IWC, or the International Watch Company, is renowned for the remarkable craftsmanship behind their timepieces. The brand is famous for its exceptional chronographs and tourbillons, especially in the pilot’s watches that made the brand famous in the 1930s and were built to survive the rigorous lifestyle led by an adventurer. IWC pieces connote luxury, but they also represent the needs of a wearer who prizes precision and demands the latest in watchmaking technology.

It is this unique combination of luxury and practicality that endears IWC to watch enthusiasts, but that is also what makes these pieces particularly susceptible to counterfeiting. We’ve pulled together some tips from our experts about spotting fake IWC watches to help you protect yourself from getting scammed with a counterfeit.

The Dial

The IWC brand takes immense pride over the level of meticulous craftsmanship that it envelopes into the production of each timepiece. It is this craftsmanship that makes every precisely-engineered element of IWC timepieces fit together seamlessly. Counterfeiters are often less concerned about that exact fit, so forged IWCs are often off in terms of layout and material quality. Here are a few specifics to look for when examining the dial of an IWC watch that may be fake.

The Crystal

Like all luxury watches, genuine IWC watches have sapphire crystal guarding the face of the watch. This material is scratch-resistant and incredibly refined. To test whether the material on the face of your watch is sapphire crystal or just plain old glass, smear a drop of water or two on the surface. Sapphire crystal should not disturb the water’s surface tension, so it should pool together on the crystal. On glass, however, the water would disperse unevenly.

The Dial

Beneath the crystal, the dial of a genuine IWC watch is made with the highest quality metals with rich, uniform colors and ultra-sharp laser etchings and steel trimmings. Forged IWC watches, however, will not be made with such close attention to detail. For example, you will often find numbers, hour markers, and hands that are mismatched in color. Fake IWC watches also tend to have the wrong fonts for numbers and letters, and often in the wrong sizes. The hands will also be too short.

The Date Complication

IWC pays such close attention to detail that even the date disks can be indicative of whether a watch is a genuine IWC timepiece or not. On genuine watches, the date disk is flush against the frame opening and has a different design for each of the different IWC collections. In fact, different iterations between collections might even have different date disks. For example, the IWC Mark XVI Automatic has a different date window style than the IWC MARK XVII Automatic. Get to know the design of the genuine watch that you’re interested in well first so that you can immediately tell if another watch is fake or not. Counterfeiters will often use the wrong font, make the numbers too big, use the wrong date disk color, or have the date disk sunken in too far.

The Subdials

IWC watches often come with complications like a chronograph function, meaning the movement has additional elements. In genuine watches, the layout of the face of the watch, including (and especially) the placement of the subdials, has to perfectly correspond to these additional elements. Counterfeit IWC watches will often not follow the same layout since forgers will choose to move subdials closer to the center of the watch or make them smaller so that the face appears more symmetrical or appealing to the eye. These design changes seem small, but they are what can really help you discern a fake IWC watch from a real one.

In addition to that, the numbers on the subdials tend to be different on fake IWC watches, since counterfeiters pay much less attention to these sorts of details. In fact, make sure the subdials on your watch actually function! To make production cheaper, counterfeiters sometimes manufacture chronograph watches without a working chronograph function. To be sure, test out the pushers on the right side of your watch. There should only be two pushers on a chronograph, corresponding to the start/stop button and the flyback/reset button. They should be totally functional and incredibly precise at measuring time.

The Case

IWC’s amazing timekeeping technology is precious, which is why they have developed very strong cases that are still sleek and appealing to the eye.

The Bezel

If you find another pusher at 10 o’clock, you can automatically dismiss the watch as a counterfeit. On a genuine luxury watch, this element is not actually a pusher, but a helium release valve. Brands like Rolex and Omega outfit their deep sea diving watches with helium release valves because its purpose is to maintain the watches’ water resistance under extreme pressure. IWC does make diving watches, but these are not outfitted with helium release valves.

