Francesca Bianchi, founder of Francesca Bianchi Design (2018)

Architect, with a passion for design and with family roots in the goldsmith tradition, Francesca Bianchi is today the spokesperson for handcrafted enameled bronze jewelry, involving the craftsmen of her territory, the Arezzo area. And, remembering her first collection launched when she was just over twenty years old, she invites everybody to pursue their own dream with determination.

How was your passion for jewelry born?

I inherited my passion for the goldsmith tradition from my grandfather, Loris Franco Bianchi, metal and mechanical expert who in the ‘70s contributed to the development of innovative machinery to produce on a large scale the first chains for the Arezzo goldsmith district. Later, my grandfather founded a gold jewelry company and my father began to distribute commercially his jewelry products, starting from a young age. The same craftsmen, who worked with both my grandfather and my father, nowadays work with me representing the third generation. Therefore, my passion comes from my roots. However, before launching my first collection, I felt the desire to explore other passions, such as those of architecture and design. During my training, I started producing jewels in silver and stones for my father, which I already showcased in VicenzaOro. Moreover, during my training I launched my first jewelry line with the name Kouture di Francesca Bianchi Design, which later in 2018 started bearing only my name, and became Francesca Bianchi Design.


Tesseræ Ring, Event Horizon Bracelet & Swathe Bracelet
Art Direction by Domenico Festa, published by L’Orafo Italiano

What was your training path?

I graduated in Architecture in Florence, period during which I attended an Industrial Design course, and then I continued my studies enrolling in a Master in Yacht Design at the Politecnico di Milano. Once graduated, I worked at Luca Dini Design Studio where I was part of the team who designed luxury yachts. A project I am particularly attached to is the Sea Jewel’s Fair: a traveling jewelry fair inside a luxury yacht, where already at that time, I dreamt of exhibiting my collections. I wanted to put together in this project my greatest passions, jewellery and navigation, in order to connect two sectors that are famous in the world for maestry and craftsmanship. Sea Jewel’s Fair was my personal project inside the studio. The intention was to redesign the interiors of the already existing 54 m Sea Force One realised by Luca Dini. For my innate goldsmith passion, I decided to give it a new life as a jewelry and traveling luxury fair that will stop in the most exclusive ports of the Mediterranean. The project became my university thesis.

What do you wish to convey through your creations?

For me jewels are the mirror of those who create them. For this reason, I wish to convey happiness, joy of life, light-heartedness, all qualities that represent me well. Moreover, I wish to convey the connection between the goldsmith tradition and the modernity of my jewels, which with their elegance and attention to detail are unique. At the same time I wish whoever wears Francesca Bianchi Design to feel free to express themselves, their personality and to turn their dreams into real projects with determination. And I am referring to men and women, but above all women because I believe there are still a lot of discriminations in our society.

Pesca Chevron Earrings

Is there a jewel you are particularly fond of?

I am particularly fond of the Chevron bracelet, in the Casablanca color. It has been the first piece of the homonymous collection, by which I was inspired for the creation of all the others. Every time I look at it, I believe anything is possible, in spite of difficulties. For an istance, at first it was difficult to find artisan companies which wanted to work with me. Enamel was not normally used on large surfaces, but more for miniatures and, being young and novice, many companies thought it was a passing project. But it was my determination and devotion to allow me to create this collection. Wearing this bracelet today is pure energy.

Casablanca Chevron Bracelet

What are your jewelry’s distinctive features?

Francesca Bianchi Design jewelry is all made in Arezzo with the contribution of local artisan enamellers. Each jewel undergoes between 30 and 40 processing steps. They are made in bronze and handmade enameled. Internally they are all finished with a technique that scratches the metal intertwined with a diamond, generating a brilliant design that we call "ear diamond". Over time this process has become iconic and people recognize us also for this type of internal finish. Another feature that distinguishes our products is that we offer free assistance for the entire life of the jewel. In fact, the level of the product for me must always reflect the service.

Distinctive Francesca Bianchi Design’s Craftsmanship

How do you imagine Francesca Bianchi Design in the future?
Do you remember the project I have just told you about? The Sea Jewel’s Fair? This is where my personal journey has begun. Therefore, my wish is to exhibit my jewels inside that yacht, which I designed, sailing around the world. I wish to combine all my passions more and more: jewelry, sea, interior design and architecture. Besides this, I wish to be more widespread in the distribution network of multi-brand stores. Today we distribute at six hundred stores in Italy. Our targets are jewelry stores and concept stores and my desire is to expand the distribution not just in Italy but also abroad.