Gismondi 1754 Acquires Vendorafa From LVMH For $662,500

Italian high jeweler, Gismondi 1754, has acquired Italian artisan gold jeweler, Vendorafa, for 608,000 euros (approximately $662,500).

Vendorafa, based in the historic Italian jewelry district of Valenza, is known for its handcrafted 18k gold jewels made with traditional artisanal techniques such as hammering, engraving and embossing combined with contemporary digital technology. Massimo Gismondi, CEO and creative director of Gismondi, said Vendorafa will complement the gem-centric jewels of his company.

“For our brand the stones are the stars and that is how we build our designs with different shaped stones combined in various heights and directions,” Massimo Gismondi said in an exclusive interview Wednesday. “Exceptional handmade gold jewelry at this level is only represented by a small sector of the market in Italy. Rather than to try to achieve it on our own we have the best archives, artisans, tools and the historical blueprint in Vendorafa.”

Vendorafa was founded in the goldsmith district in Valenza in the province of Alessandria in 1951. In addition to its namesake Vendorafa fine jewelry collections, the company has a separate manufacturing division, Vendorafa Lombardi.

Both divisions of the company were part of Pedemonte Group, a conglomerate of three jewelry manufacturers in Italy and France that was formed in 2020 under the Equinox III SLP SIF investment fund. In 2022, LVMH, under its W&J Jewelry Operations, acquired the group from Equinox for an undisclosed amount.

Gismondi acquired the artisan brand, Vendorafa. The manufacturing division, Vendorafa Lombardi, remains part of the Pedemonte Group.

Gismondi, based in the port city of Genoa, has been a family-owned jewelry company since its inception in 1754. Massimo Gismondi represents its seventh generation. It specializes in gem-set high jewelry. Under Massimo Gismondi, the company has spent the past seven years expanding its footprint in Europe and the U.S. (now its largest market) while opening new markets in the Gulf region. This includes opening several branded boutiques in important cities and resort areas in Europe and the Americas.

Massimo Gismondi says he will treat the artisan jewels of Vendorafa in the same way he treats Gismondi by adapting their traditional jewels in a contemporary style.

“I want to incorporate the same ideas to create a modern future by deconstructing the past with a great respect and reverence to the traditional handcrafted techniques through each design,” he said.

The Vendorafa design team has completed its latest jewels for the Couture Jewelry Show in Las Vegas, being held in June. Massimo Gismondi said going forward, he and his creative team will have oversight over all designs for the new collections.