The sixth edition of Roma Jewelry Week came to a close on October 11, 2026. Between the splendor of historic goldsmithing and the freedom of contemporary experimentation, the event offered a compelling exploration of jewelry as an artistic language, a repository of cultural memory and a medium for individual expression. Conceived and directed by architect Monica Cecchini, the event brought together more than 150 artists, designers and master goldsmiths from Italy and abroad, recording over 10,000 visits across its program. At the heart of the event, the magnificent Corsie Sistine, within the monumental Santo Spirito in Sassia complex, hosted the main exhibition from October 8 to 11. Against a backdrop of Renaissance architecture, contemporary jewelry found an evocative setting in which past and present seemed to engage in a continuous conversation. The theme, La Corona dell’Ingegno (The Crown of Ingenuity), invited participants to reflect on eighty years of Italian art and culture, from 1946 to 2026. Yet the scope of the exhibition extended well beyond Italy, embracing diverse artistic traditions and creative approaches, from classical goldsmithing to conceptual jewelry and experimental materials. Among the most fascinating contributions was Il Dialogo delle Arti (The Dialogue of the Arts). At the heart of the project lies the human and artistic journey of Benvenuto Tisi, known as Garofalo, brought to life by Emiliano Alfonsi in L’Alfabeto del Fiore andreimagined by Percossi Papi through jewelry and objets d’art.
Percossi Papi – Emiliano Alfonsi – Il Dialogo delle Arti
A journey through Italian artistic heritage, the project explored the enduring dialogue between painting, sculpture and the goldsmith’s art. Inspired by Renaissance and Byzantine traditions, the creations evoked Ferrara, Venice, Rome and the splendor of the Este court through elaborate silverwork, miniature paintings and a sumptuous palette of colored gemstones.
Percossi Papi – Emiliano Alfonsi – Il Dialogo delle Arti
A Renaissance-inspired pendant depicting Saint George and the Dragon, Venetian caravels adorned with precious stones, Byzantine iconography and intricate compositions featuring lapis lazuli, rubies, emeralds and delicate pearl mosaics illustrated the atelier’s extraordinary attention to historical detail. Far from being mere reproductions of the past, these creations revealed Percossi Papi’s distinctive ability to transform cultural references into objects of remarkable visual richness, where jewelry becomes an intimate form of artistic storytelling. Another memorable contribution came from Alessio Boschi, whose sculptural ring La Dolce Vita captured the exuberance and playful imagination associated with Italian design. Its elaborate architecture and colorful miniature motifs offered a theatrical interpretation of jewelry, transforming the ring into a miniature universe.
Alessio Boschi -La dolce vita
François Santo was another special guest, contributing to the event’s dialogue between artistic expression and contemporary jewelry. These creative approaches found a broader expression in Capsule Aurea Roma, the interdisciplinary project conceived by Monica Cecchini to bring together jewelry designers and artists working in different disciplines. Among the collaborations were Luigina Rech and Michelangelo Pistoletto, Paolo Mangano and Paolo Canevari, Matteo Vitali and Lucamaleonte, Antonio Fontana and Tommaso Cascella, Glauco Cambi and Maupal, Chiara Fenicia and Claudio Riefoli, Michele Forlenza and Giorgia Errera, Emanuele Leonardi and Giorgiomaria Cornelio, Massimo Licciardello and Stefania Fabrizi, Anna Pinzari and Luigi Menichelli, Cristiana Perali and Roberta Vincenzi, and Rossella Ugolini and Vincenzo Scolamiero.
Luigina Rech in collaboration with Michelangelo Pistoletto – Custodia Terrae
Cristiana Perali in collaboration with Roberta Vincenzi
Chiara Fenicia – Claudio Riefoli – Palingenesi
Massimo Licciardello and Stefania Fabrizi
The project illustrated how jewelry can transcend the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship to engage with painting, sculpture, street art and conceptual experimentation, encouraging a genuine exchange between artistic disciplines. The international dimension of Roma Jewelry Week was reflected in an extensive program of individual exhibitions, offering a panorama of creative identities and cultural influences. Featured designers included Hiromi Suter, Yu Bin Lee and Hani Baayoun, winners of the 2025 Premio Incinque Jewels, alongside Alberto Zorzi, Mariam Ayvazyan, Gabriele Pedrona, Rossella Ugolini, Chiara Costacurta, Ashley Youngsun Nam, Ivan Barbato and Kyan Jewelry by Amal Sanad.
