Nardi

'Nardi Venezia' is a new Assouline coffee table book by Nicholas Foulkes that covers three generations of this Venetian jeweller's fortunes, intertwined with the city's rich history. Leafing through the pages, which are filled with beautiful images of Nardi jewels as well as the art and architecture of Venice, it is clear that the smallest objects can evoke the strongest emotions. A ring in the form of the Rialto bridge, which easily slips onto a pinkie finger, is capable of conjuring up all the luxury, glamour and opulence of Venice. Which is why those in the know who want to cherish the spirit of Venice head to one small shop on St Mark's Square with the golden words 'Gioielleria Nardi' on the door.

Spanning five of the arches on the square, to enter Nardi is to step back into old-style luxe. The Nardi family's business concentrates on making a very particular kind of jewellery infused with the richness of Venice's history. The style is instantly recognisable, from blackamoor or 'Moretto' brooches depicting bejewelled black Africans to brightly coloured rings with a sense of bacchanalian fun and the more sober golden St Mark's lions cufflinks. So artisanal are the production methods, that it is estimated that, since the 1940s when Nardi first opened its doors in Venice, no more than 7,000 jewels have been handcrafted in the ateliers above the shop floor by a total of 10 craftsmen.

A brooch in the form of a gondola or a Moretto is perhaps one of the most chic souvenirs you could bring home from any Grand European Tour. So much so that, in the 1960s and early 70s, a Blackamoor brooch, as seen on the lapels of Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman and Princess Ira von Fürstenberg, was a way to show your style credentials. Visitors to the Venice Festival, including Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood, made the obligatory pilgrimage to Nardi, and royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Wallis Simpson all slipped away from the lido to the darkened solemnity of the Nardi boutique.

The story of the fortunes of the Nardi family and their creations, along with a good dose of Venetian history tempered with society gossip, are elegantly narrated by Mr Foulkes. This book is a must for lovers of jewellery who want to immerse themselves in the exotic world of Nardi. Published by Assouline in New York, the book it is available from the publisher's website for US$165 by clicking here.

The Tree of Life was created in 1947 by Giulio Nardi for his wife Giuseppina. Originally made in platinum, it was a unique piece until it was recreated in the 1970s.
Abyss brooch in white gold with moonstones, a central aquamarine and diamonds, which shows the creativity of this Venetian jeweller.
Nardi's St Mark's Square gold lion cufflinks are a clear reference to the magnificent statues found in the main landmark of Venice.
Typical of Nardi's work is this trio of Tulip rings, which echo the richness of the colours of the tapestries of Venice as well as the exotic shapes of its architecture.
Nardi's Pagoda ring in pink gold with emeralds, pink sapphires and diamonds, which evokes a jester's hat and the picaresque fun of Carnival.
A Gondola brooch in white gold with a carved amethyst hull, tsavorites garnets adorning the green lantern and trimmed with diamond by Nardi.
Nardi's Rialto ring in gold with rubies and fancy coloured diamonds. A very precious way to remember a visit to Venice.
The View of Venice Moretto opens to reveal a secret rendering of the city's architecture. Due to the intricacy of the work, no more than four are made each year.
The View of Venice Moretto, created in the early 1970s. The hinged torso opens to reveal a miniature cityscape of Venice. Other 'moretti' are named after their owners, such as the Elizabeth Taylor or the Princess Grace.
The Paola Moretto brooch that was first made in the 1940s and later named in honour of Queen Paolo of Belgium. Historically, the faces of 'moretti' were carved from tortoiseshell and, later, ebony and set with precious stones.