba, Beverly Hills in Rodeo Drive, Aspen and Sydney; Gianmaria has been given several awards for his work as a goldsmith and entrepreneur. In 2011, after the trade association of the brands family, the company began to explore new markets. In 2013, the investment fund ''Clessidra'' took over the majority of the company's capital to further expand the business through owned shops showing only the label ''Buccellati''.Baker Tilly Revisa

Bibliography

*''Heritage Fine Jewelry & Timepieces'' by Jill Burgum, Katie Pierce Johnston and James L. Halperin
*Sylvia Luzzatto, ''Buccellati: arte senza tempo'', 5 Continents Editions, 200

*Martina Corgnati, ''Mario Buccellati: Prince of Goldsmiths'', Rizzoli International Publications, Incorporated, 199

*Martina Corgnati, ''Mario Buccellati: storie di uomini e gioielli'', Leonardo Arte, 199

*Vincent-Emmanuel Ragot, ''Buccellati'', Perseus Distribution Services, 200

*Maria Cristina Buccellati, ''Buccellati: arte in oro, argento e gemme'', Skira, 200

*M. Mosco, ''Art of jewelry and artists' jewels in the 20th century'', Giunti, 2001, pp. 20–21 and 168-179
*M. Amari, ''I musei delle aziende'', FrancoAngeli, 2001, pp. 239–242
*A. Mazzuca, ''I numeri uno del made in Italy'', Baldini Castoldi Dalai, 2005, pp. 66–67
*A. Testa, M. Garbuglia, ''Profilo Italia: Un Certo Stile Made in Italy'', Berenice, 1990, pp. 150–153
*M. Di Lorenzo, "Da Roma a New York l'impero del Principe dei gioiellieri", in ''Il Parlamento italiano'', VII (1959), n. 3–4, pp. 42 ss.;
*R. Bossaglia, "I gioielli di Gabriele D'Annunzio", in ''Bolaffi Arte'', November 1977, n. 74, suppl., pp. 40–47

Notes

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.buccellati.com

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Companies based in Milan
Italian jewellers
Jewellery companies of Italy
Jewellery retailers of Italy
Watch manufacturing companies of Italy
Italian brands
Luxury brands
2016 mergers and acquisitions