The beauty of IWC watches is that the cases are sleek and unobtrusive. Barring the diving watches in the Aquatimer collection, which have thick cases to make the watches more water resistant, most IWC watches have thinner bezels to really make the dial designs stand out. Even the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph watches have cases that are quite slim. Because they’re made of strong, high-quality metals, these cases still protect the inner workings of the watch despite their leanness. As counterfeit watches are made of cheap metals, forgers will choose to thicken up the case design to add heft to the watch and make it seem heavier and more luxurious in feeling, as well as to protect the watch’s movement.

The Crown

Similar to the cases, the crowns of IWC watches are quite slim so that the focus is truly on the watches’ dial designs and so that the overall shape of the watches are unobstructed by more prominent crowns. Counterfeiters will use thicker crowns for their fake IWC watches simply because it’s cheaper and easier to manufacture one crown shape and size for all models than it is to specially engineer the crown design to suit each watch.

The only exception to this rule is the crown for IWC Big Pilot’s Perpetual Calendar, which has a significant size and remarkable design. Because the crown uses a triple position system to set the various subdials, IWC designed it to be a prominent part of the watch’s overall design. Make sure that your Big Pilot’s Perpetual Calendar’s crown also has a triple position system to set the complications of the watch—if not, it’s a fake.

The Bracelet

Even down to the lug width, IWC pays close attention to the details of their timepieces. For example, IWC watches tend to have an uneven-numbered lug width (e.g. 21 mm), which fits their specialized straps. Knock-off watches might go down a millimeter or two to save on production and material costs, so keep an eye out for tiny discrepancies like that.

Obviously, the strap or bracelet is an incredibly important aspect of a watch’s design, and IWC spares no labor in designing premium bracelets for their watches. IWC has two metal bracelet designs, two leather or textile strap designs, and one rubber strap design. Some of these strap or bracelet designs have very specific features and are worth examining when it comes to authenticating an IWC watch. IWC’s stainless steel link bracelet allows the wearer to slightly alter the size of the bracelet at any time with a push on the button with the IWC logo at the center of the cover on the clasp and a slight tug or push on the bracelet. Naturally, the addition of this specific feature will be out of the scope of counterfeiters’ abilities.

The Santoni leather straps are made of alligator leather and calfskin and have a very specific sheen. IWC describes it as a “patina-like shimmer” that’s halfway between the matte texture of untreated leather and the plastic-y shine of patent leather. Santoni straps look polished and protected, so if your watch comes with a fake-looking patent leather strap or a dull, matte leather strap, it’s probably inauthentic.

The rubber strap only comes with the IWC Aquatimer collection and has a patented quick-change feature that makes it easy for wearers to switch between a metal bracelet and the rubber strap. The bracelet is pushed into the locking bar from the top and engages audibly. To release, press the lever on the underside of the bracelet outwards with your thumb and push the bracelet upwards. If your watch is not an Aquatimer watch but it has a rubber strap, or if it is but the rubber strap does not have the quick-change function, then your watch is probably fake.

If you have further questions regarding TrueFacet’s authentication process, contact our concierge representative here.

Understanding the difference between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry can be quite simple: it all comes down to the materials that the jewelry is made with. Figuring out the quality of the metals and the gemstones are all it takes to determine whether a piece of jewelry is considered fashion jewelry or fine jewelry. We’re walking you through the definitions that expert authenticators use when it comes to assuring the quality of jewelry so that you know what to look for when shopping for new additions to your jewelry collection.

Fashion Jewelry

Fashion jewelry, also known as costume jewelry, is usually made with base metals and simulated stones. These pieces are often made with brass, copper, or aluminum, which bend and tarnish easily. Jewelry made entirely out of textiles or leather, base metal alloys, and even metals plated with precious metals like gold or silver also fall under fashion jewelry. Simulated stones include plastic stones, cubic zirconia, and Swarovski crystals.

Some jewelry enthusiasts will insist upon a middle category called “semi-fine,” which is reportedly characterized by jewelry that is made with gold vermeil or is gold-filled. (To find out the difference between gold-plated, gold-filled, and gold vermeil, check out this post about jewelry metals). “Semi-fine” jewelry is also made with real gemstones that are much more affordable, like morganite and opals, or “enhanced” stones, which are treated with heat or chemicals in a lab to appear clearer or more flawless or to change the color of the stone.

