In 1981 Gianmaria Buccellati received the title 'Cavaliere della Gran Croce' (Knight of the Big Cross) from the Italian President Pertini for his life's work in developing the craft of the goldsmith/jeweller to an art form. This recognition confirmed the vision of one of Italy's premier goldsmith families in reintroducing the world to all the romance and craftsmanship that had characterised the Renaissance period, and which have given Buccellati its distinctive style.

It has been said of Gianmaria Buccellati that he creates 'paintings' using gold, silver and precious gemstones, such is the beauty of the pieces this second generation master goldsmith fashions. From the moment the concept for a piece enters his mind to the moment it is realised, Gianmaria never strays too far from the centre of creativity; the workrooms that his father Mario had established a generation before.

"My father never really had aspirations for me to be a goldsmith and I actually did much of my apprenticeship without his full knowledge," remembers Gianmaria today. "At night instead of going to the movies or to the bar with friends I went to learn whatever I could from the artisans that worked for my father. I didn't tell my father because we had such different ideas about jewellery that we would only have argued. Where my father didn't see the necessity for me to have an intimate knowledge of all areas involved with this business, I did. For me, simply being sent out to work at the various stores in Rome or Florence or wherever was not enough.