【Vicenza, Ita】Italy Report “VICENZA ORO 1” – Part 1: Damiani and Brad Pitt’s New Project [Jewelry]

“Vicenza Oro 1” was held in the city of Vicenza, Italy, from January 13 to 20, 2002. This massive jewelry trade fair, bringing together over 1,500 manufacturers, can be considered one of the world’s largest fairs focused specifically on jewelry. Vicenza is famous as a UNESCO World Heritage city, home to numerous works by the 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio. However, it also plays a crucial role as a city supporting Italy’s jewelry industry.
Among the three “Vicenza Oro” fairs held annually, the one in January at the start of the year is where the most new products are exhibited. In the Hollywood Booth area, where major brands line up in a section of the overwhelmingly large venue, we were able to see Damiani’s new models.

Damiani
“SAN LORENZO CROCE”
K18 White Gold / Diamonds
Throughout the fair, the abundance of cross pendants was quite noticeable. Damiani also released the “San Lorenzo Cross” as its latest collection for Spring 2002. This design features a three-dimensionally crafted cross studded with diamonds of various sizes. It is said to be inspired by the image of a shooting star streaking across the night sky, stemming from the fact that shooting stars (the Perseid meteor shower) are often visible on August 10th, the feast day of Saint Lawrence (Lorenzo).
Nevertheless, launching a cross pendant in this era—does it carry some spiritual meaning? When this question was posed to Italian women wearing crosses, the answer was:

“Vicenza Oro 1” was said to lack some of its usual excitement, influenced by the impact of simultaneous terrorist attacks. Facing a difficult situation, the jewelry industry seems to have set its sights on the “cross”—a timeless motif for women that is simple and never goes out of style, or in other words, an item that sells well under any circumstances.
On the next page, we will inform you about Damiani’s new collaboration with Brad Pitt.