The thoughtful incorporation of hand-selected gemstones and pearls in tones that complement the complex hues of each tesserae creates a contemporary feel to the pieces and even more mesmerizing depths in the designs.

The SICIS brand was first launched by Maurizio Leo Placuzzi in 1987 in what is known as the birthplace of micromosaic, Ravenna, Italy. Soon an undisputed leader in interior mosaics, the company later expanded to artfully crafted furnishings, lighting and fabrics. Driven by their passion for micromosaics and their pride in its Italian sensibilities, they began exploring applications of this ancient technique in jewelry design.

The second generation of the business, Gioia Placuzzi, joined the brand immediately after graduating from Bocconi University of Milan. With a deeply seeded love for gemstones and jewelry that prompted her to earn a degree from the Gemological Institute of America in London, when she took over as Creative Director for the firm in 2018, Gioia dedicated the brand to further pushing the boundaries of possibilities in micromosaic adornment.

Mircromosaic was invented in the second half of the 700’s AD in Papal Rome. When it was developed, it was so specialized and required such painstaking labor that jewels crafted using the technique were only available to royalty and nobles.

When the spinning of glass paste was introduced in the second half of the XVIII century, it became possible to more seamlessly produce the materials necessary for its creation, and the later invention of malmischiati allowed for these thin rods of glass to be manipulated like paint on a brush, resulting in subtle inflections of light and shadow in an astonishing palette of colors.

The SICIS’ Atelier is made up of artists, glassblowers, Mosaic Masters, gemologists and goldsmiths who honor the ancient traditions of micromosaics while also harnessing the power of state-of-the-art technology. They carefully safeguard all touch points of the design and fabrication process, which remains highly elaborate and requiring of great mastery.

In order to complete each individual piece, enamel and glass paste must first be melted at high temperatures and pulled into tiny rods of specific widths. SICIS’ pieces are initially brought to life with sophisticated gouache drawings, from which skilled goldsmiths craft the lines and curves of each tessera.

The glass or enamel rods, in a spectrum of colors, are then clipped, filed and carefully set into the piece by hand before being polished into a smooth surface.

Working collaboratively, under Gioia’s creative direction, the brand’s artisans create pieces that evoke the magic of flora and fauna inspired by awe-inspiring scenes of nature. The multi-faceted beauty in each piece, from the smallest scale ring to bold, statement-making necklaces, is a unique magic that can only be achieved through an exceptional level of talent bolstered by years of hands on experience that each of these experts apply to their craft.