Jewelry
The Story of Gioielleria Cicala: 75 Years of Goldsmith Craftsmanship in Genoa
In brief. Cicala was born from a cutting bench: grandfather Giuseppe cut diamonds in Rome, his son Antonio brought that craft to Genova in the early 1950s, adding wholesale trade in diamonds, colored gemstones, and finished jewelry. The story in the industry begins in 1950; the Pegli boutique opened in 1975. Today the business operates from two stores — at Via San Vincenzo 110r in the city center and at Via Martiri della Libertà 23-25r in Pegli — with an in-house workshop for repairs and servicing.
The original telling of this story opened with an honest caveat, worth rereading before everything else:
«By nature, I don't enjoy talking about myself. Perhaps it's a form of reserve, or perhaps it's because telling the story of this business isn't just about recounting its history — it inevitably means speaking about the lives of the people who shaped it and those who continue to nurture it today. Of those times when one's work is an inseparable part of one's own existence.»
That is why this page is not a list of anniversaries. Whoever walks in today for an engagement ring or a watch service is speaking with people who come from a cutting bench, not a sales training course — and it changes the way a stone is shown to you, and what you're told about a movement. If you'd prefer the short, institutional version, there's our story; here, we take the space for the details.
Giuseppe in Rome, Antonio in Genova: the diamond cutter's craft
The background is artisanal, and quite rare. Giuseppe Cicala was an accomplished diamond cutter in Rome. His son Antonio followed the same trade and moved to Genova in the early 1950s, where he quickly earned a reputation for integrity and quality craftsmanship.
Cutting diamonds means deciding, on a rough stone, where the boundary lies between the weight you preserve and the light you gain. It is a choice made once and never corrected. Those who have learned to work this way look at a gem and see proportion before the certificate — a habit of mind that has never been lost at Cicala.
From the bench to wholesale: diamonds, colored gemstones, finished jewelry
Antonio Cicala soon extended his artisanal work into the wholesale trade of diamonds, colored gemstones, and finished jewelry, from the very beginning targeting a selection of the highest quality. Massimo, very young at the time, worked alongside him at the bench while continuing his studies: this is how one slowly absorbs the knowledge of those who came before, and acquires an indelible education in beauty and fine craftsmanship.
In Antonio's vision, opening a retail boutique was already part of the plan. With that in mind, Massimo spent his free time from school attending goldsmithing and watchmaking workshops — not to become a goldsmith or watchmaker by profession, but to understand how the things he would one day sell were actually made. That is the same reason why the goldsmith's workshop remains inside the business to this day, not outside it.
1975: the first boutique
In 1975, having completed military service, Massimo and his sister Rita took over a small jewelry shop in the western district of Genova, in Pegli. Within a few months, the space became a fully equipped, well-organized jewelry boutique.
In 1981, Antonio Cicala passed away prematurely. The seed, however, had been planted: the cutting and wholesale operations were closed, and all energies were focused on the store. Those were years of dedication and sacrifice, rewarded by results that gave the momentum to carry on.
Patrizia, and a different way of being in the store
Patrizia's arrival brought fresh energy. A natural sense of style and a genuine flair for ideas left a decisive mark on the selection of pieces offered, drawing an immediate and ever-growing response from clients. But above all, she changed the quality of the relationship: her warmth and charisma transformed the counter into a place of dialogue, and often of friendship. In 1986, Antonio was born.
In 1987, the opportunity came to expand the premises. After a few months of closure, a larger boutique took shape: an organized sales floor, a secure vault, and a small but efficient in-house workshop for repairs. The business was swiftly computerized — among the first in the industry to manage inventory and repairs with digital systems — and during those years cicala.it went live as well, static and non-interactive, but already carefully maintained.
Patrizia is no longer here to walk this path. The way of welcoming those who come through the door, however, has remained hers.
Work for the trade
Recognition came not only from clients. Massimo Cicala was called to serve on the Board of Directors of the Associazione Gioiellieri di Genova, and soon became its Vice President. In 2000, he joined the National Council of the Federazione Nazionale Dettaglianti Orafi — today Federpreziosi — later taking on the role of Deputy Vice President.
This is not a résumé footnote: a seat at industry tables means an intimate knowledge of the regulations governing hallmarks, metal fineness, warranties, and traceability. These are the same rules applied to every receipt and every product guarantee we issue.
2002: specializing rather than expanding
In 2002, sensing the early signals of a profound shift in the market, a structural change in the offering was made: a second boutique, not far from the main one — bright, youthful, with an openly fashion-forward character and a selection almost exclusively in silver.
The unconventional choice lay in the criteria. No brands selected because they were shouted from advertising, and a firm refusal of any steel-based proposal: companies were chosen according to three stated principles — quality, innovative design, and a solid relationship between price and value. The commitment to this second store owes much to Veronica, partner in life and in work. That same standard is what determines, to this day, whether a piece makes it into the design section or not.
2012: the third generation and the digital chapter
2012 marked Antonio's active entry into the business: a graduating student in economics and commerce, owner of his own graphic design and communications firm, and a passionate follower of technology and travel. Young and versatile, yet with a gemological background and hands-on field experience that already made him independent in sourcing — particularly in the world of pearls, sourced directly in producing countries.
With him, the website and blog were reimagined to meet a far more informed client. The underlying idea set down at the time has remained: tradition is not a synonym for stasis or immobility. Today, a piece of jewelry can be seen on video before visiting the store, a stone can be discussed over a message, and a creation can be followed from sketch to delivery through the design your own jewelry journey.
Where we are today, and how it works
The business operates from two boutiques in Genova: in the city center, at Via San Vincenzo 110r, and in Pegli, at Via Martiri della Libertà 23-25r. There is no main location and a secondary one — both are complete and equivalent. The catalog, however, is divided between the two, including limited editions, so if you have a specific piece in mind, it's worth messaging us on WhatsApp before you come: we'll tell you which store has it, and if it's not in stock, we'll reorder it.
On the service side:
- repairs and servicing are accepted at both stores, always with a written receipt;
- all work is carried out in our own workshop;
- components used in servicing are always sourced through official supply channels.
This applies to a clasp that won't hold, a necklace in need of restringing, and an automatic watch that has lost its accuracy: you'll find full details on the jewelry and watch repair service page.
Frequently asked questions about Cicala's history
- How long has Cicala been in business?
- The history in the industry begins in 1950, with diamond cutting and then the wholesale trade of diamonds, colored gemstones, and finished jewelry. The retail boutique opened in 1975.
- Do you still cut diamonds in-house?
- No. The cutting and wholesale operations were closed in the early 1980s to focus entirely on the boutique. What remains is the way of looking at a stone — proportions first — and the in-house workshop, where settings, stone mounting, and repairs are carried out.
- Are the two stores — Pegli and Via San Vincenzo — different from each other?
- They are equivalent: at both you'll find assistance, expert guidance, and repair intake. The only difference is what is on display, as the catalog is divided between Via San Vincenzo 110r and Via Martiri della Libertà 23-25r. A quick WhatsApp message settles the question in a minute.
- Can I have a piece of jewelry I already own appraised or traded in?
- Yes, in store. Bring it along with whatever you have — certificates, warranty, case — and we'll look at it together: see the dedicated page on gold and jewelry trade-in.
- Do I need an appointment?
- It's not required. If you'd like to view several stones or discuss a custom creation, however, letting us know in advance allows us to prepare the materials and give you the time you deserve.
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