The “semi-fine” category may be useful for jewelry makers to more accurately compartmentalize their jewelry, but it is not a standard by which experts and authenticators measure jewelry. In the eyes of an expert, “semi-fine” jewelry is still considered fashion jewelry because of its incorporation of base metals—again, the materials that make up the jewelry is the deciding factor behind whether a piece is considered fashion jewelry or fine jewelry.

Because fashion jewelry is made of materials that are prone to cracking or tarnishing, they do not have much of a shelf life. In addition to that, they are near impossible to fix once they have broken because the level of heat that would be required to solder the brass or copper pieces back together would simply leave the gold or silver plating blackened. Luckily, fashion jewelry tends to come at a much lower price than fine jewelry does, and a broken piece could easily be replaced entirely.

Fine Jewelry

Fine jewelry is used to describe jewelry made of solid gold, sterling silver, platinum, and/or other precious metals. This kind of jewelry also often uses genuine precious gemstones like real diamonds, rubies, sapphires, etc. Because it’s made entirely of solid precious metals and precious gemstones, fine jewelry is so much stronger than fashion jewelry and will not tarnish with proper care and storage. In addition to that, when broken, fine jewelry can be repaired. (For tips about repairing fine jewelry, read this post about what to do in such an event.) Fine jewelry may come at an elevated price point, but in truth, the value and longevity of these pieces are well worth the investment.

If you’re confused about where designer jewelry falls between these two categories, simply look at the composition of the piece. Some designers do raise prices on fashion jewelry simply because of the association with the brand name, making it seem as though a low-quality piece is actually worth more. But most brands only produce high-quality pieces made of precious metals and genuine gemstones. Do pay attention to hallmarks on your jewelry to figure out whether it’s fashion jewelry with a fancy brand name or truly fine jewelry.

If you are interested in investing in fine jewelry but are deterred by the price tag, you should definitely look into buying pre-owned. You get all of the high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship at a much more reasonable price. TrueFacet Marketplace sells pre-loved fine jewelry and watches, all of which have been authenticated by our in-house team of experts.

Breitling is a leader in the aviation watch industry and produces some of the finest pilot watches in the world. Breitling’s incredible attention to detail and premier craftsmanship is difficult for counterfeiters to replicate in their fake Breitling watches.

Here are some immediate warning signs to determine a real versus fake Breitling.

1. Weight
Breitling watches are heavy. They are substantial watches and feel much weightier than even some of their luxury counterparts by Rolex and Omega. If you slip the watch onto your wrist and do not immediately feel its heft, this is a big red flag that the watch in question is a fake Breitling.

2. The Different Breitling Logos
Breitling uses two types of logos on its watches. The first—and most easily recognized—is a winged anchor with the Breitling name underneath (above). There are two crucial points to notice in the real Breitling logo that most counterfeiters will not accurately mimic: first, there is a slight gap between the tip of the anchor and the wings, and, second, the inner lines that define the wings do not actually reach the end of the full wingspan. Fake Breitling watches usually miss these minute details with an anchor and wing that touch and lines that hit the end of the wing.

The other type of Breitling logo is reserved for Breitling’s Heritage collections and includes the signature cursive “B” above the Breitling name. Examine the logo closely as the “B” should be raised from the dial’s plane and the Breitling name should be etched into the dial. If the “B” is laid flat on the dial, that watch is definitely a fake.

3. The Seconds Hand
The seconds hand of an authentic Breitling watch will end with its iconic “B” and drop into an anchor shape. (Note: not all genuine Breitling watches include this design flourish. Double-check your specific model to see if this seconds hand detail is included.)

When you’re examining the watch in question, scrutinize the B’s width. The B on an authentic Breitling is actually not uniform throughout the lettering; instead, it stylistically becomes wider and thinner at certain points. Inauthentic Breitling watches may approximate the shape of the “B” but with the same width around the entire letter.

Turning your attention to the anchor, the pointed ends of the anchor should be clean and sharp. If the anchor looks too rounded at the ends or lacks definition at its point, you’re likely looking at a fake Breitling.