Chiara Costacurta
Kyan Jewelry
The presence of a Chinese delegation, including Jingwei Chi, Shenzhen MEMORA Jewelry, Zhou Liu Fu Jewellery and The King’s Dream, added a significant international dimension to the exhibition. It also reflected the increasing connections between European jewelry culture and China’s evolving creative landscape. Equally important was the participation of educational institutions, including Accademia Italiana, IED Roma, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Minoss Jewelry Academy, Assamblage School and Patrizio Rocchi Italian Design School. Their presence underscored an essential aspect of the contemporary jewelry world: its future depends not only on preserving traditional techniques but also on encouraging young designers to develop their own artistic vocabularies.
Incinque Jewels Award
At the center of the awards program stood the Premio Incinque Jewels, established in 2019 to recognize outstanding creativity and support the professional development of jewelry artists. The competition’s two categories, Fine Jewelry and Experimental Jewelry, reflected the diversity of approaches seen throughout the exhibition. In Fine Jewelry, first prize went to Huang Wangquan for Treading Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms, a brooch combining translucent jadeite and 18-karat gold. Drawing inspiration from Chinese cultural symbolism, the creation illustrated how traditional imagery can be translated into contemporary precious jewelry.
Huang Wangquan
Second prize was awarded to Giovanni Aliotta, while Hani Baayoun received third prize.
Giovanni Aliotta – The Time of Art
Hani Baayoun – Sophia Loren ring
In Experimental Jewelry, first prize went to Jen Neame Collins of Atelier Jen for Lila, a sculptural creation inspired by illustrator Lila De Nobili. Combining recycled paper and vintage chains, the work challenged conventional notions of preciousness, demonstrating how artistic expression can give new significance to overlooked materials.
Atelier Jen by Jen Neame Collins – Lila
Second prize recognized the joint project Dettaglidattimi by Pinella Distefano and Maniera Studio by Francesca Luciani, whose creation Mettetevi comodi explored form, geometry and the relationship between ornament and the human body.
Dettaglidattimi and Maniera Studio – Mettetevi Comodi
Third prize was awarded to Livia D’Agostino.
Livia D’Agostino – Fermento di vita
The international jury brought together professionals from jewelry design, craftsmanship, gemology, curation and specialized journalism, including Laura Astrologo Porché, Alessio Boschi, Barbara Brocchi, Elisabetta Cipriani, Alessia Crivelli, Paola De Luca, Michele Forlenza, Emanuele Leonardi, Paolo Mangano, Matilde Pavone, Giuliano Percossi Papi, Bryna Pomp, Loredana Prosperi, Aldo Vitali, Bo Wu, Sally Xiong and Giorgia Zoppolato. Beyond the recognition of individual talent, the awards highlighted the creative tension that increasingly defines contemporary jewelry: the coexistence of technical mastery, artistic imagination and a willingness to question established conventions.
Special Awards
An extensive series of special distinctions further emphasized Roma Jewelry Week’s commitment to supporting designers and developing international opportunities. The INHORGENTA Award went to Anna Margaryan and Zaven Mkhitaryan, offering a dedicated exhibition opportunity at INHORGENTA 2027 in Munich.
Anna Margaryan and Zaven Mkhitaryan (Lazzoro) – Gelsomina
The Mani Intelligenti Award — Young Designer and Student recognized Stefania Catapano, while RAMIDE JEWELS by Raffaella Del Ferraro received two distinctions: the Miss Giò Award and the Bryna Pomp Award.
Ramide Jewels – Mutando riposa
The Lefevre Award, presented by Antica Bottega Lefevre, honored Marco Fabio Verdastro for his contribution to watchmaking traditions.
Marco Fabio Verdastro – Il Tempo Ritrovato: l’orologio di via delle Tre Cannelle
The La Gioia Award, established by Daniela Del Moro, was presented to Anna Pinzari, while the award offered by Korean designer Youngsun Nam went to Ellence by Elle Di Muro.
