Made in Italy: a prestigious label; Italian design is world famous, and its jewelry sector is no exception. Known especially for its gold work, Italy's production of precious metal articles in gold, silver and platinum accounts for 70 percent of the entire European production. A brief look at this amazing industry and the challenges ahead ...(Focus on Italy)(Company overview)

JQ, March, 2006 by De Stefani, Giuliana

Every year, over 500 tons of fine gold, 1,400 tons of silver, and 4 tons of platinum are made into jewelry, silverware, writing instruments, and objets d'art in the Italian peninsula, where more than 10,000 companies employ some 40,000 people. Around 70 percent of the goldsmith companies and 80 percent of the employees are located in five Italian regions, each offering a particular specialty: Veneto, Piemonte, Tuscany, Campania, and Lombardy. The main production centers are Vicenza, Valenza, Arezzo, and Torre del Greco, with Milan a minor but important city.

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Vicenza specializes in a mechanized goldsmith craft of medium-high quality. Valenza creates exclusively high-quality jewelry. Arezzo...