wood

How to clean wooden jewelry




The jewels with wooden elements also appeal the greats Maison. But how do wooden jewels are cleaned and stored? Pay attention to … ♦ ︎

The most precious metal? The wood. It seems a paradox, but an article published by Bloomberg underlines what is now a consolidated trend: using wood for jewelry. But not for simple bijoux: even for expensive and great design pieces. The wood, obviously the selected one and with particular qualities of strength and durability over time, also has the advantage of being considered a green, natural and renewable material. Moreover, it does not need large excavations that pierce the earth, like for precious stones. Furthermore, it is also the oldest material used to make an ornament.

Van Cleef&Arpels, set in legno e diamanti
Van Cleef&Arpels, set in legno e diamanti

“Customers are attracted by the warm luster of wood and lightness,” said to Bloomberg Ward Landrigan, CEO of Verdura Jewelry. And in the same service the designer Katey Brunini emphasizes that it is “a neutral element” that goes well with both winter and summer clothing.

Pendente Elephant in legno, perle, oro, diamanti
Pendente Elephant in legno, perle, oro, diamanti di Marc Alary

Costa Rican Cocobolo, ebony, Acacia melanoxylon, commonly called Australian or African blackwood are among the most used materials. And often the wood of the jewels comes from furniture or beams of an old building that are recovered. Cristiana Vigano, Vhernier’s vice president of the United States, said that almost all of her clients say that jewels with wooden elements “become the most versatile and wearable they possess”.

Vhernier, collana Calla in oro rosa e ebano
Vhernier, collana Calla in oro rosa e ebano

But how to store and clean wooden jewels?
1 Beware of water. The wood used for jewelry is robust and often treated to withstand rain or random drops during the day. But the story changes with regard to continuous humidity, which can ruin the wood. Wooden jewels must be kept in a dry place.
2 Watch out for scratches. The wood used for jewelry is particularly hard. But, of course, it can be scratched (as is the case with metals) if it comes in contact with something sharp, for example a diamond. Also for this reason it is better to store the jewels with wooden elements individually, in a bag or in a box.

Ena Iro, bracciali in legno e diamanti. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Ena Iro, bracciali in legno e diamanti. Copyright: gioiellis.com

3 Cosmetic hazard. Better to avoid the use of hairspray, perfumes, lotions, creams when wearing jewelry with wooden elements: in the long run they could ruin the material. The same applies to soaps, insect repellents, sunscreens or other chemicals, which can cause the loss of color in the wood.
4 They can be cleaned with … To remove dust or grease on the wooden parts, just use a non-abrasive microfibre cloth or a cotton cloth. Also, better clean by following the line of the veins, if they are visible.
5 Polish the jewel. If the wood of the jewel is polished, the brilliance can be enlivened with natural beeswax.

Collana in legno e perle di vetro, proposta a 13.700 dollari
Collana in legno e perle di vetro di Peggy Stephaich Guinness
Orecchini in oro 18 carati, legno lavorato, diamanti
Orecchini in oro 18 carati, legno lavorato, diamanti by Silvia Furmanovich
Collezione India, bracciale in oro e snakewood, con zaffiri. Prezzo: 4690 euro
Tamara Comolli, collezione India, bracciale in oro e snakewood, con zaffiri
Bracciale in oro bianco 18 carati, legno pietrificato, rubini, onice e diamanti
Cartier, bracciale in oro bianco 18 carati, legno pietrificato, rubini, onice e diamanti
Bracelet. Diamonds inlaid in fossilized wood
Boghossian, bracelet. Diamonds inlaid in fossilized wood






The precious wood of Nalj




From the Venice Lagoon, or from Africa, Indonesia … in the name of nature. Annalisa Mirizzi and Mimmo Demattia are the two jewelry designers of Nalj, a small Apulian brand based in Polignano a Mare, a town that stands on a rocky spur and is a tourist destination. The two designers have chosen to use different types of wood to make their jewels. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings are therefore composed of kauri, millennial New Zealand wood, or American walnut, Lebanese cedar, olive, oak, ebony, wenge, accando semiprecious and semiprecious stones, 925 silver and gold. But not only. Another idea of ​​Nalj, in fact, is to use the wood of the Venetian briccole,

Anello realizzato con il legno di una briccola
Anello realizzato con il legno di una briccola

The briccole of Venice are those oak poles planted in the middle of the water to facilitate the direction of the boats that ply the lagoon. The briccole last for decades, but periodically (after about five to ten years) they must be replaced. The jewels of the Nalj line, therefore, reuse this wood tempered by the wind of the Venetian lagoon to make their own jewels. Years ago, for example, with this wood Nalj presented a collection in combination with the luxury motorboat brand Riva.
Anello con legno kauri
Anello con legno kauri

Anello in legno e argento
Anello in legno e argento
Anello in legno e argento by Nalj
Anello in legno e argento by Nalj
Anello in legno e cubic zirconia
Anello in legno e cubic zirconia
Collana con legno e argento dorato
Collana con legno e argento dorato

Collana by Nalj
Collana by Nalj

Gondole e briccole a Venezia
Gondole e briccole a Venezia







Picchiotti presents a special bracelet to celebrate the Xpandable line

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High jewelry, but comfortable. Starting from this principle, five years ago Picchiotti introduced the jewelry line with the Xpandable brand, which already indicates the solution to the problem. The system, patented in the USA, allows bracelets and rings to widen or tighten, in order to be able to adapt to the body of the wearer. An invisible and not simple solution, for jewels composed largely of diamonds and precious stones, but which has proved to be functional. The Maison of Valenza has continued to update the Xpandable collection, but has now added a piece that stands out.

