Picchiotti to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with L’Anfiteatro

To celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2017, Picchiotti has created L’Anfiteatro, an 8.05-carat ruby ring inspired by a classic amphitheatre and designed by founder and CEO, Giuseppe Picchiotti. The ring will debut at Baselworld 2017, the World Watch and Jewellery Show in Basel, Switzerland slated between March 23-30.

Picchiotti will also unveil its 2017 Collection featuring Picchiotti Signature Pieces and the company’s new and innovative Xpandable™ Collection of rings and bracelets.

L’Anfiteatro - the Picchiotti 50th Anniversary Ring is reminiscent of an amphitheatre, with three fans of “seats” (baguette diamonds) looking over the “leading actor” (the oval ruby). Weighing over 8 carats, the ruby is an exceptionally beautiful stone that has been classified as entirely natural, with no heat-treatment or color enhancement, which is very rare for a ruby of this size. “It is the perfect stone, the one I had been searching for to create this special piece that marks this special milestone,” said Mr. Picchiotti, “a piece for the true connoisseur, an heirloom worthy of an exceptional collection.”

“For our 50th Anniversary I wanted to create a jewel that captured the essence of Picchiotti style and craftsmanship,” said Mr. Picchiotti, “while keeping the spirit of innovative creativity very much alive and moving forward. I believe L’Anfiteatro is all that and more, a remarkable ruby, and a setting deeply infused with the essence of Picchiotti style.”

An excerpt from “Picchiotti: The First Fifty Years,” a new book by jewelry historian Vivienne Becker: “The 50th anniversary ring, exuberant, exciting yet sublimely elegant, is, Giuseppe feels, the most spectacular illustration of Picchiotti’s refined, rarefied hand-craftsmanship. Inspired by a classical amphitheatre, the soaring shape of the three fan elements lined with baguette diamonds evokes the image of rows of seats overlooking the central stage, in which stands the leading actor, the protagonist--in this case a breathtakingly beautiful ruby of 8.05 carats, bathed in the diamond limelight of row upon row of specially re-cut baguette diamonds, meticulously set on the curving, soaring fan shaped motifs. Giuseppe searched far and wide for the ultimate gemstone to celebrate 50 years of Picchiotti’s gem artistry and craftsmanship. He found just what he was looking for in this exceptional ruby, from Mozambique, a brilliant new stone of extraordinary vivacity and intense colour, with a light, bright and clean crystal structure. Even more remarkable, the ruby has been classified as entirely natural, with no heat-treatment or colour enhancement, very rare for a ruby of this size. It is a gemstone with a strong personality and imposing presence, with charm, grace and charisma. A true connoisseur‘s gem, a natural treasure, a future heirloom, worthy of a princely collection, and now at the heart of a dynamically different Picchiotti creation that honours the past and looks to the future.”

In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, Picchiotti will also unveil PICCHIOTTI: THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS, by esteemed jewelry historian and contributing editor for the Financial Times, Vivienne Becker. The 248-page book will also debut at Baselworld 2017. Susan Jacques, President and CEO of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), has written the foreword.

Mr. Picchiotti added, “On the occasion of our 50th Anniversary, I am thrilled to unveil this glorious book by Vivienne Becker, the story of our family’s half-century of love and achievement.”

PICCHIOTTI: THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS traces the journey of Giuseppe Picchiotti, from his birth in Valenza, Italy’s jewelry center, to his position today as the head of a classic Italian Fine Jewelry company revered around the world. Eschewing his family’s pharmacy business, Giuseppe chose instead to follow his passion for jewelry, apprenticing in an atelier at age 13, later attending jewelry school, and studying English in London. By his early 20s he was designing his own jewelry and traveling the world to source precious gemstones. In 1967, together with his sister Annamaria, and a young assistant, Giuseppe opened his namesake company, Pichiotti. Ms. Becker lovingly chronicles five decades of Picchiotti jewelry, influenced by nature and architecture, embracing Italian craftsmanship and artistry, through the discerning eye of its visionary leader, as well as the seven family members who embody the heart and soul of the House of Picchiotti.