When it comes to fine jewelry, every brand has its own flair. IPPOLITA is no different! As a beloved name in the business for over 20 years, this brand is a customer favorite time and time again, thanks to its woman-forward approach and iconic use of vibrant gemstones.
If you're searching for a gift for Mother’s Day or a luxurious way to treat yourself, IPPOLITA jewelry is worth a look. Unmistakably stylish and wearable, there's a design for every woman. Learn more about how IPPOLITA carved out its own unique market in the world of designer jewelry and discover your next favorite pieces.
Where IPPOLITA Jewelry Got its Start
Born and raised in Florence, Italian artist and designer Ippolita Rostagno began her journey studying sculpture and ceramics at the Istituto d'Arte. There, she refined her techniques and developed a signature style of organic shapes and sculpted forms made from 18K gold.
After receiving her Baccalaureate, she moved to the United States at 18 to complete her college career in California. It was her interest in pursuing a modern dance career that actually landed her in New York City in the '80s.
After a few years, Rostagno found her way back to the world of design in the late '90s. She noticed a distinct lack of everyday styles in the fine jewelry business and, determined to fix that, launched her own jewelry brand called IPPOLITA. Bergdorf Goodman bought the collection quickly, and the rest is history.
The Modern Phase of IPPOLITA Jewelry
In 2007, Ippolita Rostagno sold a majority share of the company to a venture capital firm in order to unload the business aspects of running the brand and focus on her creative vision. Unfortunately, this move didn't play out as planned. Nearly a decade later, in 2018, she bought it back, once again gaining complete control of her namesake brand.
In the past few years, more and more IPPOLITA jewelry collections have been released, each crafted with simplicity, practicality, and style in mind. Unlike other names in luxury jewelry, her pieces do not carry a logo or emblem—yet they're still instantly recognizable. With countless collectors around the globe, IPPOLITA has long been solidified as a brand to watch.
IPPOLITA Jewelry and Sustainability
As a brand, IPPOLITA understands that the world contains a finite amount of precious metals and minerals. In an effort to put Mother Nature first in its production, 100% of the gold used in IPPOLITA jewelry comes from recycled sources. This eco-friendly act reduces climate impact and limits the amount of water, chemicals, and wastewater used in production.
IPPOLITA's refineries find recycled gold in returned customer jewelry and industrial scraps, melting each piece down and reducing alloys and other possible contaminants to create 99.99% pure gold. This raw material is then given to artists, who combine it with silver to create the brand's signature 18K "green" gold alloy. This practice ensures every IPPOLITA necklace, ring, or bracelet is made with sustainability in mind.
What Makes IPPOLITA Jewelry Unique?
Every design, from the IPPOLITA earrings to IPPOLITA rings, combines color, comfort, and sculptural inspirations to elevate the typical fine jewelry design. Unlock the unique elements that make the brand stand out, like:
Artistic and Sculptural Designs
It makes perfect sense that the IPPOLITA jewelry brand would be best known for sculptural shapes and flowing silhouettes with the founder’s background. Rostagno handcrafts each piece with the intention of creating three-dimensional wearable works of art. Just like in her sculptures, the pendants in IPPOLITA necklaces and intricate shapes of IPPOLITA earrings feature organic shapes and hand-formed details, many of which can be found across all of her collections for a cohesive style.
Body Imprinted Textures
Inspired by her lifelong fascination with the female form, the majority of IPPOLITA jewelry is made with a technique called "body imprinting." In this design method, the artist presses sheets of wax against various parts of their body to imprint one-of-a-kind, flesh-like textures.
Those molds are then cast in silver and other metals to create individual pieces for IPPOLITA bracelets, earrings, and more. This process captures a fresh, intimate aesthetic, bringing a soft and feminine touch to every piece.
