Damiani: Alchemy of Desire

Description

Damiani jewelry represents the highest expression of Italian style: unique jewellery collections created with the passion and craftsmanship that passed on from father to son for three generations. Founded in 1924 by Enrico Grassi Damiani in Valenza, personal jeweller of influential and noble families, the company celebrates its 90th anniversary with a lavishly designed volume focused on tradition, craftsmanship and creativity. Today Damiani's clientele includes many highly visible celebrities -- Jennifer Anniston's wedding ring was a Damiani creation and Brad Pitt is designing a special jewellery line for Damiani. Sophia Loren, close friend of the Damianis, will write the introduction. Creativity, design and entrepreneurship are the key elements that have driven the Damiani family for nearly a century, together with a deep passion for an art that has passed on from father to son and also been transmitted to the third generation, now the head of the company. Strengthened by an almost centennial tradition, the Damiani Group has always been renowned for the quality of products and materials adopted and the exclusive design of its collections.

Cristina Morozzi was director of the design magazine Modo for nine years. She was the curator of Archizoom Now at Experimenta 1999 in Lisbon and cocurator of Salvatore Ferragamo Evolving Legend, 1928-2008. Sophia Loren is one of Italy's most renowned actresses and has received two Academy Awards.

"Damiani...the history is lovingly told by family members...this is the expected portion of this glorious book...the most mesmerizing part of the book is the assemblage of photographs that affords the reader an exquisitely extensive look at the history of the brand and its incredible range of product. After reading the book, my assessment of the brand is that it holds its own amongst the major players of the world of "haute joallier." No longer can Damiani be looked at as a cousin or "poor relation" to Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef, or Tiffany, the brand certainly demonstrates itself a peer even a leader in this rarefied product arena. It's quite astounding what can be gleaned from this epic volume. If you are a jewelry lover or consider yourself a bit of a historian on the subject, you best get out there and buy this book and add it to your library as this is a book that will beckon you time after time. The book itself ranks up there with any of the great volumes produced about the heritage or legendary brands with the appropriately perfect photography and reproduction quality." -NY Journal of Books