Picchiotti: Traditional craftsmanship meets vivid gemstones in ‘Essentially Colour’ collection

May 30, 2018

By Katerina Perez

4 min read

Picchiotti are an Italian brand whose designs you will already be familiar with if you read my articles: founded in 1967 by Giuseppe Picchiotti, the family business has always been focused on hand crafting luxury jewellery pieces in the heart of Valenza, Italy. For over 50 years the Picchiotti name has been synonymous with timeless designs that represent the best of the ‘Made in Italy’ concept – using precious gems in combination with immaculate jewellery-making techniques.

Leading up to the Couture Show in Las Vegas 2018 – one of the most highly anticipated jewellery exhibitions of the year – I was introduced to the brand’s latest ‘Essentially Colour’ collection. This line is a departure from Picchiotti’s signature selection of rich rubies, emeralds and sapphires, into a summer appropriate rainbow of vivid gemstones.

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in alexandrite and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in alexandrite and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in tanzanite and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in tanzanite and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in tanzanite and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' necklace in tanzanite and diamonds

Ten distinctive pieces – among which are seven cocktail rings and three pendants – comprise the ‘Essentially Colour’ collection. From the first glance, all of the hallmarks that distinguish Picchiotti’s timeless style come to view. Quality of craftsmanship, uniqueness of the designs and beauty of gemstones are clearly represented in each and every piece in this summer-perfect collection.

Featuring Paraiba tourmalines, green tourmalines, rubellites, tanzanite, peridot, amethyst, and alexandrite, each gemstone is complemented by colourless diamonds and a white gold setting to bring the bright gem hues to the fore. “Working with coloured gemstones is a matter of love, passion and dedication for me,” says Giuseppe Picchiotti, founder and creative director of the brand, “spending a lifetime in search of nature’s greatest treasures fulfils me in a deeply personal way.”

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' rings (clockwise from bottom left) peridot, Paraiba tourmaline, green tourmaline and amethyst, tanzanite and tsavorite, pink tourmaline and peridot, green tourmaline and sapphires - all accented by diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' rings (clockwise from bottom left) peridot, Paraiba tourmaline, green tourmaline and amethyst, tanzanite and tsavorite, pink tourmaline and peridot, green tourmaline and sapphires - all accented by diamonds

The use of these recently popular but less wide-spread gemstones is more frequently seen in younger, less well-established brands than Picchiotti. However, in the ‘Essentially Colour’ collection, the Italian company has adapted the signature themes of their jewellery while incorporating exciting new gems seamlessly.

So, what is the inspiration behind the timeless jewelled treasures that Picchiotti has produced? Simply put, it is Giuseppe Picchiotti’s fervent research and literal treasure hunting for unique gemstones around the globe. Once the perfect specimens were found, it was simply a case of realising the best designs to celebrate their beauty and the range of their tones.

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in pink tourmaline, peridots and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in pink tourmaline, peridots and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in tanzanite, tsavorites and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in tanzanite, tsavorites and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, sapphires and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, sapphires and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in peridot and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in peridot and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, amethysts and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, amethysts and diamonds

 Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds

It is not only the gemstone choices which are unusual for Picchiotti, but “the designs are a little bolder than our usual classical pieces,” says Maria Carola, Giuseppe’s daughter and Picchiotti’s communication director. Indeed; the instantly recognisable retro inspired voluminous jewellery – often with one statement gemstone colour accented by an abundance of diamonds in complex, sinuous settings – has been replaced by art deco-like geometric settings and pendulous fronds reminiscent of art nouveau designs.

The most spectacular ‘Essentially Colour’ jewel is the tanzanite sautoir, which is a distinct step in a completely different design direction for Picchiotti. The lens shaped white gold pattern contains the vivid gems, while drawing the eye around the length of the necklace. At once modern in its use of the ferociously popular tanzanite, the design simultaneously stays true to Picchiotti’s aesthetic codes.

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, amethysts and diamonds

Picchiotti 'Essentially Colour' ring in green tourmaline, amethysts and diamonds

If you are fortunate enough to be visiting Couture Las Vegas this year, be sure to take a moment to wonder at the gemstones which have achieved no small feat of invigorating a brand with half a century of fine jewellery heritage.

Alessio Boschi: ‘Peacock Dance’ collection debuts at COUTURE 2018

continue reading

In Conversation: Discussing Paraiba — The Legacy of a Color with Vogue Singapore

The conversation encouraged both myself and Kevin Ferreira, my co-author, to recall exactly why we wrote Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color, and I am pleased to share more with you below

by Katerina Perez

Semi-Precious vs Precious Gemstones: Why the Old Labels No Longer Work

I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself: what really sets so-called precious and semi-precious stonesapart? Is it their rarity? Colour? Durability? Value? Or is it simply tradition—an outdated hierarchy we’ve inherited without question

by Katerina Perez

Larger than Life: New Mineral Masterpieces and Global Adventures with Margot McKinney 

Let’s take a closer look at the pieces and places that have helped to shape the Margot McKinney brand over the last 12 months, including the rather sensational Marina, Aurora and Bloem necklaces

by Katerina Perez

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.