4. The Calendar Window
A clear warning sign can be found in the calendar window. The numbers within Breitling’s calendar window occupy the entire space. These large numbers are easy to read and clearly drawn. While some convincing fake Breitling watches will include those large numbers, the figures still will not fill the full window space.

5. The Engraved Buckle
Unclasp the watch and run your fingers across the Breitling engraved on the buckle. You should be able to feel the grooves of each letter. The backside, alternatively, should be perfectly smooth. This engraved detail is likely to be included on a counterfeit Breitling—and even have fairly accurate spacing—but you can clearly feel the difference between the deep lettering of a genuine Breitling and the shallow stamp of a knock-off.

Raymond Weil watches came about during the Quartz Crisis, a time of great uncertainty for the Swiss watch industry. However, by deftly blending together the tradition of watchmaking and the modern technology, Raymond Weil has left its indelible mark on the watch industry. Here, we explore the fascinating history of Raymond Weil watches.

Setting the Scene: The Quartz Crisis
Before we can delve into the origins of Raymond Weil, we need to understand the precarious situation the Swiss industry was in before and during the infamous Quartz Crisis.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, a handful of international watch brands started introducing battery-powered watches, including the Bulova Accutron (1960), the Seiko Astron (1969), and the Hamilton Watch Company Pulsar (1970). While these innovative watches were met with some fanfare, it was the Japanese watch brand Seiko that took the biggest bite out of the previously unrivaled Swiss watch industry.

Throughout the decade, Seiko systematically converted its facilities to support its quartz technology by retraining staff, partnering with vendors for batteries and circuits, and buying up equipment to automate and scale production. By 1977, Seiko had built itself into the largest watch brand in the world in terms of revenue. Seiko dominated the market, thanks in large part to its split between analog and digital quartz watches, hedging out its competition from both sides.

So, Seiko has the lion’s share of the market’s revenue and the traditional Swiss brands are finally coming around to the harsh reality that their floundering industry is in dire need of restructuring. And it’s in the midst of this incredible industry turmoil and uncertainty that Raymond Weil launched his breakthrough brand.

The Origins of Raymond Weil
Raymond Weil founded his namesake brand in 1976 and was wisely ahead of the Swiss watchmaking curve. Born in 1926 in Geneva, Weil cut his teeth working at the Camy Watch Company, which he joined in 1949. He became the company’s general manager and remained with the brand for 27 years. Then, at the age of 50, Weil left Camy Watch and boldly struck out on his own at the height of the Quartz Crisis.

But Weil took a totally novel approach to compete in this tumultuous arena. While his competitors either hopped on the bandwagon of cheap quartz watches or tried to hold out with their traditional watchmaking techniques, Raymond Weil introduced and effectively marketed the “entry-level luxury watch.”

Raymond Weil’s watches were (and most still are) powered by quartz crystals but leaned into the cachet of “Swiss-made” watches and incorporated the classic designs and touches of a traditional Swiss watch. This unique approach was a breakthrough at a crucial time in the industry’s history, appealing to both new and seasoned collectors. Alongside the Swatch Group, Raymond Weil is largely credited with sustaining the Swiss watchmaking industry until its mechanical renaissance in the 1980s.

Today, the brand Raymond Weil remains one of the last remaining independent, family-run Swiss brands. With the third generation of the Weil-Bernheim family at the helm, Raymond Weil holds steadfast to its identity that was built around such a cutting-edge approach: gracefully designed, Swiss-made watches at an affordable price point.

Bulgari is a beloved and internationally renowned jewelry brand, best recognized for its B.Zero1, Serpenti, and namesake BVLGARI BVLGARI collections.

However, Bulgari’s far-reaching popularity makes it incredibly susceptible to counterfeiters. We break down some basic red flags to signal that a piece of Bulgari jewelry is inauthentic and delve into more collection-specific warning signs for fake Bulgari jewelry.

