This article first appeared in the JNA November/ December 2022 issue.

Fortified by experience and motivated by purpose, FOPE continuously makes an enduring mark in the fine jewellery space. Its signature style – the Novecento mesh chain – is already a perennial favourite among discerning jewellery lovers. The brand is sold by leading jewellers in major markets.

FOPE further strengthened its international reputation with the launch of an innovative jewellery line that features flexible rings and bracelets in 18-karat gold. The jewellery pieces, which highlight contemporary elements juxtaposed with classic Italian motifs, were an instant hit among modern customers.

Now in its 93rd year, the Italian manufacturer maintains a solid global customer base. FOPE is aiming to expand its global foothold to reach new markets and continuously build its illustrious brand, according to CEO Diego Nardin.

Unparalleled craftsmanship

Established in 1929, FOPE has celebrated manifold milestones during its decades-long operations. Nardin said the family-owned company successfully evolved through the years from a goldsmith’s workshop specialising in metal watchstraps into an international fine jewellery brand, with flagship boutiques and showrooms in Venice, London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, Italy. Its headquarters and production facilities are in Vicenza, Italy.

By the 1980s, third-generation jewellers entered a new phase and transformed the family business into a thriving jewellery manufacturing enterprise. FOPE started making its own gold jewellery collections using advanced technology. FOPE, in fact, stands for Factory of Jewellery Precious Export.

In 1985, the company created the Novecento gold mesh chain, which has since become FOPE’s iconic design and mark of luxury. This signature style – reinterpreted in many ingenious ways over the years – helped the jeweller carve out a niche in Italy and later, in international markets.

A timeless favourite, Novecento mesh is a lightweight, intricately woven golden chain that revolutionised the way gold chains are styled and worn.

“All FOPE creations share a distinctive character with the signature Novecento gold mesh chain,” shared Nardin. “It is a timeless classic that has become a true icon, thanks to its elegant golden weave that varies in gauge and design. It is quintessentially Italian and has given the brand worldwide success.”

The brand launched the Flex’it line in 2007 using a truly inventive technique that it developed in the 1950s, which it then updated, patented and applied to its signature gold mesh chain.

Flex’it features stretchable bracelets and rings in 18-karat gold that are fully flexible – moving and mimicking the movements of the wearer – thanks to dozens of tiny gold springs hidden between each golden link. The jewellery is also embellished with black or white diamond accents. Flex’it jewellery pieces are transforming the meaning of modern luxury, revealed Nardin. The pieces are sophisticated, versatile, comfortable and easy to wear.

Thriving business

According to Nardin, FOPE performed well in the first semester of 2022, recording an 89 per cent year-on-year growth from the same period in 2021. He attributed this to the company’s strong marketing and sales strategy in the first six months of the year.

“As has often been the case in our extensive experience, foreign markets – chief among them the US – were the fastest-growing ones,” explained the company official. “This year, the resumption of consumer spending in primary tourist areas also contributed to growth.”

Signature features make FOPE collections exceptional and highly sought after in the global jewellery industry, revealed Nardin. The designs are original and specific to the brand while the technology used to manufacture its beloved gold mesh chains is one of a kind. A testament to this is the patented Flex’it system.

“Our designs are both timeless and contemporary, and each piece is made in-house in Vicenza according to the strictest and highest quality standards. Sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) values are at the core of our operations and business development,” noted Nardin.

Future of FOPE

International markets account for around 90 per cent of FOPE’s sales since it exports its jewellery to more than 50 countries around the world, with the US, Germany and the UK as its strongest markets.

In a bid to further bolster its global presence, FOPE also has partnerships with jewellers in Dubai, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Oceania region. “We have recently entered the Japanese market as well and the results have proven positively encouraging,” disclosed Nardin.