Dirce Repossi
Dirce Repossi then known as Zeme Repossi is a Fine Jewelry brand founded in 1929 during the Art Déco era in Italy by Camillo Repossi and Giusto Zeme
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| Industry |
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|---|---|
| Founded | Valenza, Italy (1929) |
| Founder | Camillo Repossi and Gusto Zeme |
| Headquarters | Valenza , Italy |
Key people | Vittoria Verderio Repossi, Dirce Repossi, Camillo Repossi |
| Products | Jewellery |
| Owner | Vittoria Verderio Repossi |
| Website | dircerepossi |
In 1961, Camillo's daughter Dirce Repossi inherited of the family business and founded the eponymous brand. A generation later, the company went to her daughter: Vittoria Verderio Repossi, the actual owner since 2008.
Inspiration
Established during the famous period of Art Déco, Dirce Repossi's firsts jewelry are influenced by this era's style and design.
It was a globally popular style and affected many areas of design. Not only the architecture was influence by this Art movement, it was widely found into consumer products such as automobiles, furniture, textile, clocks and even jewelry.
Dirce Repossi was one of the many brands influenced by this movement. They play with the modern reassessment of the classic style, the colors and lights, the forms and dimensions to create timeless pieces of jewelry. "Emozione di un Gioieillo senza tempo" (emotion of a timeless jewel) was their slogan.
In Europe, the 4 years of suffering and privation caused by the World War I has led to a period of creativity and joie de vivre. This new freedom is expressed into the Artistic movement of that period. Nowadays known as Art Déco, this movement has reach most of the European countries during the 1930s.
In France this artistic movement has inspired many artists such as: Jean Després, Gérard Sandoz, Jean Fouquet, Raymond Templier ... They have given their work to brands like Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels.[1]
In Italy, "Vivere e dimenticare il passato" (live and forget the past) was the new motto.
Story
1929: Founding of Zeme Repossi the brand by Camillo Repossi and Giusto Zeme with the 92 AL hallmark. Inspiration from the Art Déco movement.
1930s:The 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale Des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes with its avant-garde ideas and imagery inspired from machinery and modernisation, particularly inspired Camillo Repossi and Giusto Zeme in their early creations.
1940s: During World War II long conflict in Europe jewellery production has to stop in Italy, due to the prohibition to work precious metal during those times and of course the harshness the population was facing. Still, are dated back at this time some sketches belonging to Camillo Repossi, secretly designing Beauty despite the constraint of the time.
1951: Camillo Repossi dies, his daughter Dirce replaces him and continues the family business with her father's partner Giusto Zeme.
1961: 32 years after the birth of the brand, Zeme retires and leaves the company to Dirce Repossi, who founds the eponymous brand with the 1065 AL hallmark. Classical and timeless creation.
1983: Vittoria Verderio Repossi, Dirce's daughter, graduate GIA Jewelry Designer in Santa Monica joins the company.
1990: Dirce Repossi collaborates with the Italian painter and sculptor Salvatore Fiume, for the charity initiative Un Gioiello Per la Vita with Sotheby's, promoted by AISM Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
1996: The company receives the S. Eligio Award from the city of Valenza.
2005-2006: The brand wins second place at the Tahitian Pearl Trophy with its original design ring “Aconagua”.
2008: Dirce Repossi dies and leaves the company to her daughter Vittoria currently living in Valenza (Italy). She continues the family business and tradition implementing the international development.
2016: Relaunch of Dirce Repossi, with new bridal and fashion jewelry collection. Relaunch of the new company image with the new logo.
2018: Dirce announced its "You Are My Universe" jewelry collection in New York & Hong Kong. The collection was designed exclusively for Dirce by Omar Torres, each style is inspired by the infinity of the universe and features a swirling spiral motif to symbolize everlasting love.
Craftsmanship and Expertise
Traditional Italian know-how.
Founded and based in the Italian world-renowned district of Valenza, the heart of Italian goldsmith craftsmanship, Dirce Repossi treasures a tradition of masterful craftsmanship since 1929. Dirce Repossi's has its own workshop, in which their jewelry are created. One of the world famous British Jewelry Asprey and Garrard was collaborating with Dirce Repossi's workshop.
In the late 1930s, many of the young goldsmiths who now have their own jewelry learned and were trained at the Zeme Repossi workshop. The Foral Institute in Valenza, (where the goldsmiths, setters, gem cutters and jewelry designers are trained) has honored the memory of Zeme/Repossi by naming the H classroom with the company name.
Dirce Repossi historical archive conserves, through a dated system of Certification, the story and registration of each Dirce Repossi creation.
Every Dirce Repossi creation is accompanied by its certificate of authenticity issued by the company, stating the specifics of the jewelry such as characteristics of the central stone, the metal, the style and the collection it belongs to.
References
- Gemme E Gioielli - Materiali e artisti, Carlo Cumo and Claude Mazloum edited by Gremese Editore 1996.
- Gioielli collezione, Collana Egoista edited by Inedita Editrice 1991-1992.
- Un Gioiello per la vita, by Associazione Orafa Valenza