The Florence Phenomenon

The first woman to oversee her family’s jewellery dynasty, Italian designer Carolina Bucci reflects on the chance encounter that forever changed her career

I grew up surrounded by jewellers and always knew that one day I’d join my family’s business and create my own eponymous brand. Although I must admit that, for a brief time at university in New York, I did dream about opening a small pottery shop with a kiln in the back for fun. I’m part of a fourth generation of Italian jewellers. My great-grandfather opened his Florence workshop in 1885, and specialised in pocket-watch repairs.

In all honesty, I’ve always thought that women’s watches have taken a back seat to men’s and have found that watchmakers can be pretty lazy when designing them. Rather than asking women what they want, they take the easy way out by making men’s watches smaller and pink, before smothering them in diamonds.