Winter red

We are used to associating coral with the summer season. Its aquatic origin, its vital colors and all the marine plant imagery to which it is linked inevitably lead us to think of it as a cult item to be flaunted on sunny summer days. But coral, precisely due to its vitality and as traditional as it is bold, can be perfect for adding a touch of elegance to winter days.

Here are the proposals from three Italian companies which, in addition to reinterpreting this “living gem”, a cornerstone of jewellery since antiquity, in a contemporary key, can also provide certificates to prove its sustainable origin.

Starting with a Sicilian brand is a must since coral has been worked in Sicily for centuries and has a deep-rooted and absolutely characteristic production, well represented by Franco Padiglione, a historic goldsmith whose creations are the result of a wealth of experience and passion for the art, handed down from generation to generation. The result is unrepeatable jewelry, poetic creations able to merge the magic of the distant past with contemporary design.

Still in Sicily, from the heart of ancient Alcamo, amidst bright colors and Mediterranean vegetation, comes jewellery by designer Lidia Lucchese featuring a totally original design that encases the most famous symbols of Sicilian tradition.

In Valenza, on the other hand, Pallavidini's creations in natural pink coral, one of the rarest and most precious varieties, particularly stand out.

Antonella Reina, Editor VO+