Our Story & Craftsmanship
Discover the designer, the heritage, and the craftsmanship behind Taormina Jewelry.
Heritage & Philosophy
Vincenzo Taormina is the founder and lead designer of Taormina Jewelry Inc., based in Philadelphia, USA.
Born and raised in Italy, Vincenzo began creating jewelry in childhood, learning the goldsmith’s art alongside his father and grandfather. While fortunate to inherit this rich tradition, he was never content with conventional design. His dream was to create jewelry that was bold, minimal, and truly distinctive.
Driven by a passion for craftsmanship and attention to detail, he continually challenged himself to move beyond predictable design. His vision was to bring materials, form, structure, and innovation into balance. Deeply inspired by modern architecture and industrial design, he has always sought to create timeless pieces that transcend fleeting trends.
In 2004, after years of experience in jewelry sales, design, and manufacturing, Taormina Jewelry was born.
From Sketch to Jewelry
Every Taormina Jewelry design begins with a drawing. It is where an idea takes shape and the relationship between lines, proportions, and structure is first explored.
Inspired by modern architecture and industrial design, Vincenzo approaches each piece as a balance of bold expression and minimal form. Each curve, angle, and detail is considered as part of the whole.
The design process also brings form and material together. The strength of 316 stainless steel opens up distinctive possibilities, allowing unconventional shapes and tension settings to become part of the design itself.
From the first sketch, the intention remains the same: to create jewelry with a clear identity, clean geometry, and a character that transcends fleeting trends.
Our Crafting Process
Each Taormina Jewelry piece is made to order, not mass-produced. Created from scratch in our Philadelphia studio according to the size selected when placing your order, each piece takes shape through a process of careful shaping, refinement, and finishing.
Most of our pieces begin as a solid block of stainless steel. The metal is cut and shaped, then filed and sanded to progressively define the contours, proportions, and surfaces envisioned in the original design.
The work continues through successive stages of refinement until the intended form and finish are achieved. Whether polished or brushed, each surface is considered as part of the whole, preserving the clean lines and distinctive geometry of the piece.
This hands-on approach allows us to give each jewel the time and attention it deserves, from the first cut to the final finish.
Our Signature: Tension Setting
While tension setting predates his work, Vincenzo Taormina has been one of the pioneers in applying this technique to stainless steel jewelry for over 18 years. By pairing natural gemstones with steel rather than traditional precious metals, he has developed a distinctive approach that has become a signature of Taormina Jewelry.
In a tension setting, the stone is held by the carefully engineered pressure of the metal, creating the impression that it floats between the two ends of the ring. The open design places the gemstone at the center of attention, revealing its beauty within a bold, minimal structure.
The strength of 316 stainless steel makes it integral to this approach. Form and function come together: the ring’s structure is not simply a frame around the gemstone, but an essential part of the setting itself.
This relationship between industrial material and natural gemstone captures the philosophy of Taormina Jewelry: unexpected combinations, clean geometry, and design that challenges convention.
Our Signature Clasps
Our attention to design extends to every component, including the clasps. Whether for beaded designs, rubber necklaces, or cable jewelry, our clasps are designed and made in-house.
Each clasp is developed to complement the material and the design of the piece, bringing the same care to its form, function, and finish as to the jewelry itself. This work demands meticulous precision and extremely tight tolerances: even the smallest variation can affect how the mechanism fits, engages, and operates.
Our bayonet-style twist clasp is one example of this approach. Created from scratch, its interacting components must be precisely shaped and fitted to work together as intended. The clasp is an integral part of the design, rather than an afterthought.
From the main structure to the smallest functional detail, each element contributes to the distinctive character of Taormina Jewelry.