A Female-Forward Approach
When she first entered the fine jewelry business, Ippolita Rostagno noticed that most designer jewelry brands designed and marketed pieces toward husbands, boyfriends, and fathers – not women themselves. At the time, these were often the people purchasing luxury pieces with the intention of gifting them to the women in their lives. But in true feminist fashion, Rostagno understood that the market needed jewelry designed by women, for women, that women could and would purchase for themselves.
This shift in focus worked for the IPPOLITA jewelry brand. Knowing that women are the primary consumers of jewelry and aiming to create timeless pieces that they could wear day in and day out became a core belief in the company.
Every IPPOLITA ring, IPPOLITA necklace, and IPPOLITA bracelet is designed with the modern, complex woman and her individual style in mind. Not many brands can claim that!
Everyday Life Inspirations
IPPOLITA jewelry is inspired by the beauty in everyday life. Rostagno takes in the world around her, drawing inspiration for her designs wherever possible, whether that be sculptures found in the streets of Florence, Mediterranean landscapes, or naturally occurring gemstone formations. Even though each collection is inspired by different aspects, this results in a cohesive style across all IPPOLITA earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Handcrafted Artisanal Techniques
Every single piece of IPPOLITA jewelry is handmade. Determined to preserve traditional craftsmanship, Ippolita combines a custom method for cutting stones and the lost wax method for metalwork. She's been quoted as saying that she believes it's important to be able to see the handiwork of a piece's creator—something that's certainly true in every IPPOLITA necklace offered.
Vibrant and Colorful Gemstones
Ippolita Rostagno's use of colorful gemstones is a signature aspect of her brand. Many of the most popular IPPOLITA earrings, IPPOLITA rings, and IPPOLITA bracelets feature a diverse rainbow of carefully curated stones.
The effusive colors found within the brand are well-sourced and eternally beautiful. Designs can vary from collection to collection, with some pieces gem-less and others carefully dotted with vibrant, candy-like hues!
Types of Gemstones Used in IPPOLITA Jewelry:
IPPOLITA jewelry uses a wide variety of colorful gemstones to bring the artful beauty of their pieces to life. These include:
- Mother-of-pearl
- Diamond
- Amethyst
- Blue topaz
- Turquoise
- Sapphire
- Citrine
- Lapis lazuli
- Onyx
- Rock crystal
Signature Gold Shade
IPPOLITA jewelry is designed to flatter every skin tone—something made possible by the exclusive shade of gold developed by Rostagno before her initial launch in 1999. The process of combining recycled gold with silver results in a unique "green" gold alloy, designed to give off a luminous warm glow and enhance any wearer's natural beauty. This remains one of the most popular metals for IPPOLITA necklaces, IPPOLITA rings, and IPPOLITA earrings—and with good reason!
Other Materials Used in IPPOLITA Jewelry
Though the signature gold shade is used most often, IPPOLITA designs can feature other materials, such as:
- 18K gold
- Sterling silver
- Rosé alloy (a blend of sterling silver, 18K gold, and 18K rose gold)
- Resin
A Bit About Each IPPOLITA Jewelry Collection
Though the same techniques and core values are used for each IPPOLITA jewelry design across the board, every single collection has something unique that sets it apart. Get an inside look at each one to determine which style suits you best:
The IPPOLITA Chimera Collection
The Chimera collection uses mixed metals, a departure from IPPOLITA's focus on all-gold jewelry. Every necklace, bracelet, earring, and ring in the collection features a combination of 18K gold and sterling silver.
This two-toned approach allows the gold to really stand out, creating a stylish and seamless look that's perfect for everyday accessorizing. This collection has something for every modern fine jewelry lover, from the IPPOLITA Chimera dangle earrings to the modern gold and silver IPPOLITA bracelets and more.
The IPPOLITA Classico Collection
As the name implies, the Classico collection is characterized by all the elements that make IPPOLITA what it is. With sculptural shapes, hammered gold and silver pieces, and effortlessly incorporated precious gemstone details, this line exemplifies what the brand strives to be: wearable, organic, and beautiful. If you're just getting into the brand, the IPPOLITA Classico Sterling Silver Hammered Hoop Earrings are a timeless choice.
