Through your unique journey, you’ve met people connected to you through love and shared creation. Tell us the story of your friendship with Uberta.
I met Uberta several years ago in Paris. We started working together since her store is where someone can find my jewelry in Milan, and from there, our friendship naturally grew.
What was the Milanese pop-up you two created together about, and how did it unfold in a city you love and that inspires you to create?
This summer, I spontaneously gave Uberta a piece of jewelry—a chain with gold letters spelling her name. It’s a gift I’ve also given to other friends. Uberta loved it, and so did her followers. That’s how the idea for a pop-up in Milan was born, where women would give us their favorite word, and Sophia—my assistant—and I would turn it into a piece of jewelry.
Tell us about the “Bla Bla” collection—how did the name come about, and what secret backstage stories does it carry?
I could never have imagined how fascinating this concept would be. How someone defines themselves through a single word they dare to wear around their neck. It has to do with our identity and how we connect to the outside world. Some women chose their own names, others chose the initials of their children, and then there were words that reflected who they are—like the word “joy.”
What do you consider the most important moments of this gathering?
That evening was a celebration of uniqueness—how each one of us carries something special and expresses it through a piece of jewelry. It was truly touching to see women who didn’t know each other begin talking, laughing, embracing. It was something truly emotional. Of course, the Wait and See store is a place that naturally brings people together through its unique identity.
What does female friendship mean to you, and how does it help you evolve in your work and creative life?
Female friendship is incredibly important to me. Our friends are our strength and our shield. The people we connect with help us grow—through the easy moments and the difficult ones.
Which achievements do you hold closest to your heart?
When it comes to achievements, I think I am quite strict with myself. I’ve done many things in my life, but I focus on the essentials: being a good mother, a good friend, a good daughter. And leading a team that creates beautiful jewelry. I love that I help women feel stronger and more beautiful in their everyday lives.
The expressive Italian temperament seems to align beautifully with your own authentic and multifaceted creative universe. Do you feel the same?
My relationship with Italy is very meaningful. First, I lived in Rome for two years while studying Art History during my first degree. Second, I have very dear friends there. Third—and most importantly—I work extensively with materials made in Italy, such as Murano glass. I think it’s a very convenient excuse to visit often. I love Italy’s history, its art, its food, and every time I travel anywhere in the country, I have a wonderful time.
Celebrating 25 years of an extraordinary journey, at which moments does your heart beat the strongest, and what were the highlights of the brand’s grand celebration?
I focus on the present. The present holds great value; I’m not particularly nostalgic, even though there have been many glorious moments. I’ve walked a powerful, prestigious path. After 25 years, I still feel relevant, as if I’m just beginning. I also feel immense gratitude for my team and my collaborators.
What is the best styling for your jewelry?
There is no “best” or “worst” styling. I believe every person has their own character, and what I love most is seeing a woman wear my jewelry in her own authentic way—sometimes in a way I would never have imagined myself.
Give us your own definition of beauty.
For me, the definition is clear: beauty is a state that, when we come into contact with it, makes us want to become better people.
What do you consider authentic in today’s world?
What is authentic today is what has always been authentic. I simply feel that authenticity often gets lost in a sea of generic things and words. In a world where everything is produced quickly and looks the same—even our taste palette—the “authentic” gains new value because it contains a lost truth and uniqueness, perhaps even a touch of nostalgia.
On the other hand, today we have unlimited tools and possibilities for personal creation and expression. What is authentic? I always return to the etymology: auto — oneself; enti — “I am,” “I exist”; the one who has authority over themselves. Having authority over ourselves and over our expression, stripping away external influences, is the essence of authenticity. This has always existed and always will.
Perhaps the issue lies more in “the eye of the beholder,” to paraphrase Margaret Wolfe Hungerford. That is, authenticity may also carry subjective criteria.
