EraGem Presents Orlando Orlandini of Firenze Atelier

Orlando Orlandini Braided Coil Diamond Necklace. Photo ©2019 EraGem Jewelry.   This gorgeous braided gold coil diamond necklace is a remarkable jewel designed by Orlando Orlandini. Orlando Orlandini works with his family out of his home atelier in the hills of Chianti, just outside of Florence, Italy.  

Atelier Firenze

In 1983, Orlando and his family purchased an ancient convent which dates back to the 1300s. Rumors abound that Leonardo da Vinci once lodged there. Driven by a vision to create the ideal space to experiment with gold, Orlando transformed the convent into a studio atelier. He also carved a home out of the space for himself, his wife Carmela, and his children Lidia and Paladino. While transforming the convent, he and his family also delved deeply into the technical and aesthetic aspects of working with gold. Both Orlando and his son, Paladino, work solely by hand using ancient techniques in goldsmithing. Today, Atelier Firenze employs expert goldsmiths trained specifically by Paladino and Orlando. Each piece of jewelry is fashioned by hand. The atelier specializes in one-of-a-kind jewels and small batches of limited-edition collections. The driving philosophies underlying the work at Atelier Firenze are twofold. First of all, the atelier transforms the solid metal gold into wearable golden fabrics which interact with light in a unique and beautiful way. Woven strands of gold result in draping, silken jewels which feel smooth against the skin. Created with many small surfaces, these jewels reflect light almost as brilliantly as the diamonds that accent them. This gem-like quality leads to the second underlying philosophy of the atelier, the ideals of harmony and beauty.  

Orlando Orlandini

Orlando Orlandini believes that women personify the highest ideals of beauty and harmony. As a result, he aims to create jewelry that complements every woman's beauty in a unique and personal way. His artistic parents infused Orlando with these ideals from a very early age. His father sculpted, and his mother painted watercolors. Not surprisingly, Orlando studied sculpture at the Fine Arts Academy in Rome. Eventually, he became enamored with gold. His fascination with gold steered him in the direction of jewelry manufacture. For 20 years, he worked for a commercial jewelry company, eventually earning the title of director of design. When he finally made the decision with his family to strike out on his own, gold drove his ambition. The endless possibilities of such a malleable, yet durable material inspired his imagination. He experimented with gold in all its forms and eventually developed his signature style. Soft, wearable gold, sometimes coiled, sometimes woven. Each piece hand made using old world traditions, imbued with classical design elements which outlast passing trends. Today, he and his family continue to work side by side, leading a small workforce of goldsmiths trained in the Atelier Firenze style. Every handmade Orlandini jewel caresses the woman who wears it and adds class, style, and history to her jewelry collection.   ~ Angela Magnotti Andrews