Bracciale in snakewood, oro rosa e bianco, diamanti
Bracciale in snakewood, oro rosa e bianco, diamanti

The new jewel is a bracelet that also uses snakewood wood, in botany rauvolfia serpentina, also called Indian snakeroot, devil’s pepper or serpentine wood: a plant widespread in India. The choice is related to Xpandable’s five years: a period of time that is usually referred to as a “wooden wedding”. The bracelet is a limited edition and is made of 18k rose and white gold, brilliant cut diamonds, as well as wood which has a streaked appearance. It goes without saying that the bracelet is also absolutely comfortable to wear.
Anello con diamanti della linea Xpandable
Anello con diamanti della linea Xpandable

La famiglia Picchiotti. Al centro, il fondatore, Giuseppe Picchiotti
La famiglia Picchiotti. Al centro, il fondatore, Giuseppe Picchiotti
Anello in oro rosa con diamanti e madreperla della linea Xpandable
Anello in oro rosa con diamanti e madreperla della linea Xpandable
Anello eternity con diamanti e zaffiri della linea Xpandable
Anello eternity con diamanti e zaffiri della linea Xpandable
Bracciale con diamanti e rubini della linea Xpandable
Bracciale con diamanti e rubini della linea Xpandable

BRacciale con diamanti della linea Xpandable
Bracciale con diamanti della linea Xpandable







Tribal dance for Vendorafa

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The Tribal collection by Vendorafa: hammered gold together with precious wood elements ♦ ︎

Just a century ago, Picasso, Braque and a large group of artists working in Paris, were fascinated by the art of primitive populations. The wooden sculptures with simple and strong features turned into cubist canvases. A century later the tribal art continues to fascinate the West and sometimes inspires the most disparate objects. For example, jewels.

Primitive art is the idea that gave life to the Tribal collection by Vendorafa.

Anello in oro e Bloodwood della collezione Tribal
Anello in oro e Bloodwood della collezione Tribal

The company of Valenza led by Augusto Ungarelli offers jewelry with the classic craftsmanship of gold that characterizes Vendorafa, but with the addition of elements in precious wood. It is, to be precise, a very resistant wood that is commonly called Bloodwood, a variety of eucalyptus found in Central America. The hammered gold contrasts with the dark satin wood rings. The shape of the jewels, moreover, is played on the classic geometric shape of the circle, a recurrent element not only in primitive sculptures, but also in tribal tattoos. Lavinia Andorno




Vendorafa, bracciale della collezione Tribal
Vendorafa, bracciale della collezione Tribal

Collana in oro con pendente in legno
Collana in oro con pendente in legno
Collana in oro della collezione Tribal
Collana in oro della collezione Tribal

Vendorafa, collana in oro e legno
Vendorafa, collana in oro e legno







Botanica’s lessons with Silvia Furmanovich

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The Botanicals collection by Silvia Furmanovich: a refined inlay technique enriched with gold and gems ♦ ︎

Silvia Furmanovich, a Brazilian designer of Italian descent (her father was a goldsmith), is a special case. It is, in fact, one of the rare creators of jewels that can boast a style completely different from the others. And not less precious. His jewels are different both as conception, form and design, and because they use refined techniques, such as cabinet making, which were more common in Europe in past centuries.

The new collection by Silvia Furmanovich is called Botanicals.

Orecchini con ametiste e tormaline
Orecchini con ametiste e tormaline

Easy to guess what is inspired by, the lush, colorful, surprising plants that grow in the boundless South American country: calla lilies, orchids, heliconias, begonia leaves, banana flowers, water lilies, chrysanthemums, and even a fungus.

To create earrings that look like leaves just detached from the plant, the designer has chosen a processing with wood inlay techniques applied to three-dimensional sculptural surfaces.

Bracciale della collezione Botanicals
Bracciale della collezione Botanicals

In other words, it seems easy, but in reality it is a courageous and refined choice. The inlay technique is made by craftsmen of the Brazilian Amazon rain forest using all types of indigenous woods. But the jewels are not just wood: gold and, above all, stones such as tourmalines, amethysts, citrines, prasiolites, quartz, opals, emeralds and topazes are like colored drops of dew on the surface of the flora. Prices: on average from 5000 to 15000 dollars. Giulia Netrese





Clutch della collezione Botanicals
Clutch della collezione Botanicals

Orecchini di Silvia Furmanovich
Orecchini di Silvia Furmanovich
Orecchini con tormaline verdi
Orecchini con tormaline verdi
Orecchini in legno intarsiato e pietre di colore
Orecchini in legno intarsiato e pietre di colore
Orecchini in legno intarsiato con oro e diamanti
Orecchini in legno intarsiato con oro e diamanti
Orecchini con prasioliti
Orecchini con prasioliti

Orecchini a forma di foglie della collezione Botanicals
Orecchini a forma di foglie della collezione Botanicals