Maria Cristina Buccellati: The Heiress of an Italian Treasure

Maria Cristina Buccellati, third generation of the eponymous brand, embodies the image of the jewelry house: authentic, glam but most of all passionate.

What time do you wake up?
About seven or seven-thirty. I go to bed at three in the morning, so I just sleep for about four hours a night. My life is a continuous race against time! Every single minute is important to me because I want to live my life to the fullest. Despite my chaotic use of time, I try to lead a balanced personal life, to devote myself to myself, to exercise and so on.

Tell us about the brand's story
Buccellati is an Italian brand that was born in 1919. It was founded by my grandfather, and my father followed his steps. He had an exceptional sense of art and creation, and my brother has also inherited this gift. It seems that this talent is only given to one person per generation, and it's my brother who is currently at the top regarding creativity. Personally, my talent is more focused on communication. It's a family business and even the craftsmen who work for us are doing the work from generation to generation. It's a job, of course, but what it's really all about is the passion.

Any change of course?
I knew that I was going to work at Buccellati since I was six years old. At a very young age, I went to the workshops to see the process. My future had always been an evidence to me. I trained in sales and production departments and gained some experience. After the birth of my daughter, I returned to work to take over the communication, the promotion and the image of Buccellati.

Who encouraged you the most?
My father Gianmaria Buccellati has always supported and motivated me.

What are the results so far?
Very positive. We didn't get affected by the economic crisis that shook the sector. We have been continuously growing since 2013. Bucellati is a small private company that has managed to expand throughout the world.

What makes your product special?
Our product is very different from others; we never compete with other brands. Most of our jewels are unique pieces and our classics are immediately recognized. Buccellati has its own school for craftsmen to train its future goldsmiths on the values of know-how and the tradition of the house.

Your future projects?
We want to develop the Asian market further, particularly Singapore. We have recently opened a shop in South Korea, and China is probably going to be our second step.

WORK MOTTO
"Never give up."