Our Story
Roots of an excellence that evolves over time.
Three Generations of Goldsmithing Excellence
The story of Virgilio has its roots in a brilliant chapter of Neapolitan goldsmithing in the 1960s and ’70s, when the company established itself as one of Naples’ most captivating names.
Founded in 1930 by Eduardo Virgilio, the Maison experienced rapid expansion thanks to refined craftsmanship and the entrepreneurial vision embodied by his son Gianni.
In the 1960s, the workshop on Via Cervantes in Naples became a stage for innovation: it was one of the few Italian ateliers capable of working with platinum—a stylistic revolution directly inspired by Gianni’s international training.
The creation of large-set diamonds, ultra-fine wirework, and bespoke pieces for an elite clientele cemented the success of Maison Virgilio, which made absolute quality its defining feature.
The company also innovated through specialized departments, a modern system for the standards of the time: each stage of production—from design to chasing—was entrusted to expert hands with specialized skills, ensuring levels of precision and artisanal perfection that were exceptionally rare.
This tradition of excellence has been passed down to Milan, where Roberto Virgilio, third generation of the family, now operates. He embodies the values he inherited: the technical rigor from Gianni and the love for materials from Eduardo. In the Milanese workshop, one can feel the same creative and disciplined atmosphere as in Naples, expressed through a contemporary aesthetic and aligned with the highest standards of global fine jewellery.
TIMELINE
1930
After a period of apprenticeship in New York, Eduardo Virgilio opened his first workshop in Naples, laying the foundations of quality and gemstone artistry
1950
In the 1950s, Gianni Virgilio perfected his technical skills in Paris. Under Gianni, the brand became the largest jewellery manufacturer in Naples.
1974
In 1974, Gianni Virgilio moved to Milan, and over the years his workshop became a point of reference, not only in Italy, for the production of exceptionally high-quality jewellery.
2008
After enriching his training in London and Antwerp, Roberto Virgilio preserves and renews the unique heritage of superior craftsmanship passed down by his grandfather and father, carrying forward that combination of tradition, technique, and creativity in an international context.
International Recognition - Icons of Timeless Innovation
Two moments, two masterpieces, and a legacy carved in brilliance.
Virgilio proudly holds two Diamonds-International Awards—earned in 1964 in New York and in 1978 in Paris.
Known in the jewellery industry as the “Oscars of the jewellery industry,” the Diamonds Awards ran from the 1960’s into the early 2000s, organised by De Beers in collaboration with the Diamond Information Center to spotlight creative excellence in diamond-based design.
The recognitions by De Beers and the Diamond Information Center placed Virgilio among a select circle of the world’s most visionary jewellers, a testament to the Maison’s creativity, technical mastery, and deeply rooted Italian design heritage.
Each award was the result of a rigorous international selection process led by a jury of renowned critics, designers, and industry experts, evaluating hundreds of entries from across the globe. The winning pieces were celebrated in exclusive gala ceremonies, exhibited in iconic venues, and later toured internationally—offering the world a glimpse into the future of high jewellery design.
The two award-winning creations, illustrated below, define the spirit of Virgilio: bold in vision, refined in detail, and deeply rooted in Italian excellence. They are not just milestones in our history—they are the foundation of a legacy that continues to inspire every piece we create today.
The recognitions by De Beers and the Diamond Information Center placed Virgilio among a select circle of the world’s most visionary jewellers, a testament to the Maison’s creativity, technical mastery, and deeply rooted Italian design heritage.
1964 - New York
The 1964 Diamonds-International Awards, held on October 6 at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, were a turning point in the competition’s history: for the first time, awards were given based on individual design merit, not just craftsmanship.
Among over two dozen honorees from eight countries, it was European designers who triumphed, with Virgilio representing the best of Italian ingenuity.
The winning piece, entitled “Primavera di Capri”, was a poetic and technically sophisticated diamond bracelet, designed by Franca Barberis Canonico.
Inspired by the rebirth of spring on the island of Capri, the bracelet features an unbroken platinum vine swirling gracefully around the wrist.
Along its fluid lines, baguette-cut diamonds shimmer like sunlit pathways, while marquise-cut diamond petals bloom in delicate clusters. Drop-shaped rubies, vivid and full of life, punctuate the design like blossoms in full bloom.
The composition speaks of renewal, movement, and the seamless harmony between nature and precious materials.
Exhibited at the National Arts Club in New York from October 7–9, and later at the London Lodge Gallery, the bracelet was hailed by critics as a “new language of elegance.”
It remains an iconic work in the Virgilio archive—an early yet enduring symbol of the brand’s creative philosophy.
Along its fluid lines, baguette-cut diamonds shimmer like sunlit pathways, while marquise-cut diamond petals bloom in delicate clusters. Drop-shaped rubies, vivid and full of life, punctuate the design like blossoms in full bloom.
The composition speaks of renewal, movement, and the seamless harmony between nature and precious materials.
1978 - Paris
Fourteen years later, the international spotlight returned to Virgilio at the 1978 Diamonds-International Awards, held in Paris on October 19, during a gala dinner at the historic Paradis Latin theatre.
The awards had become not only a celebration of design but also a spectacle of artistry, where the most daring and refined creations in diamond jewellery were unveiled to a global audience.
The awarded piece was a revolutionary pendant necklace, designed by Pia Guidotti Crippa and masterfully crafted by Gianni Virgilio.
Bold in concept yet graceful in execution, the necklace features an abstract floral motif rendered in rose gold, a departure from the traditional white metals of diamond jewellery.
Set with 210 carefully selected diamonds, totaling 7.98 carats, the pendant reveals its brilliance in motion: three upper petals are engineered to rotate, capturing and reflecting light as they gently turn.
At its heart, three marquise-cut diamonds—weighing 1.01, 0.96, and 0.94 carats—form a radiant focal point, evoking a flower at the peak of its bloom.
The illusion of life and movement created by the revolving petals was seen as groundbreaking at the time, pushing the boundaries of static jewellery and inviting the wearer into an interactive, dynamic relationship with the piece.
More than a necklace, it was a celebration of femininity, grace, and the endless transformation of beauty.
The illusion of life and movement created by the revolving petals was seen as groundbreaking at the time, pushing the boundaries of static jewellery and inviting the wearer into an interactive, dynamic relationship with the piece.
More than a necklace, it was a celebration of femininity, grace, and the endless transformation of beauty.