General Red Flags of a Piece of Fake Bulgari Jewelry
The Material and Weight
Bulgari jewelry is made from weighty precious materials and therefore has a nice amount of heft. If you’re handling a piece of questionable jewelry and it feels oddly lightweight, it’s very likely a fake piece of Bulgari jewelry.

That said, some counterfeiters will go so far as to use genuine materials (like real diamonds or gemstones) in their knock-offs—so, while you may have a real diamond pendant, it’s not an authentic Bulgari piece. This makes it more challenging to immediately distinguish a fake from a real piece and why analyzing the design and craftsmanship is so important to sniffing out an inauthentic piece.

The BVLGARI Hallmark
Bulgari uses the traditional Roman spelling BVLGARI as their logo and their official trademarked stamp. (For more on how to distinguish the two spellings, read our post “Is it Bulgari or Bvlgari?” here.) Certain Bulgari stamps are written in Italian, like “Roma,” or in French, like “Fabrique en Suisse,” as on their watches. Meanwhile, forged pieces of Bulgari jewelry may sloppily stamp the signature as BULGARI or “Made in Italy.”

How to Spot a Fake Bulgari B.Zero1 Ring

The B.Zero1 collection is an signature design for Bulgari. As such, it is one of the more frequently counterfeited collections, too.

One big tip-off for a fake Bulgari B.Zero1 ring can be easily spotted in B.Zero1 rings with multiple bands. The double- and tri-banded B.Zero1 rings are actually built as an elegant spiral and the bands gently compress and expand when you press them together. Meanwhile, counterfeit B.Zero1 rings are oftentimes made as a solid piece of metal, with etched grooves imitating that authentic spiral shape. In turn, the rigid ring won’t contract.

To learn more about how to determine a real versus fake Bulgari B.Zero1 ring, read our full post on the topic here.

How to Spot a Fake Bulgari Serpenti Bracelet

The Bulgari Serpenti collection channels the seductive serpent motif from ancient Greek and Roman mythology. The Serpenti collection is also an engineering marvel; the individual links and scales that make up the Serpenti’s slinking shape fit together perfectly. This gives the Bulgari Serpenti a marvelous balance of form and movement. On a genuine Bulgari Serpenti bracelet, the serpent’s “resting” shape is in the wrapped or coiled position. To slip it on, you simply gently unfurl the bracelet and let it wrap around your wrist.

Fake Serpenti bracelets, however, will be a solid rigid piece or articulate at only a few of the hinging scales. Alternatively, if the Serpenti bracelet in question unwinds completely or lays totally flat when off your wrist, it’s an immediate sign of inauthenticity.

How to Spot a Fake BVLGARI BVLGARI Station Necklace

Bulgari’s BVLGARI BVLGARI collection was inspired by the inscriptions on ancient Roman gold coins. Because the design is so elegantly simple, it makes it an attractive design for counterfeiters to mimic.

On an authentic piece of BVLGARI BVLGARI jewelry, the lettering will be evenly spaced and is separated by two circles. The top BVLGARI stamp is centered across the top and then the bottom BVLGARI stamp runs upside down across the bottom. (There are a handful of newer BVLGARI BVLGARI designs that read BVLGARI ROMA but are still authentic Bulgari designs. Cross-reference the piece you’re eyeing with a known picture of the genuine design to double-check which text it includes.)

The quality of the stamp is important to note. The real BVLGARI BVLGARI stamp is clean with sharp edges whereas a fake version will have a messier stamp with less definition or rounded edges.

Whether you’re trucking through a blistering New York City summer or you’re enjoying a luxe vacation in the sunny, sand-filled paradise of Belize, you’re still bound to show off your favorite pieces of jewelry. However, neither the thick humidity and pollution of the city nor the hot, salty air of the beach are good for your precious pieces.

We’ve put together a few tips from our experts to help you take care of your jewelry and keep them looking fresh and sparkly in the summer heat.

Our tips mostly fall under the realm of three categories: damage prevention, cleansing, and storage. These are the departments of jewelry care that you need to pay special attention to when it comes to keeping jewelry in pristine condition in warm climes.

Damage Prevention 
Before you even get the chance to inadvertently damage your jewelry, you should keep these tips in mind, especially if your summer plans include a body of water.

