Donatella Balsamo is an Italian, London-based designer specialising in luxury hand-crafted, exotic jewellery, combining a classical and antique feel with a contemporary twist. Aiming to take its customers on a magical journey, Donatella combines the mystical world of the East with the haute couture principles of the West to create eye-catching statement pieces. It is Donatella’s penchant for multicoloured cabochon-cut stones set on matte silver that ties the brand together, giving her jewellery a charming, vintage-heritage aesthetic – with a hint of glamour. Growing up in an environment of boundless creativity, counting artists and antique dealers amongst her close family, Donatella gained an inherent appreciation for art and antiquity. Having carefully studied the variety of styles, changing trends and techniques used by famous designers, she developed a keen eye for detail and a strong sense of aesthetic.

“From a young age, my desk was strewn with rough sketches and magazine cut-outs of the imaginary jewellery collection of my dreams. The more extensively I travelled, the more I was inspired to design and create my own jewellery, and this culminated in the conception of my namesake brand.  My jewellery is designed for those who seek something different and eye-catching whilst appreciating genuine ethnic influences.” – Founder, Donatella Balsamo.

Production takes place in India, in the region of Rajasthan, where the gemstones are hand-cut, polished and set on (often recycled) silver and 18ct gold plating. Donatella’s commitment to ethical production ensures that she has a strong relationship with her artisanal partners and that the origin of each and every stone is ethically sourced. The brand is against mass-production and standardised style giving priority to handcrafted, distinctive design reflecting our individual identity.