Gabriele Aprea

Chantecler plays new little bells

The 70 years of Chantecler and the collection that celebrates the Maison from Capri ♦
Chantecler, born in Capri with Salvatore Aprea and Pietro Capuano, star of the Dolce Vita of the Isola Azzurra, celebrated 70 years with the celebratory collection entitled Anima 70: a tribute to the symbols of the brand, such as Campanella, Gallo, Il Corno and Joyful, which enclose the atmosphere of Capri, and the iconic colors of the maison that uses corals, turquoise, kogolong and onyx. They are light necklaces, lively multi-charm bracelets and unpublished designs, such as earrings with a small bell and hoop earrings, a re-read of the adventure begun in 1947.
The presentation of Anima 70 in Rome, with the brothers Aprea, Costanza, Maria Elena and Gabriele heirs of Chantecler’s tradition that today besides the boutique in Capri counts on other shops in Cortina, Tokyo, Astana and Hong Kong.
Read also Chantecler’s soul 
The History
At the end of the 1940s, Pietro Capuano opened a jewelery store in Capri with Salvatore Aprea, a young, very creative island. With the period of Dolce Vita Capri lives an unrepeatable tale: on the Island come the most beautiful and famous women in the world, the richest men in the world and many intellectuals. Pietro Capuano, nicknamed Chantecler, like the rooster of Edmond de Rostand’s opera, whose song has the power to summon the sun’s birth, is the eccentric master of ceremonies at Capri, the night emperor on the island.
The protagonists of the international jet set take away from the Island of Dolce Vita the Chantecler jewels, a symbol of the magic of Capri, whose fame dates back to the Roman Empire: among the first to appreciate Cesare Augusto and Tiberius who chose it as his residence . But it was in the 1950s that they were deciding their world success. The legendary Piazzetta became the world’s center of the island, so that over the years it is nicknamed the “living room of the world”.
Hollywood in Capri
In the 1950s, Liza Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Maria Callas, Rita Hayworth, Empress Soraya and Princess Grace Kelly fell in love with Chantecler jewelry. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis also became a customer of Capri’s boutique: in 1970 the Greek shipowner gave her a diamond star of inestimable value. Pietro Capuano created his jewels inspired by the woman who would wear them. Thus, unique pieces made of rare gems were born. Diamond and turquoise necklace like the Capri sea; Blue sapphires that resemble the starry sky; Rubies fireworks; Precious emeralds for color, size and cut.
Resumes the name from one of the most beautiful places in Capri, the Grotta Azzurra ring, white gold, diamonds and a beautiful central aquamarine. Pink cut diamonds support blue aquamarine like the sea, from cushion cutting. Galli’s Necklace is one of the most iconic creations of the maison that reproduces the logo in an original way. The diamond jewel in pink and pavé symbolizes the long tradition of the brand with numerous galleries of decreasing size. The Campanelle is inspired by an ancient legend: a shepherd looking for his only sheep disappeared in Capri, appeared on a cloud St. Michael, who pulled a bell from his neck and gave it to the young man, telling him that at his sound he would find The lost sheep. And so it was. The legend was repeated in 1944 when Chantecler made a bronze bell and donated it to US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to celebrate the end of the Second World War. In 1950 Chantecler created the first jewel bell, Premiere, given to countess Edda Ciano. Recently, Chantecler has designed Campaign Daisy for the daughters of President Obama. Patrizia Vacalebri (Ansa)



Anello in oro e rubini
Anello in oro e rubini
Orecchini della collezione Anima 70
Orecchini della collezione Anima 70
Bracciale in oro e kolong
Bracciale in oro e kolong
Bracciale in oro e corallo
Bracciale in oro e corallo
Bracciale in oro e kolong
Bracciale in oro e kolong
Orecchini in oro e onice
Orecchini in oro e onice
Collana in oro e corallo
Collana in oro e corallo
Campanella in oro e diamanti
Campanella in oro e diamanti

Campanella in oro, turchesi e corallo
Campanella in oro, turchesi e corallo







Chantecler brings Capri at the Expo

A grand debut for Chantecler, historical brand of Made in Italy, also a favorite by celebrities such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Ingrid Bergman. Gabriele Aprea, the eldest of three sons of Salvatore Aprea, co-founder of the brand together with Pietro Capuano, tells Gioiellis.com the projects of the company guided with the sisters Maria Elena and Costanza «Our challenge is to maintain the same aesthetic quality and hand craftsmanship, but also to meet the needs of international customers», says Aprea.

Gabriele Aprea presidente di Chantecer
Gabriele Aprea, presidente di Chantecer

Question. You have just published a book celebrating the history of the Maison. Are other the initiatives following?

Answer. As members of the Italian Goldsmiths’ Club, on the occasion of Expo 2015, we will realize an exhibition of our creations at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan. Transfer the food theme in jewelry is not easy, but I must say that we did quite well, creating a collection that is linked to the subject and at the same time to our Mediterranean roots. We named it L’oro di Capri, with citrus and their shades in enamel and silver vermeil.

Q. Chantecler brand is very recognizable with its many iconic pieces, but there is one in which you are most fond of?

A. One of the creations that so marked the history of Chantecler dates back to 1944, when Pietro Capuano and Salvatore Aprea took inspiration from the legend of St. Michael and did forge a bronze bell to donate as a lucky charm and a symbol of peace to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, then president of the United States. The Campanella collection has its roots in this event, and has become an iconic symbol of our brand to which we are very fond of.

La celebre Campanella nella versione Maiolica
La celebre Campanella nella versione Maiolica

D. 2015 was the first time at the fair in Basel. With which novelties?

A. For Baselworld we created three new collections, very sophisticated in design, technological implementation, and materials. For example, the lightweight swirls in gold and enamel hand painted Giardino Improbabile, that intertwine to form flowers and butterflies fluttering, light and precious. Or Dandelion, where the tips of the flowers are covered with sparkling diamonds and colored coral and turquoise. Finally, Maiolica, a luxury collection not only in the materials (diamonds, turquoise, coral, sapphires) but also in manifacturing, made with the techniques of ‘inlay typical of the Sorrento peninsula.

Anello collezione Giardino Improbabile
Anello collezione Giardino Improbabile

Q. It is clear that you are focused on international markets

A. Sure, Baselworld has represented a strategic choice, dictated by the desire to open up to international markets. In recent years, we have prepared the ground for growth, investing more on being that on appearances. We believe that the market will reward our efforts, so that for this year we expect a growth in turnover of 20%.

 

Orecchini collezione Giardino Improbabile
Orecchini collezione Giardino Improbabile

Q. The opening to new markets will take you to introduce other styles, stones and colors? A come back of bespoke pieces?

A. One of our strengths is to have a fairly wide range of products, suitable for different needs for both price and type of design and materials. Our creations range from unique pieces of fine jewelry to silver jewelry or gold nine carats. New materials are possible, while remaining faithful to the identity of the brand.

Collana collezione Maiolica
Collana collezione Maiolica

Q. Chantecler with her jewels dressed the international jetset and actresses of the past. Now as Hollywood star, princess or it girl you’d like to have as a client?

A. We have always had and still have celebrities who wear our jewelry but our best testimonial is the woman who loves what we do and wear it with joy.

Monica Battistoni

Ingrid Bergman con Salvatore Aprea
Ingrid Bergman con Salvatore Aprea

Monica Battistoni