1. Avoid wearing particularly vulnerable pieces out on the beach.
Though you may want to show off the gorgeous 22 karat gold bracelet that you bought for yourself as a treat, it would be best if you kept that particular piece at home if you’re planning a trip to the beach. Gold is a very soft metal, and the higher the karat (meaning the purer the gold), the more vulnerable a gold piece is to nicks, scratches, and even warping. With all the sand blowing around at the beach, your precious jewelry would be at serious risk of damage.

The sea salt is also especially damaging for certain metals and gemstones. You should keep pieces embedded with soft gemstones like emerald or opal at home, since stones like these are porous and can absorb the salt from the air. That will lead to them rotting from the inside out. Leave copper-infused metals in storage as well: to keep your precious rose gold or stainless steel in perfect condition, keep them away from salt. Salt corrodes copper, and it will inevitably damage your copper-infused pieces as well.

When going to the beach, your safest bet is to don lower-karat gold or sturdy platinum pieces if you want to accessorize.

2. Keep your jewelry out of chlorine.
With warm weather often comes the insurmountable need to take a dip in the pool, but do yourself and your jewelry collection a favor by taking your pieces off before you dive in. Chlorine is terrible for jewelry: like salt to copper, chlorine is corrosive to most jewelry metals. Sources conflict about whether platinum is affected by chlorine, but to play it safe, keep platinum jewelry away from chlorine, too. The chemical is so bad for jewelry that prolonged exposure can lead to discoloration or the dulling of shine at best and cracking at worst.

3. Take off rings before entering cold water.
Your extremities tend to shrink when your body is submerged in freezing water, so it’s best to slip your rings back into your jewelry box before taking a dip to avoid losing them to the depths of the ocean or to the mercy of the pool filter.

Cleansing
Jewelry is more prone to damage during the summer season than any other time of year primarily because of all the liquids the metals are exposed to. Sweat, lotions, sunscreens, and, of course, pool water and salt water are all inevitably part of the summer experience. Follow these tricks to keep your jewelry fresh and damage-free.

1. Wipe your pieces down with a soft polishing cloth at the end of the day.
Prolonged exposure to sweat can seriously damage your jewelry: sterling silver can even turn black if made vulnerable to the body’s natural oils! As such, be sure to wipe off your jewelry after wearing them, especially if they’ve been exposed to your skin. Make sure you’re only using a polishing cloth, and not a bath towel, to clean the pieces, since the loops in the fabric of towels can catch on the details of your piece and loosen any gemstone settings or warp carvings.

2. Use mild soap diluted with water to give your pieces a deep cleaning.
High quality jewelry is delicate and often porous, so when you need to slather on sunscreen or moisturize dry skin, do so before you put on your jewelry, and let your skin completely absorb the lotions and creams first. Your skin should be totally dry when you put on jewelry because the chemicals in commercial lotions and creams can really damage your jewelry. If you’re the type to leave your pieces on while putting on skincare products, then you should definitely be deep cleaning your jewelry.

Use this guide we’ve put together for deep cleaning jewelry made of different types of metals to make sure you’re following the correct procedure for your specific pieces of jewelry

3. Have your pieces regularly cleaned by a professional.
Whether you deep clean your jewelry yourself or not, it’s smart to take your pieces in for a professional cleaning by a licensed jeweler. They have special jewelry cleaning machines that can remove dirt, salt, or other potentially harmful particles from your pieces. In addition to that, a jeweler will also check the settings on your jewelry to make sure no gemstones are loose.

Storage
Whether it’s the middle of July or the dead of January, it’s important to properly store your jewelry so that you can be sure that it won’t sustain damage when not in use.

1. Keep jewelry locked away in a cool, dark place when not in use.
During the summer months, you bring your jewelry out where it’s sunny and warm, and while this isn’t bad for the pieces in small doses, it’s important that when you get home, they get to have a reprieve from the bright light and the heat. Too much sunlight can fade gemstones, and, if it gets hot enough, the metal can easily bend or warp. Stash your pieces away in a cool, dark place when not in use to prevent damage.

