Flowers and chocolates are wonderful, but one can arguably do no better than jewellery to express just how much you love your significant other—especially on a day that’s dedicated to love and romance. It’s a tradition that spans back to the Middle Ages when European royalty exchanged intricately crafted rings and lockets as tokens of affection. Fast forward to the present day and jewellery gifts remain a prominent expression of devotion and commitment.
Why not? Unlike bouquets of blooms (that wither) and sweet indulgences (that get eaten), treasured jewellery are keepsakes that are handed down from one generation to the next—even more so when they’re meticulously crafted and painstakingly formed, as Buccellati’s creations are known to be.
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Since its founding in 1919, the Milanese jeweller has garnered an impressive reputation for designs that bear the highest levels of craftsmanship. They’re famed for artisanal metalworking techniques that span back to the Renaissance, and its jewels showcase handworked finishes that cover every inch of their surface. Couple that with symmetrical, geometric motifs and intricate details and what you have is jewellery that are the height of sophistication.
Take the brand’s signature “rigato” technique, for example. Meaning “to engrave” in Italian, the technique requires the use of a burin (a tool that dates back to the Renaissance) and the steadiest of expert hands to make parallel and perfectly uniform striations across the gold’s surface. What ensues is a luscious silk-like effect that has made Buccellati’s Macri collection the highly sought-after creation that it is. Then, there’s the Tulle collection, which employs negative spaces to their fullest effect through a hand-engraving technique that sees sheets of gold being hollowed out to leave the slenderest of frames (or threads) in tribute to the fabric for which it was named.
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The delicate openworked flora motif of the Ramage collection is balanced by the bold architectural geometry of Opera, while the ethereal tinkling loops of Hawaii find their counterpoint in the golden ropes and diamonds of the Étoilée collection. It is workmanship that is palpable at every glance, resulting in timeless creations that exude elegance and refinement. These jewels gracefully bow out from the fickleness of trends to stand the test of time, making them perfect gifts to embody eternal love. Five friends of ELLE Singapore agree, choosing Buccellati to accompany them on their Valentine’s Day date.
"For my date night, I artfully layered and stacked my jewellery to achieve a harmonious balance of statement pieces and refined elegance," says Willabelle Ong, who walked out the door with Buccellati’s Macri and Opera creations.
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Kimberly Wang agrees with her minimalist approach. “Pick a focal point, and keep everything else simple. Because less really is more, sometimes,” she says while dressed in a mix of textures, thanks to Buccellati’s Opera, Ramage, Rombi and Macri collections.
Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, on the other hand, went for airy volume and chose earrings, a necklace and rings from the Hawaii collection, which she then supplemented with a ring and necklace from the Opera collection. She says: “I’m all about matching and stacking—necklaces, rings, gold, silver—more is more, and I’m here for it.”
Picking pieces that complement her style, Constance Lau adorned herself with pieces from the Opera and Macri collection, including a Macri watch. “For me, understated elegance lies in the details. Stacking my favourite bangles for date night adds the perfect touch of sophistication!”
“For date nights, I love letting my jewellery do the talking by stacking, mixing, and playing with textures—more is more!” shares Salina Chai as she piles on Buccellati’s Macri creations, accented with a Rombi Eternelle ring.
Photographer EWAN LIM
Executive Producer NAVIN PILLAY
Hairstylist SHA SHAMSI (for Kimberly Wang & Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw); GREGO (for Constance Lau & Salina Chai); JH LOW (for Willabelle Ong)
Make-up RINA SIM; JH LOW (for Willabelle Ong)
Special thanks to QT Singapore