Inside Assouline’s Glittering Buccellati Book Party

Last night on Madison Avenue, two families whose names connote aesthetic excellence hosted a glittering celebration. To mark the jeweler’s hundredth anniversary, Assouline Publishing released Buccellati: A Century of Timeless Beauty. Since 1919, the Milanese house has built a reputation for its whimsical, timeless, and audacious pieces. The history of these pieces creates a compelling story of reverence and rebellion. 

For the occasion, the city’s stylish and social set flocked to the New York Buccellati flagship. With each floor filled with revelers, the store felt more like a townhouse than a retailer. Champagne flutes circulated the crowd while tracks spun by DJ Wemi kept the energy electric. 

The book itself is a work of art; each generation of Buccellati’s creations sparkle off the page. References to the past—inspiration drawn from Medici jewels and from even further back, to the goldsmiths of Rome and Byzantium—reemerge decade and decade. In the tome, special attention is paid to the hundreds of pieces commissioned by Gabriele D’Annunzio, famed writer and playboy known for his various dalliances with movie stars, ballerinas, and pianists. Today, the jewels sparkle on the necks of Celine Dion, Kim Kardashian, and private collectors around the world.

“We’ve brought back the ‘Ombelicale’ for the hundredth anniversary,” Lucrezia Buccellati said, referring to the iconic long necklaces christened as such by D’Annunzio. She pointed to a case with the originals showcased. Beside Buccellati, the reimagined versions designed by her father twinkled in the low light.

The evening gave a warm respite ahead of Fashion Week chaos. Before a week devoted to the fleeting pleasures (the latest trends, the hottest haunts), last night toasted things that endure: craftsmanship, history, and family.