It was a special Epiphany for me. I was awarded once again at the Italian Wedding Awards, in the jewellery category, confirming a path already begun with the recognition obtained the previous year.
For me it is not just an award. It is confirmation of the value of the tailored masterpiece, of authentic craftsmanship and a way of working that puts people's stories at the heart, not mass production.
Italian Wedding Awards: a special edition
The Italian Wedding Awards, now in their fifth edition, reward the excellence and professionalism of Italian weddings across various categories: jewellery, bridalwear, groomswear, banqueting, wedding cars, cake designers, destination wedding planners, videographers and photographers.
That year, the health emergency linked to Covid-19 forced the organisers to hold an online ceremony. However, the distance did not take away from the value of the emotions, the surprises and the meaning of the award.
After winning the regional semi-final in the Jewellery category, among the best wedding suppliers in Puglia, I have reached the national final.
The jury, made up of national and international judges, wanted once again to reward not only Antonio Colonna, but a precise idea: behind every important piece of jewellery there should be a thought, an intuition, a concept, a story.
Tailored jewel and mass-produced jewel
Since I started my career, I have always been on the side of Vero. Made in Italy. and of the jewel designed for a specific person.
To make known the importance of choosing a Bespoke personalised jewellery means defending a creative process that starts with listening, goes through the design phase and leads to the delivery of something that could belong to no one else.
When I want to explain the difference between industrial jewellery and bespoke jewellery, I often use a simple metaphor. Mass-produced jewellery is like a car: it can change model, finish or detail, but it is created to be replicated.
The bespoke or artisanal piece of jewellery, on the other hand, is a custom model. It is born from a specific story, a precise desire, for an identity that cannot be standardised.
The meaning of victory
I am well aware that the competition with the world of mass-produced, branded jewellery still has a long way to go. But recognitions like this confirm that there is an important space for those who seek authenticity, expertise and a direct relationship with the master craftsman.
Since 1993, the year I embarked on my journey to become Master Goldsmith, I carry forward the same belief: through a piece of jewellery, one does not merely give a precious object. One gives a feeling, a fragment of life, a meaning.
In the wedding sector, this awareness becomes even stronger. A wedding ring, an engagement ring or a piece of jewellery created for a promise should not simply represent a brand. They should hold a story.
That is why I continue to believe in the value of bespoke jewellery: a creation conceived, designed and crafted around the person who will wear it.
Those who wish to delve deeper into this path can start with the pages dedicated to Bespoke wedding rings Oh, hey narrative jewellery.