Hancocks London has selected a circa 1970 turquoise and lapis lazuli bracelet by Illario as its Jewel of the Month for June, and those familiar with vintage Italian jewelry will recognize the piece’s backstory.
The bracelet is built as a highly articulated 18k yellow gold brick-link construction, its geometric pattern incorporating diamonds along with the turquoise and lapis. The graphic, boldly colored composition reads as unmistakably of its era without feeling dated.
Illario is a name that doesn’t always surface in mainstream jewelry conversation, but its fingerprints are on a number of celebrated Italian pieces of the 20th century. Founded in 1920 by brothers Carlo, Vincenzo, and Luigi Illario in Valenza Po (a town in Piedmont that has long been one of Italy’s most important goldsmithing centers), the workshop built a reputation for technical precision that brought it to the attention of prestigious Italian houses.
Illario’s partnership with Bulgari, which ran from the 1950s through the 1970s, produced some of the most covetable pieces of the period, including the iconic Serpenti watch bracelets that became synonymous with mid-century Italian glamour. In addition to its manufacturing work, Illario produced and sold pieces under its own name—this bracelet is an example.
“Vintage Illario pieces are not always easy to find, and when they are, they embody everything we look for in a great jewel: masterful craftsmanship, strong design, and a piece that is simply made to be worn,” said Guy Burton, managing director of Hancocks London, in a statement. “This is one of my favorite pieces we are currently offering for sale, and it is perfect for this time of year given its bold colors that make it a particularly striking piece to wear.”
The bracelet, priced at £27,500 (approximately $37,000), is currently on display at Hancocks London, 62 St James’s St.
(Photos courtesy of Hancocks London)
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