Family Jewels

Attention, Ivana, Joan, and other merchandising Marquesas: make way for the real thing. After stints at Harry Winston and Chaumet, Countess Gabriella Moncada di Paterno, along with her husband, Count Alberto (a former executive at De Beers), has created a collection of semi-precious jewelry that has made a grand splash on the British home-shopping scene. The hot-selling accessories—made of sterling silver dipped in 18-karat gold—are sold through British QVC and a catalogue to be distributed in the U.S. this spring.

The 32-year-old countess designs the jewelry with Italian artisans in Vicenza, updating family heirlooms— and there's a lot of family to choose from. Alberto's heritage dates back to the 10th century: some ancestors were from the Patrizi family, who spawned several cardinals and were patrons of Caravaggio, while others were from a grandee family of Spain who conquered Sicily for the King of Aragon in the 13th century. Gabriella is from the Berlucchi wine family from Northern Italy and the Lorenzottis of Turin. Yet even with all of this upper-crust background, the countess firmly believes that classic, well-made accessories ought to be duplicated for a less expensive market. "Just because someone cannot spend thousands of dollars," says Gabriella, "does not mean they should look cheap."

SUSAN KITTENPLAN