There are places in the world that transcend geography. Places that live in myth, radiance, and memory. Capri is one of them. Its cliffs, bathed in sunlight and surrounded by turquoise waters, rise like an ode to beauty and freedom. For Chantecler, the legendary jewelry maison founded here in 1947, Capri is not simply a home; it is the soul of everything they create. “Capri represents our starting point, our present, and our leap towards the future,” says Maria Elena Aprea, Creative Director and one of the heirs to the founding family. “Its energy, colours, and scents never cease to inspire our creative universe. Capri is Chantecler, and Chantecler is Capri.”
– Maria Elena Aprea –
The story begins in 1944, when Pietro Capuano, affectionately nicknamed Chantecler for his flamboyant spirit reminiscent of Rostand’s proud rooster, created a bronze bell symbolising peace at the end of World War II. The bell, engraved with the winged effigy of Saint Michael, was offered to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt through Colonel Carl E. Woodward, commander of the American aviation rest camp stationed on the island. The Mayor of Capri, Giuseppe Brindisi, sent it, accompanied by a letter calling it the “Lucky Bell,” a talisman of brotherhood and new beginnings. When news reached the island that President Harry Truman had rung the bell on August 15, 1945, to mark the end of the war, Capri’s joy was boundless. Three years later, in 1947, Capuano and his young friend Salvatore Aprea founded the Maison Chantecler, opening their first boutique on Via Camerelle before moving to Via Vittorio Emanuele. Capri, already a magnet for artists and dreamers, became the cradle of a new Italian elegance, playful, sophisticated, and free.
– Graphics and Stationery by Loveday –
If Capri is the soul of Chantecler, the Campanella is its heart. Inspired by the local legend of a shepherd boy guided by the sound of Saint Michael’s bell, it has become the maison’s timeless emblem, a porte-bonheur that carries the island’s joy and optimism. “It’s our lucky charm, our symbol of peace and happiness,” explains Maria Elena Aprea. “It connects us to the past while evolving with every generation. It’s a story that continues to ring.” Handcrafted entirely in Italy by master artisans in Valenza Po, each Campanella is a miniature work of art, a fusion of sculptural design, colour harmony, and storytelling. Over the decades, it has appeared in countless forms, from pavé diamonds to coral, turquoise, and vibrant enamels, while always maintaining its unmistakable silhouette and spirit. The bell has adorned the world’s most iconic women, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Mona von Bismarck, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, and Marta Marzotto, each inspiring her own limited-edition Campanella. “Each woman embodied a facet of Capri’s soul, freedom, irony, elegance, passion,” says Aprea. “Their energy still resonates in our creations.”
For 2025, Chantecler celebrates its luminous heritage with The Gold of Capri, a collection that transforms the island’s light into a palette of gold, coral, lapis, and diamond. Inspired by the Mediterranean’s vibrant architecture and nature, each piece radiates what Aprea calls “the metamorphosis of sunlight.” “Gold is the essence of Capri,” she says. “It’s the glow of dawn over the Faraglioni, the warmth of afternoon light in Marina Piccola. We capture that light, eternal and fleeting, in every jewel we make.” Every piece blends tradition and innovation, revisiting classical shapes through a modern lens. Gold filigree recalls Byzantine mosaics, while gemstone patterns evoke the tiled floors of San Michele in Anacapri. It is jewelry as architecture, sensual, sculptural, and alive with colour.
Among the maison’s many expressions of beauty, one shines with particular emotion: The world of weddings. Chantecler has long been a discreet favourite among brides who seek jewelry imbued with meaning, pieces that celebrate love through the light of Capri. “Every love story is unique, and so should the jewel that celebrates it,” says Aprea. “We design engagement rings, wedding bands, and bridal sets that reflect personality, emotion, and timeless beauty.” From bespoke wedding rings hand-forged by Chantecler’s master goldsmiths to one-of-a-kind engagement rings set with rare gemstones, each creation is a private dialogue between craftsmanship and emotion. The maison’s bridal jewels evoke the luminosity of the Mediterranean, delicate, romantic, and eternal.
This past summer, the brand unveiled its Bridal Capsule Collection in a dazzling showcase at San Montano Resort & Spa in Ischia, a celebration that blended Mediterranean charm with contemporary elegance. Under the golden light of sunset, brides-to-be discovered luminous pearl necklaces, diamond-studded bells of love, and golden bands engraved with the waves of Capri. This past summer, the brand unveiled its Bridal Capsule Collection in a dazzling showcase at San Montano Resort & Spa in Ischia, a celebration that perfectly blended Mediterranean charm and contemporary sophistication. The exclusive presentation and photoshoot was masterfully curated by Diana Da Ros, international wedding and event planner, in collaboration with the local planner Stefania Silvestro and photographed by Pasquale Cuorvo and Antony Pepe. The enchanting floral creations by Tomas De Bruyne, the spectacular dresses by Simone Marulli and the groom’s attire by Canali and Scaglione Ischia, the impeccable hairstyling by the renowned hair designer Carmelo Spina and make-up by Stefania Tranchino. transformed the presentation into a magical dream, where jewels celebrate love as an eternal promise, inspired by the beauty and joy of the Mediterranean.
“The sea, the cliffs, the laughter, it all becomes part of the jewel,” Aprea reflects. “We wanted brides to feel what Capri teaches us: that beauty is joy, and love is light.” Each creation is crafted entirely in Italy, using ethically sourced materials and traditional techniques that ensure the piece becomes part of a family’s story, a legacy to be passed down like the island’s own myths.
Chantecler’s identity has always rested on duality, tradition and metamorphosis, craftsmanship and imagination. From the iconic Campanella to contemporary collections like Paillettes, Cherie, and Logo, the maison continuously reinterprets Capri’s essence through new lenses of creativity. “Our clients are independent spirits,” says Maria Elena Aprea. “They wear Chantecler to express who they are: joyful, elegant, and free. That’s what Capri has always stood for.” Every jewel begins as an emotion: the shimmer of sea light, the scent of lemon blossoms, the laughter that fills the Piazzetta at night. “When I create,” Aprea says, “I imagine who will wear it, their story, their energy. I try to translate that emotion into form.”
Today, Chantecler remains a proud family enterprise led by the new generation, Maria Elena, Gabriele, Costanza, and Teresa Aprea, who preserve the founders’ values while guiding the maison into the future with an international spirit. From Capri to Milan, from Tokyo to the hearts of connoisseurs around the world, Chantecler continues to translate the island’s radiant freedom into jewels that shimmer with joy and imagination.
“True luxury is emotion,” concludes Maria Elena Aprea. “It’s the feeling of wearing something that carries history, art, and love. Capri teaches us that beauty is not something to own – it’s something to live. And that is the real gold of life.”
Discover even more @ www.chantecler.it
Photo credits: Courtesy of Chantecler / Pasquale Cuorvo /Antony Pepe
Article edited by Diana Da Ros