The IPPOLITA Lollipop Collection
The Lollipop collection is one of the brand's most beloved lines! Every IPPOLITA jewelry piece in this collection features vibrant gemstones with dazzling round lollipop-like cuts, each with unique, irregular facets designed to capture light and create a brilliant sparkle in every design. Pieces like the IPPOLITA Lollipop Lollitini Long Necklace are the perfect fun, fashionable, and colorful choice for everyday and special occasions alike.
The IPPOLITA Luce Collection
The Luce collection leans more towards cool-toned styles than the signature gold and glowy designs of other IPPOLITA jewelry. Sterling silver is the perfect choice of metal for the blue and white gemstones used in each piece. The IPPOLITA Luce All Stone Hinged Bracelets or matching earrings in this collection all feature some combination of mother-of-pearl, onyx, and blue topaz.
The IPPOLITA Nova Collection
IPPOLITA's Nova collection draws inspiration from celestial beauties, such as planets or stars. These pieces are made to mimic constellations and orbits, using gemstones set in 18K gold in a cluster-style design. If you want to feel out of this world with your everyday jewelry, the IPPOLITA Nova gold and turquoise threader earrings were made for you.
The IPPOLITA Rock Candy Collection
The Rock Candy collection remains one of IPPOLITA's most identifiable lines in the history of production. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of gems, each piece features uniquely cut round and angular stones in a wide variety of vibrant hues.
The gems are arranged together in gold, sterling silver, and rose gold settings in whatever way accentuates the individual allure of each stone best. If you're searching for a colorful statement piece to add to your collection, try stacking a few of the famous IPPOLITA Rock Candy Hero Gelato Hinge Bangles.
The IPPOLITA Stardust Collection
The Stardust Collection is the epitome of luxury. Perfectly cut diamonds are the key element that brings each glittering celestial-inspired piece to life. Each design offers timeless style, with distinctive hand-hammered textures and intricate pavé settings, from the IPPOLITA Stardust earrings to the IPPOLITA Stardust bangles and beyond.
The IPPOLITA Wonderland Collection
Think of the Wonderland collection as the Rock Candy collection's cooler-toned companion line. Although they both utilize organic shapes, geometric patterns, and unique facets to showcase the true brilliance of each gemstone, the Wonderland designs feature hammered textural detail.
The designs draw inspiration from the beauty of winter, featuring blues, whites, and silver. Since they are made with sterling silver, these IPPOLITA rings and necklaces are considered more budget-friendly, making something like the IPPOLITA Wonderland Sterling Silver Large Teardrop Pendant a perfect "just because" present when shopping on a whim.
Our Top 3 Tips for Styling Your IPPOLITA Jewelry
There's no doubt about it: IPPOLITA jewelry is beautiful, however you style it. But if you're new to accessorizing with designer brands, you may feel a little lost. Try our three expert tips to showcase your favorite pieces day in and day out:
- Tip #1: Stack them! The IPPOLITA bracelets and rings are designed to be layered together. Whether you mix and match within collections or decide to sport every bangle from one line, this simple styling hack elevates your look.
- Tip #2: Lean into color. While silver and gold will always have their place in our jewelry collections, donning colorful designs in your day-to-day is the best way to add a little fun to your outfit.
- Tip #3: Combine chains. Take a page from Ippolita's styling tricks and combine two chain necklaces to create one long circle. From there, you can double or triple-wrap it around your neck for a fun, one-of-a-kind style.
After two decades in the business, IPPOLITA has rightfully become a household name! This fine jewelry brand is renowned worldwide for its distinctive designs, artisanal craftsmanship, and vibrant gemstone details. If you're looking for a wearable design that adds a touch of sophistication and feminine flair to your everyday outfits, it's time to shop IPPOLITA.
