Italian Jewelry Museum To Debut ‘Dames and Knights’ Exhibition

Colonial Order of the Star of Italy Plaque and Sign of Great Cross. Photo by Martina Pace

By Maria Ling, Jewelry News Network Assistant Editor

The Museo del Gioiello in Vicenza, Italy, will hold a temporary exhibition focusing on jewels presented as honors in Italy, other European countries and even other world regions, a practice that stretched from the Middle Ages to modern times. Titled “Dames and Knights. Jewels of Honors,” it opens to the public Wednesday, March 24 and runs till September 17. An opening reception will be held March 23.

The items are curated to celebrate this artistic genre as a subject worth noting due to its quality, origin and proof of the history of different countries and geographical areas.

Order of the Crown Knight with spade. Photo by Martina Pace 

The temporary exhibition on the ground floor of the jewelry museum is arranged in two sections. The first will display about 40 Knighthood honors and decorations selected from pre-eminent and rare collections around the world. 

In addition, 10 items pay tribute to the collection of former Italian Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti, which were given to him by royal and government leaders.

Included in the display are honorary decorations that serve as symbols of Italian history. including: the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, the Insignia of the Grand Cross, the Collar of Our Lady of the Annunciation, the Grand Collar of St. George and the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy's Grand Cross.

Constantinian Order of St. George. Photo by Martina Pace 

A second section dedicated to Dames has about 10 items, including the Legion of Honor's Insignia of Knighthood and Insignia of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani.

The itinerary takes a visitor on a journey through time and honorary decoration culture with provides explanations of their intrinsic and evocative meanings. It serves as a piece of Italian and European history that recalls a value that was handed down through the years with the aim of rewarding praiseworthy actions in the fields of literature, arts and economy and for commitment in carrying out public duties and activities for social, philanthropic and humanitarian purposes as well as for long-standing and remarkable services in civil and military careers.

Order of the National Merit of Civil Division. Photo by Martina Pace

Insignia, decorations and medals that date back to the 11th century with Knighthood honors bestowed purely on men who highly distinguished themselves, a usage that was extended to women in 1662.

The exhibition will also be presenting about ten creations by G.B. Ballarino, a goldsmith from a company with a long tradition in the field of honorary decorations, authorized to raise the arms of the Royal House of Savoy and the Royal House of Bulgaria with the inscription “fornitore della Real Casa” (Royal House supplier) through gold, enamel and precious stone cross pendants.

Order of Danilo I of Montenegro. Photo by
Martina Pace

The museum, the first in Italy and one of a few in the world dedicated to jewelry, is located inside the Basilica Palladiana and is managed by Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A. (IEG)—the trade show company generated by a merger between Rimini Fiera and Fiera di Vicenza—in partnership with Vicenza Municipal Council.

The museum is the result of IEG’s commitment to promoting the universal culture of Italian gold and jewelry, a sector in which it is well known as a global Business Hub thanks to the VicenzaOro international jewelry trade show.

Royal Order of Cambodia. Photo by Martina Pace

For more information follow this link.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet, the Forbes website and on Instagram @JewelryNewsNetwork

Laurence Graff Receives Order of the British Empire

Laurence Graff, founder of the one world’s most successful jewelry brands, has received one of the highest honors awarded by the British Monarchy. He has been named to Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honors List, receiving a “Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” for his “Services to Jewelry.”

The OBE recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences and public services outside the civil service and work with charitable and welfare organizations.

The 75-year-old chairman of Graff Diamonds began his career in jewelry at the age of 15 working as a jeweler’s apprentice in London’s Hatton Garden. Sixty years later the British-born billionaire leads a global luxury jewelry business with boutiques in UK and Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Also during this time, he has taken ownership of some of the world’s rarest and most precious diamonds and gemstones, including the Wittelsbach-Graff, the Idol’s Eye, the Imperial Blue, the Blue Ice, the Magnificence, the Graff Pink, the Delaire Sunrise, the Graff Constellation, the Flame and the Graff Sweethearts.

“From humble beginnings and a lifetime working in the industry, I am extremely proud to receive such an honor,” Graff said. “I was born to be amongst diamonds, they are my true passion and this passion translates into everything I do.”

A total of 1,180 people were named on the Birthday Honors list, released June 15. The British Honors System is made up of five awards of differing rank. In descending order, they are as follows:

* Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)
* Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE)
* Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
* Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
* Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

The highest two ranks entitle its recipient to become a knight or dame.

The awards are presented twice each year in June (Queen’s Birthday Honors) and on New Year’s Eve.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Diamond Empowerment Fund to Honor Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter

Global luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter Diamonds will be honored for global leadership in helping empower people in Africa, at the second annual GOOD Awards on January 10, 2013.

The GOOD Awards, established by the Diamond Empowerment Fund in 2012, are the highest awards to recognize individuals and corporations in the diamond and jewelry industry for outstanding leadership in the areas of good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and promoting opportunity in Africa.

Tiffany & Co. has been in the forefront of promoting business practices and programs that benefit communities in which diamonds are sourced. Tiffany’s work in Botswana and other diamond producing countries highlights one of the many ways the company demonstrates accountability through best business practices resulting in employment, infrastructure improvements, and ultimately the empowerment of people in that region.

Leo Schachter Diamonds was one of the first diamond companies to establish a cutting factory in Botswana, employing hundreds of locals. In addition, Elliot Tannenbaum, principal of Leo Schachter Diamonds, in partnership with the government of Botswana, helped to establish the Botswana Top Achievers Program, a DEF beneficiary, that funds top students from the nation to study at the university of their choice worldwide.

Additional honorees will be announced soon. For more information on tickets, journal ads and sponsorship packages please visit www.goodawards.org.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Web site.