This summer I got to do something that had been on my travel bucket list since 2023: get a custom-themed Florence charm bracelet plated in gold.
I have a charm bracelet in silver, and truthfully, it’s now so heavy that I rarely wear it. I love collecting little memories of places I’ve been, and charms, to me, are the perfect long-lasting souvenir. The charms are small but durable; they don’t take up too much space in my luggage; and I like going through my bracelet and remembering where I got each one. There aren’t a lot of souvenirs that you can display together—postcards and keychains and books are often one-offs, that don’t get displayed as a collection.
But the idea of a new charm bracelet in a different colour was interesting to me. So when I saw a TikTok about a jeweller in Italy who specialised in casting Italian-themed gold-plated jewellery, I put it on my “to do one day” travel list.
But if most charms are solid silver, why are these charms only gold-plated, not solid gold? It’s because solid gold is very malleable; it bends and dents easily. Casting the charms in a more solid metal, like nickel or silver, then plating them with gold makes them more durable. When you’re wearing a charm bracelet throughout the day—sweating, moving, even typing—you won’t want to see a lot of wear and tear.
Getting There
I went to Giuliano Ricci’s twice, because I misunderstood their opening hours (if you’re making a special trip, I definitely suggest checking their hours first). When I went, they were open from noon until 3pm, and then open again later in the day. I came at 3:30pm and had to come back. The courtyard entrance looks like you’re entering someone’s home, but rest assured, if the door is open you’re in the right place.
The Experience
I walked in, was greeted by the jeweller, and sat at a table covered in gold charms. They’re cast in-house, and the most popular ones are Florence-themed. The Duomo Cathedral domed ceiling; Michelangelo’s David; the Il Porcellino boar statue; a one-Euro cent coin piece; the Ponte Vecchio bridge. They also had some more generic Italian charms, like the leaning tower of Pisa, and the Colosseum in Rome.
As the jeweller worked, we spoke about the business. It turns out these designs have been created for decades, but in the past few years, they’ve seen a big boom in business. (This might be because of the TikTok I saw. When these places go viral, they sometimes get added to a lot of people’s “To-See” Lists.)
The owner was actually looking to retire in December. His plan was to close the business, as he had no one to hand it over to. But as luck would have it, this new jeweller found the business, and will be taking it over after the founder’s retirement. So luckily for us jewellery-lovers, they’ll hopefully be around for years to come!
What I Chose
I decided to go with three charms: the boar’s head statue Il Porcellino, Michelangelo’s David, and the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
My mistake here was—on the day that I misread the shop’s timings, I actually ended up going to another jewellers and found a charm of the Duomo I liked. It was more expensive at the other jeweller’s, though—I wish I’d gotten all the pieces at the same place!
You get to choose the type of chain you want, as well. Think small links, big links, polished gold, matte gold—whatever suits you best. I asked for the strongest chain type (my bracelets get lots of wear), and was told they’re all equally strong.
What It Cost
The chain itself cost €20, and each charm cost an additional €10. So my three-charm bracelet cost €50, which wasn’t bad compared to other jewellers I’d checked out.
I also ended up getting a €10 cameo charm that I plan on pairing with a gold chain. If you prefer necklaces, they sell the charms individually!
Where: Piazza Santo Spirito 12, 50125, Florence, Italy
Opening Hours: It’s my suggestion that you always check. I went a few weeks ago and the hours were 12pm–3pm, and again in the evening. In checking on Google I see they’re closed all of this week. So I would check the day you’re travelling!
Things To Remember: It’s not a typical store front; you have to walk through a covered hallway to the courtyard. It can get busy, so you might have to wait in line, but the line moves quickly.
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