Influenced by the artisanal beauty of Florence, Ippolita Rostagano set off to change the way women wear jewelry in everyday life. The first Ippolita collection was launched in 1999 at Bergdorf Goodman, but Rostagano’s first jewelry creations were less than commercial.
Rostagano was born in Florence, Italy to an Italian father and American mother. The jeweler credits her love of the craft to her experiences growing up in the artisanal culture of Florence where goods are hand crafted with care and artistry. However, it was in New York City where Ippolita started making jewelry.
In the early ‘90s, Rostagano began making jewelry in her own apartment to fill the crafting void in her life since leaving Florence. She soon looked for inspiration in department and chain stores as she had no prior experience in the fashion world. She noticed the trends connecting the types of women depending on the types of stores they shopped.
Eventually, she noticed a gap in the market and took a leap of faith. She noted Banana Republic had no jewelry collection of their own and proposed she step in to lead their direction. Along the way, Rostagano learned the ins and outs of jewelry manufacturing and the trade. However, she came to the realization that her name was not on the jewelry and her jewelry was confined to the aesthetic of Banana Republic.
So, in 1999, Ippolita Rostagano founded her eponymous jewelry company, a collection of jewelry with her own tastes in mind. The philosophy behind Ippolita is one of casual luxury. The pieces are trendy enough for everyday wear, but fine enough to keep for a lifetime. Initially her designs were only in 18k gold, but eventually Ippolita grew into its signature look.
Now, Ippolita’s designs heavily feature bright and colorful gemstones in unique cuts and shapes, all with a casual, fashionable and, most importantly, completely wearable designs. The pieces are crafted from 18k yellow and white gold and sterling silver. The metal is hammered or smooth, plain or featuring gemstones like London blue topaz, citrine, tourmaline, rubies, amethyst and more.
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