With boyhood memories of his father’s jewelry workshop, Italian designer Marco Bicego started his eponymous company as we welcomed the new millennium. Twenty-five years later, he has a lot of experience—and creations—under his belt.
Since its beginnings in Italy in the year 2000, the Marco Bicego brand has grown to international distribution—from the United States (Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and Saks among its retail partners) to much of Europe and Asia (a second China store, in Shanghai, opened last year)—and earned fans with its recognizable work. In Italy, Marco Bicego has flagship stores in Venice and Verona.
As any small or midsize business owner knows, 25 years is a benchmark worth commemorating, and Marco Bicego is honoring its achievement with a capsule collection featuring 25 of its most celebrated designs. You’ll find much of what the brand has become known for: luminous, velvety brushed gold, glittering diamonds, and faceted gemstones, often bezel-set or dangling like charms.
“I firmly believe in the importance of preserving craftsmanship, as ‘made in Italy’ is a globally recognized symbol of excellence,” Bicego tells JCK. “Especially when it comes to engraving, it demands rare skills and an exceptional level of savoir faire. In our company, we continue a centuries-old goldsmithing tradition, proudly kept in-house, and I take great pride in that. Over the years I have preserved this level of craftmanship while also innovating new techniques, such as experimenting with gemstones I sourced for a one-of-a-kind piece or pressing the thin gold strands to form the flat coil central to the Masai collection.”
The 25 Best capsule tells the story of the brand’s journey, starting with pieces from Marco Bicego’s very first collection, Marrakech, whose designs are modeled after the movement of sand dunes in the African desert.
Also represented are Lunaria, a collection—named for a species of flowering plant in southern Europe—that made its debut in 2014, and Masai, from 2016, which uses a coil technique in jewels inspired by the art and traditions of that African tribe.
Jewelry featuring Marco Bicego’s signature engraved style is also in the anniversary collection. And there are colorful gemstones—an ode to the designer’s passion for finds from his travels abroad. The Paradise line (from 2003) and 2008’s Jaipur Color include such gems as amethyst, quartz, and topaz, as well as tourmaline, one of Bicego’s favorites.
All 25 pieces can be found on the Marco Bicego website, along with many of the brand’s other offerings.
Top: Jaipur Gold link bracelet in 18k yellow gold, $8,400; Marco Bicego
