From Italy with Love

It’s all about that personal touch, tells as she traces the evolution of her family’s jewellery house into a global brand

Emilie Yabut-razon

amiani’s elegant twolevel flagship store on Via Montenapoleone, at the centre of Milan’s famous luxury shopping district, epitomises the maison’s refined, contemporary spirit. Bright, well-lit displays take pride of place on the ground floor, with the design offices and a plush showroom occupying the first floor. The classic lines and earth tones serve as reminders of the company’s roots in Valenza, a charming town two hours away that has been Italy’s jewellery hub since the 1800s. It’s in Valenza that the best of the country’s goldsmiths and gem-setters can be found working, and where the Damiani family has nurtured a passion for jewels for more than 90 years.

Silvia Damiani, granddaughter of the brand’s founder, Enrico Grassi Damiani, is steeped in that tradition, and this year celebrates her 30th anniversary working

Silvia Damiani

in the family company. The head of its public relations and communications arm, her sense of style is apparent in her choice of jewellery—a diamond ring and bracelet from the brand’s Gomitolo collection, matched with magnificent diamond drop earrings—and she talks proudly of the family’s creative lineage.

Her grandfather, Enrico, was a master goldsmith and started the company in 1924. He was soon creating pieces for Italy’s well-known families. Her father, Damiano, took the enterprise to new heights in the 1950s with his eye for beauty and a focus on innovation. “Even as a child I played among the jewellers and felt the passion that my parents put into the business,” Silvia recalls.

Initially, her desire to know her father better was the reason she became involved in the family enterprise. “My father was