Our History: A Century of Goldsmith Art on the Ponte Vecchio

The history of the Maison is deeply rooted in the talent and vision of its founder, Pirro Piccini (born in 1880), a master goldsmith, engraver, and stone setter. In 1903, Pirro opened the historic boutique at number 23, Ponte Vecchio in Florence, marking the beginning of a high-jewelry journey destined to span across generations.

The Golden Years and International Acclaim

In 1925, Armando Piccini—the youngest of Pirro’s three sons—began attending the Porta Romana Art Institute. He was mentored by the great master Libero Andreotti, who later invited him to join the school as a fellow teacher. Armando’s extraordinary talent was soon revealed to the world: in 1936, representing his father’s firm, he took part in the 20th Venice Biennale and was awarded first prize in the semi-precious stones and cameos category. The following year, in 1937, Ugo Ojetti, a prominent member of the Royal Academy of Italy, commissioned Armando to create a precious two-layer onyx cameo depicting his daughter, Paola.

The generational passing of the torch took place in 1951, when Pirro handed the company over to his sons Renzo, Tebaldo, and Armando, officially renaming it Fratelli Piccini. Under their leadership, the Maison’s mastery expanded far beyond European borders. In 1958, Fratelli Piccini triumphed in New York, capturing first place at the International Diamond Awards with a powder case crafted in gold, platinum, and diamonds—masterfully embossed and chiseled entirely by hand. This global success was reaffirmed just a year later, in 1959, when they once again won first prize at the same prestigious competition in Buenos Aires.

Resilience and Female-Led Evolution

In 1966, the historic Arno flood shattered Florence, hitting the iconic shops of the Ponte Vecchio with immense fury. However, thanks to visionary restoration and structural consolidation work carried out just a few years prior, Fratelli Piccini managed to save the vast majority of their jewelry and priceless historical archives from the rushing waters of the river.

Meanwhile, the third generation entered the company. Laura Piccini (Renzo’s daughter), who joined the firm in the mid-1950s, began assisting her uncle Armando in 1970, traveling the world to search for and select the finest precious stones. This legacy of excellence continued with Laura’s daughter, Elisa Tozzi Piccini, who graduated in gemology from the prestigious GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in Los Angeles in 1986. In 1990, Laura Piccini took the reins of the company, guiding it forward with her daughter Elisa by her side.

Major Milestones and the Bond with Florence

The deep connection between the Maison and the city of Florence has always been expressed through grand artistic celebrations. In 1993, to mark their first 90 years of business, Fratelli Piccini organized an exhibition of their creations at the Bardini Museum. To honor this milestone, they donated 14 engraved semi-precious stones to the City of Florence—the very same stones that had won first prize at the 1936 Venice Biennale. Today, these masterpieces are permanently housed in the Tesoro dei Granduchi Museum at Palazzo Pitti.

In 2003, for their centenary anniversary, the Maison funded the restoration of the painting Charity by Piero del Pollaiolo. Out of the famous seven Virtues series, this is the only painting that reveals a preparatory sketch of a jewel, drawn by his well-known brother Antonio, on its back. The initiative was presented at the Uffizi Library by the Superintendent of the Polo Museale Fiorentino, Professor Antonio Paolucci, alongside the philosopher and scholar, Professor Massimo Cacciari. Since then, the masterpiece has been on permanent display at the Uffizi Gallery.

The Future of Tradition

In 2013, Elisa Tozzi Piccini was appointed as the fourth-generation leader of the family business. Elisa contributed a personal, contemporary touch to the Maison’s centenary traditions while keeping its core heritage intact. With a vision always focused on the future and young creatives, in 2017 she established the Armando Piccini Award Jewelry Design Competition. This initiative was born from Elisa’s desire to bring young talent closer to the noble, ancient art of goldsmiths.