2. Use anti-tarnish strips for silver.
If you can’t control the humidity of the room in which your jewelry is kept, always be sure to store silver jewelry with anti-tarnish strips. Even the little silica packets that come with new shoes or bags are perfect for storing with silver! The point is to wick moisture away from the environment so that silver doesn’t tarnish or rust. This is especially useful if your silver has been exposed to water, since any residual moisture from the water or from the cleaning will dry off without sustaining damage to your jewelry.

3. Store jewelry separately.
Much like how sand can scratch or nick your jewelry, hard gemstones like diamonds can do serious damage to other pieces if stored loosely. For the good of your jewelry collection, it’s best if you store pieces separately, preferably in a jewelry box lined with fabric so that each individual piece is cushioned and thoroughly protected.

Main image via Pinterest.

Roberto Coin’s jewelry is renowned for its alluring femininity and its unshakeable roots in Italian art, architecture, and history. The lively spirit and fluid structure of Roberto Coin pieces embody the colorful and vivacious energy that runs deep within the culture of Italy.

However, Coin’s pieces do not simply pay homage to the culture that inspires their designs: they are also incredibly diverse, rendering them remarkably stylistically flexible. These pieces can play the centerpiece to any jewelry collection in the world.

Nevertheless, one Roberto Coin collection truly rises above the rest. We’re taking you inside the Barocco collection, its modern descendant, and the amazing artisanal technique that unites the two.

Roman Barocco: The Original

The most popular collection of Coin’s arrangement of designs is undoubtedly the Roman Barocco collection. Named after the Italian word for “Baroque,” this Roberto Coin classic embodies the heavily-detailed, ornamental style of the Baroque era. Roman Barocco pieces are heavily influenced by the cathedrals and religious imagery of Rome, as evinced by the diamond-shaped cage design and the signature twisted thread motif.

The diamond-shaped cutout effect that Roman Barocco pieces demonstrate contributes to the light, airy aesthetic that makes these pieces ultra-wearable. While they have a significant presence on the body, the design is subtle enough so that they don’t overpower the rest of the ensemble. This particular element was inspired by Roman cupolas, which are small towers built on top of buildings to help air circulate, an architectural feature that was developed during the Renaissance.

The twisted thread motif, which is signature to the Barocco collection, brings a remarkable amount of detail and dimension to each Barocco piece. The woven gold evokes early medieval religious art, which was often bordered or ornamented by twisted ropes. This detail is also proof positive of Roberto Coin’s amazing artisanship as a jewelry house: created with longevity in mind, the threads that make up each Barocco piece were welded out of a specially-concocted alloy that becomes remarkably durable once cured in a certain type of oven. The very thin gold threads are artfully twisted together while still malleable after being heated, resulting in a one-of-a-kind design that will last through the ages.

New Barocco: The Evolution

Everything is sleek in the 21st century, including and especially the jewelry. Stackable and customizable rings, bracelets, and necklaces rule the market. The New Barocco collection is Roberto Coin’s response to that trend. The modern descendant of the Roman Barocco, the New Barocco retains the solid roots in Italian heritage but forgoes the complex ornamentation tied to Baroque art in favor of a sleeker silhouette that envelopes more powerful and meaningful symbols into the design, instead.

Characterized by two principal looks, the collection features pieces whose designs incorporate either pavé diamond clusters or Navette-shaped cage effects. Borrowing inspiration from Italian culture and religion like its predecessor, the New Barocco collection marries the complex artistic styles of the 1600s with the pragmatic styles of the modern era.

The pavé diamond clusters are welded together in a dome shape to suggest volume and to make a significant visual impact. Inspired by the domes that sit atop Italian cathedrals, the pavé diamond design is meant to catch the eye, much as the churches do when they stand out against the Roman skyline. The pavé clusters throw impressive halos of light thanks to their many facets, a feat that would not have had the same effect from a single, large stone. Whether the clusters form the center of a statement ring, stations of a necklace, or the primary element of a drop earring, they maintain a unique allure that is the result of the perfect balance between the antique and the modern.

