Indagare insider Marie Brandolini, known for her innovative, colorful glass creations based on traditional Venetian designs: Antonia Miletto “carries beautiful jewelry made with ebony and gold, adorned with diamonds. Reasonable in terms of price.”
Attilo has worked on pieces in St. Mark’s basilica as well as for such legendary style setters as Elizabeth Taylor, Diaghliev, Coco Chanel and Jackie O. His innovative creations—Diana Vreeland once commissioned a cocktail ring and versions of it are still sold today—continue to draw a high-profile clientele, including Nicole Kidman and Miuccia Prada. If you see passersby ogling the pieces in the window, you will notice the snake bracelet, one of which was given to Liz by Richard Burton, getting the most attention. If you enter, you will see framed letters from fans behind the counter, and if you speak Italian, you may get to hear stories about some of the more unusual requests they have filled. Ah, if rings and bracelets could talk, the stories they would tell, especially those made here.
In a gem of a shop near the Rialto, on the street where goldsmiths have labored for centuries, incredibly interesting jewelry and housewares are being designed by brothers Daniele and Stefano Attombri. Their wares are no longer a secret, since designers such as Romeo Gigli and Dolce and Gabbana have dressed up their runway shows with their pieces and tastemakers from around the world collect their lamps, but a visit here still feels like a special discovery. You will find a great range of price and styles, including delicate candlesticks, metal lamps and copper necklaces, which incorporate Murano glass and crystals.
If you plan to pop the question or celebrate a special anniversary, the place to visit is this contemporary jeweler, specializing in designs with diamonds.
There used to be many places in Venice where you could pick your own glass beads to design necklaces or bracelets, but most have disappeared. This attractive boutique near the Campo Santi Apostoli has racks of beads of glass, wood and aluminum in dozens of shapes, sizes and colors. You can buy things that are already made by the women in the shop or you can get a basket and select your own pattern, which they will prepare to your wishes as you wait. It’s a fun, hands-on activity for kids if you are willing to spend $20 or $30 on a souvenir.
This venerable jewelry shop, located in the Piazza San Marco, has been in business for years. Run by the third generation of Nardis, it is famous for its morettos (blackamoor jewelry), which were championed by founder Giuilo Nardi, who embellished his pieces with diamonds and rubies.
A few blocks from Piazza San Marco and its famous fine goldsmiths and jewelers like Nardi is Paropàmiso, which specializes in ethnic adornment from Asia and Africa. The owner clearly loves all kinds of jewelry, and you will find vintage European pieces mixed in with her finds from around the world, but the emphasis is on exotic pieces. Delicate goldwork from India shares window space with amber beads and silver tribal necklaces. Antique lacquer bowls from Southeast Asia and masks from Africa adorn the walls. Browsing here is like a world tour for jewelry lovers.
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