Meissen Porcelain Jewelry Combines German Craftsmanship and Italian Design

Meissen Montgolfière with Meissen Boule Dragon in rose gold, 310 white diamonds and hand-painted Meissen Porcelain. It is modeled after the invention of the hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, enabling air travel for the first time.

Porcelain isn’t the first material that comes to mind when thinking of jewelry. However, when the company producing the pieces is the 300-year-old German porcelain brand, Meissen Couture, the material will be used.

Fortunately, two years ago the company created a new division, Meissen Italia, based in Milan, bringing modern design and new products that complement the craftsmanship of Europe’s oldest and best-known porcelain manufacturer.

This separate division produces everything from couture evening gowns and accessories to furnishings, artwork, and jewelry and watches. It’s headquartered in a 4,000-square-foot showroom on Milan’s most prestigious shopping street, Via Montenapoleone.

Mystery pendant and ring in green hand painted Meissen Porcelain, rose gold and champagne diamonds.

Meissen Italia is largely a feminine world, every bit as delicate as the decorated porcelain pieces that makes its foundation. The jewelry I’ve seen at Baselworld for the past two years certainly reflects this. Hand-painted porcelain is the starting point for the various collections it introduced at Baselworld 2014. But the lines expand into other materials, including crystal, diamonds, colored gems and gold.

Violet Dragon Mystery Ring in hand painted dragon Meissen Porcelain with amethyst and gold and diamond swords (the brand’s famous trademark) set on a rose gold ring studded with diamonds.

The brand’s “my little Mystery” collection features porcelain in various hand-painted shades topped with faceted crystal, giving the appearance of a colored gem. The oval-shaped rings, earrings and pendant necklaces are set with rose or white gold and surrounded by round diamonds.

Rose gold Follia necklace with 258 champagne-colored diamonds and hand-painted Meissen Porcelain.

1739 Royal Blossom Collection targets a younger demographic, “but one which has just as high standards in terms of quality and value,” said Ileana Turrini, Meissen Couture public relations and communications Manager.

Blossom Boule ring in rose gold and pavé diamonds.

The jewels are inspired by snowball blossoms, which were a gift from King Augustus II to his wife, Maria Josepha. Along with porcelain, the collection combines gold, precious stones and elastic knit. “It is a new way to think about jewelry simplicity and a more informal attitude as a way to create fascinating and eye-catching features,” Turrini said.

Two engagement rings, both with diamond center stones with one surrounded by a heart-shaped halo made of 12 white diamonds.

There’s also a bridal line featuring simple, delicate solitaire engagement rings with a round diamond and white gold. In some cases the center diamond is haloed by diamonds in the shape of a heart. To go with them are white and rose gold wedding bands, featuring the crossed swords engraving, the famous Meissen trademark.

Mini Swords earrings in rose gold and full pavé champagne-colored diamonds. The crossed swords is the brand’s famous trademark.

The crossed swords also makes its mark in its own jewelry line featuring gold and pavé diamonds and in other collections.

Pendant Bird House, with chain in white gold, diamonds and a Kogolong stone in the shape of a cube.

The Haute Couture collection includes the Montgolfière collection modeled after the invention of the hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, enabling air travel for the very first time. The hand-painted porcelain “balloons” depicts different scenes, such as Arabian Nights and butterflies, colorful dragons, the city of Venice, and Chinese themes. Similar Chinese motifs appear again in jewelry as objets d’arts based on pagodas and bird houses. 

Perhaps a nod to the Chinese who were the first to master porcelain production but more likely a tradition of Messen from its beginnings to use fanciful Chinese-inspired in many of its porcelain works.

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Di Modolo’s Triadra Argento Collection

Triadra necklace With faceted onyx from the Icon collection.

When one considers Di Modolo jewelry, thoughts often turn to a tradition of Italian design and hand craftsmanship. It is also known for its gold jewelry. Not anymore. In an acceptance of the economic realities facing much of the western world, the Milan-based company has introduced a line of silver jewelry based on its signature design and using the same demanding techniques.

Triadra cluster rings with pavé diamonds shown with faceted purple Quartz, pearls and faceted blue quartz.

Known as Triadra Argento Collection, it is based on the same iconic design element of its gold collection, the Triadra, a slice of precious metal shaped like a curvaceous triangle with open spaces. The shape is based on what the company calls the “mystical symbolism” of the numbers three and four.

Cuff With blue topaz and openable hinge from the medallion collection.

Besides the distinctive shape, these small jewelry pieces are linked together in a technique that makes the links look invisible and makes the entire piece appear fluid (the first two photos best exemplify this technique). They also appear with a range of colorful gems that include diamonds, onyx and topaz. The company produced several lines of jewelry based on this shape, technique and use of materials. I got my first look at the new collections during  Las Vegas jewelry week in early June.

Bubble earrings with blue topaz.

Necklaces with diamonds shown with black onyx, white onyx and black diamonds with white onyx from the Spirit collection.

Eva Peron’s Stolen Jewelry Recovered in Italy

Police show recovered stolen jewelry once belonging to Eva Perón.

Approximately $8.5 million of jewelry once owned by the famed first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, has been recovered in Italy.

Italian Carabinieri, working with Spanish police, said Wednesday they found the diamond tiara, diamond earrings and rings in a hotel room on the outskirts of Milan, according to media reports.

Police say the jewels were stolen from a shop in Valencia, Spain, in December 2009, according to reports. A man was arrested for the theft last year in Milan.

Eva Perón was the second wife of Argentinean president Juan Perón (1895–1974) and served as the first lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. She is known by many all over the world, simply as Evita. Her life was the inspiration of the Broadway musical production of Evita, which played all over the world and was followed by a movie of the same name starring Madonna.