Maria Cristina Buccellati, global communications director of Buccellati, shares what the brand will be presenting at prestigious non-profit event Homo Faber.
Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Renowned high jewelry brand Buccellati is synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship that utilizes rare stones that are not only rich in clarity, but also color, often mixed with white and yellow gold, creating pieces that look as though they’ve been carved like lace.
Although the brand was founded in 1919 and has decades under its belt, its pieces are still relevant today, serving the modern clientele across the globe. More recently, Buccellati also announced its participation in the third edition of Homo Faber. Presented by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, the international non-profit organization was established in 2016 and is currently based in Switzerland. Founded by Franco Cologni and Johann Rupert, the aim of the organization is to celebrate and preserve craftsmanship. And so it was only natural for Maria Cristina Buccellati, a prominent member of the Buccellati family and the current Global Communications Director, to ensure the brand was part of the prestigious cultural movement which proudly centers itself around creative artisans.
As Buccelati presents its exquisite pieces in Dubai Mall, Maria Cristina Buccellati sits down with Vogue Arabia to share more about the brand’s DNA, her favorite piece from the maison, and more.
As Global Communications Director and a member of the Buccellati team, what do you hope to achieve for Buccellati through your work?
I think that the most important thing for us is to let people know how we work, in the sense that everything is handmade, everything is really authentic, and everything is made with passion. We put a great effort into our job because we love it. And I think that once you do something, loving it, it comes from the soul, which has a different value. So basically, these are our values, you know, everything made with love and with passion.
Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Can you share your first memory of realizing how big the Buccellati name really is?
In a way, I never realized it because, living in it, you know, I was born in it. So for me, it’s normal. But one day, I had an experience that was quite weird to me. I was at university doing a semester at an American university in Texas in an architectural university. When they heard my name, they would say, ‘Oh, my God, Buccellati!’ I thought, how do these people from Texas know who I am? Because they knew the flatware? At the time in America, we had a great distribution of silver and flatware. And everybody working in the design sector knew about it. For me, it was a surprise because I had no idea that some guys in Texas — 21-year-olds — would know who Buccellati was.
Over the years, is there any jewelry piece from Buccellati that has always been special to you?
Well, it sounds quite obvious, but it’s the Macri Collection. The Macri Collection was one my father named after me because I was too young to receive it as a present. So, he said, for the time being, I give your name, and then we’ll see. So, it was my favorite collection. I loved it, and I was pushing to have it. And he said, at the right time. I still wear it all the time. It’s probably been 40 years, and I wear almost every day. And it never tires me, it never gets old.
Photo: Courtesy of Buccellati
Tell us about the pieces that will be showcased at Homo Faber. What makes each of them special?
We have a collection in silver, and a collection in gold. But when I talk about collection, it’s a very weird way of saying collection. Because the gold is called Idyllium Floralis, and it’s one bracelet and two rings only. So it’s just a one-of-a-kind piece that was made. The Homo Faber was following a theme. They asked us to create something according to the theme, which was ‘the course of life’. So we were in two rooms. One was celebration; that’s where we put the artichokes, which is a huge centrepiece of artichokes that you can put on the table. And the other one was ‘love’, the room of love. Here we created this bracelet with the flowers turning around, which makes the eternal round sign. So, for us, it’s flowers, jewels, and at the same time, [the idea of] forever.
You will be showcasing Buccellati’s special collection in Dubai. How does the Middle East serve as inspiration for the brand?
In Dubai, our clients are extremely sophisticated. So for me, it was the right first step to bring Homo Faber to Dubai because I know it’s a place where they really appreciate it. I would say the best choice was Dubai.
