Teresa Winslow with Roger and Nancy Lynch [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

Cathy Padgett, owner of Veranda on Ocean Drive, recently opened her spectacular Riomar Bay home to friends and longtime customers for an intimate cocktail reception to spend time with Italian jewelry designer Marco Bicego.

“He’s a premier designer; he’s world renowned,” said Padgett, who was wearing one of his unique coil technique necklaces. Padgett said she continues to be impressed by the quality and innovation of his work.

“His whole thing is that you can wear his jewelry during the day and you can wear it at night,” added Veranda’s store manager, Allison Livingston. “He wants you to be able to enjoy it all the time. He introduces a lot of color with semi-precious stones.”

Livingston pointed to a stunning long, gold necklace being modeled by Sue Johnson that featured hand-hammered single stations inspired by the Lunaria flower, interspersed with radiant pavé diamonds.

“This is all hand engraved; there’s actually a tool that you use to brush it,” said Livingston. “He brought the tools into the store to demonstrate. It is a real art to be able to do this.”

Many of the guests sported a few of their own favorite Bicego jewelry, purchased over the more than 10 years that Veranda has carried the designs.

“I love the versatility of them. I can mix and match and do all sorts of things with them,” said Sandy Rolf, wearing a delicate mixed gemstone necklace that could be worn either full length or doubled up. “I can tell you, he’s a real artist. They’re lightweight and comfortable; they’re just pieces that people can wear without being over the top.”

“I love his work,” said Carol Kanarek, wearing another stylish gemstone necklace. “It’s just so classic. I love the color.”

The delightfully engaging Bicego is continuing the legacy his father started in 1958. He established his own brand in 2000, working in his Vicenza atelier in northeastern Italy, where he was born and raised, and spoke of two signature techniques.

“One is hand-engraving; we have a special technique where artisans brush all the gold by hand. Another technique is with the coils; it’s just one wire, twisted around, that is a unique technique of my father’s. Everything is 18-karat gold. I love combining the yellow gold with the colored gemstones. Also, we are using some diamonds, definitely,” said Bicego.

Calling the Vero connection “amazing,” Bicego said, “I’m having a great time. I just want to say thanks to Cathy for having me. I’m very happy and honored to be here to spend my evening with all the beautiful and great people here.”