Interview with Tiffany Bartolacci of the Mother/Daughter team of Borgioni

The mother-and-daughter team, Tiffany and Rhonda Bartolacci, create jewelry that successfully combines a refined elegance with a rock-and-roll edginess. Prior to the duo's 2006 launch of Borgioni—named after Rhonda's mother and Tiffany's grandmother— handcuffs, spikes, and snakes were not pieces one would think of as streamlined or chic. They were more the style of '80s punks and those who preferred a tougher look in jewelry. But the Bartolaccis turned these designs into signature pieces that are modern, minimalistic, and cross multiple demographics.

The generational aspect of their business has served them well, attracting a roster of celebrities including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Madonna, and Jennifer Lopez, among others, who have worn their jewelry on the red carpet and in their everyday lives.

Both Rhonda and Tiffany were jewelry collectors before launching their own collection and share an affinity for stacking and layering. Tiffany explains, "From the beginning, we were drawn to styles that reworked clean lines, with an unconventional twist that were still highly wearable. We designed all our pieces so that they could be mixed together or with pieces in an existing wardrobe. We are also fans of combining different colors of gold and adding accents of different cuts of diamonds, as well as colored gemstones." Their first creation was the handcuff bangle, which has now taken on dozens of iterations. Available in different widths with myriad cuts of stones, they continue to be the best seller in the collection and the bracelet that both Rhonda and Tiffany continue to wear every day.

Here we chat with Tiffany about her personal and professional approach to jewelry:

When did you first realize that jewelry made your heart skip a beat?

"My mom always dressed me in tiny little bracelets and baby rings, so instinctually I was drawn to bright, shiny objects from the time I was very young. I always enjoyed putting an outfit together and finishing off the look with a cute ring or some bangles. It has always been in my blood to some degree."

What was the first piece of jewelry you coveted?

"I feel like I have so many! Some of the jewelry that I own and love reminds me of particular moments or stages in my life. Putting them on brings me back to those times and memories. This is what I love about jewelry. It can remind you of times that you have cherished.

Right now, I am passionate about the Harley Spike Baguette Huggies. I own them in different colored metals and gemstones. These are special because my daughter had a vision and sketched them out herself. She was inspired and I encouraged her to see it through. I have a photo of her holding her sketch with a big smile at the jeweler. It was fun to see her reaction when the piece was completed. Her vision came to life and is now selling online and at select stores. I think these huggies will always bring me a little joy just knowing the history of them. I get a little extra kick when they sell too, knowing others appreciate them as I do!"

Can you talk about what your iconic designs are and how they came about?

"Our most iconic collection revolves around our handcuffs. These are our signature pieces. These bangles are special because they latch with a pressure hinge, thus making them easier to put on and off. They are stackable and look chic being mixed and matched with other designer or vintage cuffs, or more of our bracelet styles in the same or different colors. We have always promoted mixing and matching, stacking and layering. There is no code to follow. Be yourself and wear what makes you happy."

How have you evolved over the years?

"We have developed different collections all within our same aesthetic. Some of them include the Spike, Geometric, Mixed Cut and Baguette collections as well as the spin-offs on the handcuffs with different cuts and sizes of diamonds and gemstones and in all colors of 18K gold. Additionally, with each new collection, we have launched a new bangle that can be added to the handcuff styles. This way you can mix in the newer silhouettes with the different iterations of the handcuffs, in different widths and it makes for a great stack and our clients can completely personalize them to their individual tastes and styles as well as what they already own."

Can you tell us about your signature Snake Huggie?

"My mom is the year of the snake so we are naturally drawn to the serpent motif. Snakes represent rebirth and renewal as well as enduring love. The mix of these factors inspired the huggies and the entire snake collection. The huggies in particular became one of our most coveted style earrings. I believe it is due to the fact that they have a vintage vibe are still edgy, articulated and the body of the snake wraps gracefully around the ear. Additionally the diamond detail gives these earrings just enough bling, without over doing it."

Tell us more about the Mixed Cut Collection?

"When we designed this collection, it came at a time when baguettes were widely popular again. Rather than designing a collection similar to what was already out there, we had the idea to make the pieces more interesting by introducing mixed diamond shapes. So, we designed the entire collection to include baguettes, round-cut and pear-shaped diamonds. Some are three-dimensional such as the spherical pendants and earrings, while others are more like a puzzle of diamond and precious gemstone shapes. Our stud earrings in particular were very good sellers from this collection."

How does your lifestyle influence your collection?

"Our entire family rides horses and much of our free time is spent around our horses; they are such magical, healing and powerful animals. In the past, we launched our equestrian collection and throughout the years we have developed a customer base within the equestrian world with these pieces in addition to selling to a range of generations and demographics of jewelry collectors"

What pieces have you designed that you own for your personal collection and how do you wear them?

"I own most of our handcuffs in the varied styles. I do wear my baguette skinny quite a lot. My favorite stack is two handcuffs in different metal tones with two Cartier Love Bracelets. I also own many of the pieces from our equestrian line as I love to wear them to the horse shows. I probably own every stud and huggie we have ever made because I have so many piercings and love to change up the look of my ear stack frequently. I am drawn to the smaller studs and huggies that are most comfortable because I tend to get a bit lazy at night and end up sleeping with them in my ear. The pendants that I wear mostly are my sentiment pieces that have my daughter's name on them and I often mix in a diamond necklace when I desire a bit more sparkle."