Mario Buccellati

Founded in 1919 when Mario Buccellati took over Milan's Beltrami & Beltrami, Buccellati is known for its richly textured pieces that are influenced by Renaissance motifs and nature. He was the first famous for the technique of texture-engraving where pieces look like silk, damask, tulle, lace, or linen. Use of mixed metals and unusual gemstones is also typical.

Buccellati quickly gained international recognition and developed an aristocratic clientele that included film stars and royalty. In 1949 Pope Pius XII commissioned Buccellati to create an icon for Princess Margaret to commemorate the first visit of a British Royal to Vatican City in hundreds of years. In 1951, he became the first Italian jewelry designer to open shop on Fifth Avenue. After Buccellati's death 1965, the business split when Buccellati's son Gianmaria started a new brand called Gianmaria Buccellati. In 2011 the firms merged to form Buccellati Holding Italia.