Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Gioielleria unveiled in Naples

Dolce & Gabbana's four-day couture extravaganza Alta Artigianalita was held in Naples. The haute jewellery collection was unveiled at Villa Pignatelli museum.

Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Gioielleria collection in Naples, Italy. Courtesy Dolce & Gabbana
Powered by automated translation

The haute jewellery collection of Dolce & Gabbana was unveiled at a cocktail reception and dinner in the plush surroundings of Naples’ Villa Pignatelli museum.

The prized jewels – examples of traditional and modern-day artisanal techniques – were a tribute to the life and times of Italian actress Sophia Loren. Prices were undisclosed and the unique pieces were to a great extent characterised by the opulent use of rare stones, delicately engraved and encased in 18-carat mounts.

Floral rings featured exceptional untreated emeralds, Burmese rubies, unheated sapphires and tourmalines as their centrepieces, fringed with diamond petals. Earrings swung with oversized aquamarines and pink spinels, framed within wreaths of gold and studded with brown diamonds. Some ornamental filigree designs exhibited regal lion heads and South Sea pearls, while chandelier earrings dazzled with strings of diamonds that tumbled from a cherub’s clasp.

Displayed beneath blown-up black-and-white portraits of Loren in some of her iconic film roles, highly decorative necklaces were draped on silk stands behind glass. Sparrows sprinkled with tanzanites were the focal point of one design, while floral motifs comprising yellow beryls and citrines were the highlight of another. Equally striking – and attracting much attention from clients – was a royal-blue sapphire collier with overlapping gold hands holding a four-leaf emerald clover.

Remaining true to the code of the maison, and echoing Alta Gioielleria of previous seasons, Dolce and Gabbana’s penchant for good-luck charms came to the fore again in this month’s presentation. Horseshoes were a recurring motif, as were red, enamelled hands of Sciacca coral dotted with rhodolite garnet and peridots.

Also present were bejewelled amulets and variants of the famous Neapolitan talisman called cornicello – meaning little horn, and reminiscent of a twisted chilli – worn for protection against evil.

rduane@thenational.ae