A time of ‘great optimism and economic entrepreneurship’ — Italy in the ’70s was rife with business opportunities. The country’s economy was showing flourish, with its middle and upper classes growing. With it came the blossoming of Italian luxury brands, including, of course, fine jewellery houses.
Standing out amongst the branded giants of the era was ZYDO, a family-owned Italian jewellery house that went on to make a name for itself on the international jewellery stage.
For Davide Zybert, the elegant and amiable family patriarch and founder of ZYDO, the jewellery business came as a natural choice. His father was the founder and president of one of the biggest gold jewellery companies in post-war Europe.
“Jewellery manufacturing was in his blood,” shared Jack Zybert, one of Mr Zybert’s three sons, who now manage the business. Not surprisingly, it is also in Jack’s and his two brothers’ — Eli and Roberto — blood. Founded in 1972, ZYDO is one of the few Italian jewellery brands that still hosts 100% of its production in Valenza to ensure the finest production quality.
You have been known for the elegance, innovation, and exclusivity of your designs. How much of these can be traced back to the family legacy, and how much have been honed over the years by the new-generation Zyberts?
ZYDO’s designs are a result of its history and the great experience that comes with that history. The past informs and shapes the future of each of our collections. The third generation in the jewellery business is acutely and intimately aware of all of ZYDO’s past creations, with elegant lines, superior craftsmanship, and remarkable stones. In studying those designs and expanding and innovating on them, the new generation is engaging in a sort of imaginary conversation through time with the previous ones to craft ever more stunning jewels.
What do you think are the advantages of being a family-run jewellery brand in terms of designs and management?
The most important advantage is our personal attachment to the brand, the consistency of quality and craftsmanship over time, and the handed-down knowledge through generations in the same business.
Who does the designs in the family, and how does each of your role complement each other?
ZYDO has a talented team of designers that are managed by Roberto Zybert, the director of production. However, all of the members of the family are involved in the designing process. Jack and Eli Zybert, who manage ZYDO’s operations in Europe and Asia, and America, respectively, are particularly instrumental in steering the design process based on market indications, fashion trends, and, of course, customers’ preference.
What are the three main things that you consider when designing a piece?
The most important factor is our history. We want to make sure that every piece of jewellery that we produce is consistent with the extraordinary creations that we are known for. We want to make sure that it possesses the qualities characteristic of our jewellery — superior craftsmanship, remarkable stone quality, and outstanding design. Then we are careful to consider current fashion trends and consumer’s tastes. Finally, we need to make sure that all of our designs are perfectly crafted so that they can be worn easily, comfortably, and continuously so for years to come.
How do you ensure that each piece always has that distinctive fine Italian quality?
The essential factor is to host all of the stages of production entirely and exclusively in Italy. The craftsmanship of the Italian artisan is the result of the experience and knowledge that span many generations. It cannot be reproduced exactly anywhere else in the world. Additionally, to make sure that every ZYDO item is consistent with our desired level of excellence, we run it through two separate quality controls. The first happens right after the mounting is produced, and the second after the jewel is complete. The result is a jewel that will be worn and enjoyed for decades.
Glamorous diamond earrings
A lot of Asian women love your pieces. What do you think are the things that draw them to your designs?
Asian women are very savvy and knowledgeable consumers. They are deeply aware of what constitutes a product with superior and lasting craftsmanship, as well as the intrinsic value that a jewel made with higher quality stones commands. Therefore, the qualities that ZYDO instills in each of its creations, namely, outstanding craftsmanship, innovative design, and remarkable stone quality, are exactly what Asian women are rightly looking for.
Read the full interview on Solitaire Magazine, The Festive Edition ’15/’16
Image opener: The Zyberts (L-R) Mr Davide Zybert, Eli, Roberto and Jack
All images courtesy of ZYDO
