Maria Grazia Cassetti through the eyes of Filippo Cassetti.
Filippo Cassetti, son of Maria Grazia Cassetti knows all about working with family. He is a representative of the third generation of the Cassetti family which is considered to be one of the eminent Houses from Florence featuring traditions and distinguishing strong entrepreneurial spirit, recognized and appreciated by italian jetset and international clientele. The brand Cassetti had a great success guided by Andrea and especially Maria Grazia Cassetti, who joined the company in the 1950s., bringing with her a unique creativity to the Cassetti tradition and touch of feminine style, and at the same time developing modern technologies and refined manufacturing techniques combining with the typical craftsmanship of the Florentine artisans. Inspite of the brand Cassetti the company has a strong chain of distribution, representing such important jewellery and watch brands as Bvlgari, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, IWC, Longines, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin. Thanks to a long experience of their unique staff, the incessant work and refined hospitality, the Cassetti Group continues to gain the fame worldwide.
I had a great chance to meet Filippo Cassetti in one of their sophisticated boutiques on Ponte Vecchio and to speak about jewellery, traditions, family, future generations.
L.C. When the brand Cassetti was founded?
F.C. The brand Cassetti was founded in 1926 by Renzo Cassetti, the heir to the precious tradition of Florentine master engravers and silversmiths led by Benvenuto Cellini.
L.C. How did you start your job in the company?
F.C. Now the company converges towards the third generation, it is an important passage of my mother and my uncle. My mother is basically involved in business; she took care of product development and mainly of design. My uncle, responsable for the financial department. My job is organizational, to increase-“to implement” the need of the company that is growing more and more every time especially in marketing and towards customer’s assistance; an important range of offer to the international client.
L.C. Each collection Mrs. Cassetti makes shows us her amazing creative universe. Where does she get inspiration?
F.C. Maria Grazia Cassetti has brought within our company that necessary touch of feminine style, not only the entrepreneurial vision but also the essential of the woman. The woman according her is a person with her autonomy which is very emergent, and while creating something she always takes inspiration from a showy product, very classic, shapes very showy and very soft but big; her taste is completely for the woman which is very self-confident, aggressive, who must inevitably be the mistress of the item she wears.
L.C. Are there any persons in art, fashion, architecture and design that inspire Mrs. Cassetti with their works?
F.C. Much comes from her personal intuition, let’s say that in fact it is not just a source of inspiration but her ability to perceive on what she sees, what she observes, take her way of thinking and from that the idea is born, the design is born. Let’s say that she is very capable of having her point of view on fashion, to look at many things that bring inspiration but definitely it is her unique ability to prevent on these messages.
L.C. What is her favourite stone? Why?
F.C. The favourite gemstone is undoubtly diamond in his traditional cuts, obviously brilliant cut, even drop-shaped diamonds, whatever the shape is; diamond because it is a double stone : this stone is a great investment, and it takes a lot of imagination, but the most important thing is its simplicity and purity, and then the “hand” Cassetti accompanies the value of its stone.
L.C. What stone(s) she will never use to create jewels?
F.C. There are no foreclosures in using stones: it may be the day of fantasy for the semiprecious like precious stones such as rubies, emeralds without any distinction. There is no one stone; it is very important not to follow the fashion because the fashion is Maria Grazia Cassetti.
L.C. What does Mrs. Cassetti like most about being a jewellery designer?
F.C. I think basically it is the freedom of production; the freedom of expression is the best quality and what is also nice that the client acknowledges her taste, follows it, appreciates it. Indeed there are clients who are fond of the brand “Cassetti”.
L.C. Is jewellery more than just an adornement for a modern woman?
F.C. More than just an adornment, it is definitely a way to express herself, how to present her own independence, energy, her desire to wear freely.
L.C. According you jewel is a luxury item?
F.C. No, the item is not a luxury, the item is a pleasure, jewelry is a satisfaction to be happy to wear it; it is not a performance, it is a pleasure.
L.C. If not a jewellery designer, who your mother Mrs. Cassetti would become?
F.C. It is a very difficult question to answer. I can’t think about her the way different from what it is.
L.C. According you are the future generations going to continue the family business?
F.C. My mother Maria Grazia Cassetti surely will never stop, will never have limits, of course, those who will take her place will never have the same energy, the same way of expression. I hope that the future generations, may be even her grandchildren ,so my children or my grandchildren can have the same characteristics to take care of the brand with such passion , so much character. The luck of the Cassetti family: the strong union between what is the work and the family, all of our children even myself, since our childhood, we have breathed what was the jewel, what was the silver, gold-it is the business, then the passion for these items is in our DNA. There will never be someone who will go and do something other.
3 September 2015/Lusine Chilingarian
Photo Courtesy of Cassetti Jewellery House
www.cassettiorologi.it/gioielli