The Navette-shaped cage design, similar to the diamond-shaped design of the Roman Barocco collection, brings levity to the New Barocco pieces. Though it was inspired by the netting in bridal veils, this romantic design element is also evocative of cathedral windows. As some Navette-designed New Barocco pieces also feature several beautiful marquise diamonds, the fire and brilliance thrown by the stones in these pieces of jewelry combine with that elegant shape to conjure the memory of the stained glass that decorates Italy’s churches. And, like in the Roman Barocco collection, the twisted thread motif that makes up the Navette cages calls back to the decorations in religious art. It is this motif that unites the old with the new and shows off the remarkable Roberto Coin craftsmanship that wins the hearts of jewelry enthusiasts everywhere.

Roberto Coin’s ethos is as romantic as his many jewelry collections are: “Art is the beauty of life. Love is the soul of nature.” The designer makes sure that each of his specially-crafted pieces is full of the same lively sentimentality. Coupled with the charming ruby detail hidden inside each Roberto Coin piece that’s meant to bring good fortune to the wearer, the unique designs from this jewelry house are meant to bring out the idealist in all of us.

Inspired by the world around him, Roberto Coin produces a remarkable number of new collections every year, and each one embodies a fresh spirit that appeals to the senses in a different way. We’re looking at 5 of the brand’s latest collections and picking out the best pieces from each one to help guide you to the best Roberto Coin purchase for your sense of style.

New Barocco
The New Barocco collection from Roberto Coin takes root in the religious influence of the Baroque period but removes the complex ornamentation. Instead, these pieces are sleek and uncomplicated, choosing instead to use beautiful marquise-cut diamonds and twisted-thread detailing to make the exquisite craftsmanship of the pieces sing. To represent this collection, we’ve chosen the Rose Gold Braid Bangle, the Diamond Station Necklace, and the 18K Yellow Gold Earrings.

Classica Parisien
Roberto Coin’s Classica Parisienne collection is all clean lines, all the time. Including a fresh take on the classic hoop and concentric rounded square necklaces, this collection is simple and minimalist without being trite. From this collection, we recommend the Hoop Earrings with Diamonds and the Diamond Bangle.

Princess Flower
A sharp quatrefoil-like shape is the star of the show for Roberto Coin’s Princess Flower collection. The designs in this collection are fluid and organic, and yet each piece is breathtakingly unique. While some evoke the ornamentalist attitudes of the Baroque period, others remain alluringly simple—thus allowing everyone to have a petal of the flower that fits their style and jewelry wardrobe. We select the Diamond Earrings, the Diamond Charm Bracelet, and the Flower Pendant Necklace.

Venetian Princess
Like its sister collection, Princess Flower, Roberto Coin’s Venetian Princess collection uses a four-point flower as its main motif. However, while the Princess Flower collection focuses on the natural spirit of the design, the Venetian Princess collection explores the transcendent aspect of it. The bigger and bolder pieces of this collection would not be out of place at the Met Cloisters museum, where medieval art is the star of the exhibit. And yet, the sleek, simple necklaces and bracelets tell different stories: some are perfectly delicate, others are more significant, cuff-like designs whose unique gemstone arrangement draws the eye. Almost all Venetian Princess pieces are also designed to have a three-dimensional silhouette, bringing an alluring complexity to the collection. Our favorites are the White Gold Bracelet with White and Black Diamonds, the Diamond Earrings, and the Diamond Ring.

Symphony
Roberto Coin’s Symphony collection is a pentatonic masterpiece. Five different designs, exhibiting the subtle cadences of each of Roberto Coin’s collections, come together to inform this simple but significant collection. The bracelets, rings, and necklaces are thin and stackable, allowing for an astounding level of personalization. Each piece is a shining example of Roberto Coin’s exemplary artisanship, and it is this collection’s unique advantage that it captures the spirit of the Roberto Coin pathos in the details of these petite pieces without sacrificing estimable Italian craftsmanship. From this collection, we love the Rose Gold Diamond Bangle, the Diamond Pendant Bracelet, and the Diamond Hoop Earrings.