Pomellato was founded in Milan in 1967 by Pino Rabolini, who hailed from a family of Italian goldsmiths. Rabolini’s vision was to transform the modus operandi of the company from that of bench jewelers producing pieces individually, to a process that he felt had parallels in the world of prêt-à-porter. He wanted to introduce great style and fashion into the line and make it accessible to more women, not merely those who could afford haute couture. Today, over 100 goldsmiths work in the company’s Milan headquarters. So successful was Rabolini with his vision and his design aesthetic that the company was purchased by the French-based Kering Group in 2013, stewards of Alexander McQueen, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, and Brioni, among other major luxury brands. The company has grown so that it is usually placed in the top half-dozen or so European jewelry companies, ranked by sales volume.
The line’s signature pieces are effortlessly wearable, functional, stylish, and chameleon-like — sometimes looking tailored and demure and at other times appearing glamorous and declarative; the specially cut stones are often set upside down, tilted, or asymmetrically. Among the most popular lines are Nudo, with the popular square-cut faceted ring; Capri, a ring with three ceramic “stones” and precious stones in a cluster; Victoria, featuring pendants and talismans, some with slightly religious overtones or mythic shadings; and Tango, pavé-set links, hoops, and intertwined circles that are easy to wear and feel good in the hand.
