Roberto Coin 18 Karat Vintage Yellow Gold Mother and Baby Elephant Brooch

In his debut Appassionata collection in 1996, Italian designer Roberto Coin (b. 1944) made the ruby a core element of his designs. Inspired by ancient Egyptian and Burmese traditions of wearing a ruby against the skin as a talisman of love, joy and protection, Coin set a small ruby on the inside of his necklaces, rings and bracelets. The hidden ruby became Coin’s signature as he launched his brand as a groundbreaking innovator in quality Italian craftsmanship.

Coin’s talent lies in working with precious metals and creating unexpected designs by combining white, rose and yellow gold. Coin was initially a successful hotelier before leaving that career to pursue his passion for jewelry. Although he was born in Venice, Coin chose to set up his studio in Vicenza, Italy. Known as the “City of Gold,” Vicenza is the heart of the Italian gold and jewelry industry, boasting over 700 years of goldsmithing heritage.

Coin was interested in bringing new technology into Italian jewelry manufacturing, such as using machines originally intended to weave metal for car exhaust pipes to spin the gold wires for his jewelry. Coin’s brand produces hundreds of unique and limited-edition jewelry pieces every year and draws inspiration from the great Italian craft traditions as well as art, history and mythology.

Along with the signature ruby, the Appassionata collection’s most enduring legacy is the masterful fabric-like texture of the woven threads of gold. The technique of interlocking gold links that characterizes this series creates a beautiful basket weave that strengthens and elongates each piece’s life, rendering the accessories robust heirlooms. Coin’s other collections continue to offer innovations in design, from Classica Parisienne contributing to the trend for stacking white, rose and yellow gold together to Pois Moi involving square shapes and hand-etched and -carved details.

Find a collection of Roberto Coin rings, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.

Cellini has been New York's premier independent jeweler and haute horology salon for more than 40 years. Cellini is home to a rich assortment of exceptional jewelry, which includes everything from bespoke showpieces to elegant essentials. Alongside our own signature creations, Cellini also carries shimmering works of art crafted by distinguished designers including Carrera y Carrera, Sutra, Faberge, Masriera and Victor Velyan. Cellini is home to an unsurpassed collection of timepieces from the world’s most exclusive and innovative watchmakers and designers. Our extensive selection appeals to a wide range of horological enthusiasts, from those searching for their first fine timepiece, to seasoned collectors who appreciate seeing rare pieces they can’t find anywhere else.