Anna Pinzari – La Grammatica della Vita
The Main Media Partner Award, presented by Massimo Basile and Laura Astrologo Porché, went to Maria Elena Abbate for her Allegra necklace, a vibrant dialogue between the abstract artistic language of Giuseppe Capogrossi and the designer’s distinctive exploration of geometry and color. Drawing inspiration from Capogrossi’s rhythmic compositions and recurring graphic symbols, Abbate reinterprets his visual vocabulary through a playful yet carefully balanced arrangement of shapes and colors, transforming the necklace into a wearable work of contemporary art.
Maria Elena Abbate – Allegra
The Journal des Bijoux Award was given to Giovanni Aliotta, adding another distinction to his second prize in Fine Jewelry. The Sally Xiong Award, associated with the founder of the Eastern Yixiang China Fashion Gala, went to Riccardo Campari. Meanwhile, Renata Dragusin received the Via Veneto District Award, accompanied by financial support for her professional development.
Renata Dragusin – Via Veneto – La Dolce Vita
Together, these awards represented more than a succession of accolades. They reflected the importance of visibility, professional connections and exhibition opportunities in an increasingly competitive international jewelry landscape. A city whose artistic identity has been shaped by centuries of extraordinary craftsmanship, Rome provided a particularly meaningful setting for the recognition of its historic jewelry traditions. The event honored Ansuini 1860, Angeletti, Fanuele Gioielli and Forlenza, celebrating the longstanding heritage of Roman jewelry houses and the transmission of artisanal expertise across generations.
Fanuele Gioielli
Angeletti
The involvement of the historic Università e Nobil Collegio degli Orefici Gioiellieri Argentieri dell’Alma Città di Roma, represented by its Chamberlain Aldo Vitali, further emphasized the connection between the city’s goldsmithing past and its contemporary creative life. The awards also recognized the contribution of specialized journalism to the preservation and dissemination of jewelry culture. Honors were presented to Patrizia Vacalebri, ANSA journalist specializing in fashion and costume and director of The Fashion World News, and Laura Astrologo Porché, international jewelry journalist and founder of Journal des Bijoux. Their recognition highlighted the role of cultural interpretation and specialist journalism in bringing the stories behind jewelry to wider audiences. The program of talks and cultural encounters expanded the conversation beyond craftsmanship and aesthetics. Fashion historian Sofia Gnoli and jewelry historian Amanda Triossi presented Archeologia della moda, while Bianca Cappello and Lucia Ajello, joined by art historian Claudio Strinati, explored the connections between art and jewelry through Segni preziosi. Further contributions came from Paola De Luca, Giorgio Facchini, Elisabetta Cipriani and Donatella Zappieri. A series of conversations conceived and moderated by Laura Astrologo Porché brought together Loredana Prosperi, Giampaolo Della Croce and Tania Chan, with Lucia Silvestri, Bvlgari’s Jewelry Creative Director, as a special guest.
Monica Cecchini – Laura Astrologo Porché – Loredana Prosperi – Lucia Silvestri – Tania Chan – Giampaolo Della Croce
Through different perspectives on materials, gemology and artistic expression, these exchanges demonstrated the importance of intellectual dialogue in a sector often perceived primarily through the prism of luxury. Another initiative, Intolerance, curated by Antonio Fontana in collaboration with Paolo Mangano, with the participation of KOK and Galleria Incinque Open Art Monti, brought a further contemporary artistic dimension to the program. The involvement of Iranian artists Maral Rangamizyazdi and Sara Moghaddasi, supported by Elena Donati, added another perspective to this international exchange. Fashion presentations by Sottrazioni and MAM – Maiani Accademia Moda, followed by the participation of Modelli si nasce, extended the dialogue to clothing, identity and inclusion. What distinguished Roma Jewelry Week 2026 was not simply the number of participants or the diversity of its program, but the coexistence of different, sometimes contrasting, interpretations of jewelry. At its most compelling, the sixth edition demonstrated that jewelry belongs as much to the world of ideas as to that of craftsmanship and luxury. And in Rome, where the weight of artistic history is ever-present, this dialogue between heritage and experimentation acquired a particular resonance.
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Article edited by Laura Astrologo Porché
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