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| The shop window from inside - The earrings I bought today - Their very nice business card |
Today I went to Florence with my sister and I couldn't miss the opportunity to show you a shop that I love very much: Falsi Gioielli
"Falsi gioielli" means literally "fake jewels" but in my mind the two words have a somewhat ironic shade: the emphasis is on the word "falsi" (fake) because normally in Italian you would say "gioielli falsi". This gives a playful meaning to the sentence and it's like it says "yes, we're jewels, we're beautiful, but don't take us too seriously!".
It reminds me childhood, when I was playing with plastic jewels and my grandmother shoes and hats and was feeling the most elegant woman in the world.
This happy, joyful and not too serious feeling is what accompanies you from the first steps in the shop, when you enter this magic world of colors and shapes.
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| A very beautiful wood and metal cake riser full of flower brooches - Ombretta and Mara at work - One of the old (and I bet precious) ceiling fans |
When I was studying at University, Falsi Gioielli pieces were a must (is it my impression or the word "must" is a bit demodé? Ok, let's be retro today) among my girlfriends and me. I remember drooling in front of the shopping window, trying to copy their necklaces at home using my grandmother old buttons with catastrophic results (yes, shame on me, but I was poor!!! I know, I know... it's not an excuse...) and asking their bijoux as presents for every possible occasion.
I remember the envy of the others when one of us was proudly showing a new plexiglass earring or a colorful button-made necklace at a party and the joy when I could get my hands on a new bijoux coming from the talented hands of these bijoux artisans (now, do you believe me when I tell you I am an accessory freak??)
And I bought a necklace here two or three years ago I think, long brown and quite big (I'll show you for sure one day) that I wear almost every day. I think one day it will ask me to spare it from consumption and kill it fast and painless.
Their creations range from button necklaces and bracelets (my favorites) in every color possible and laser-cut plexiglas bijoux in almost every shade of the rainbow and every shape, to pearl (also in a range of materials, dimensions and colors) necklaces and fabric flower brooches. But they have much more to offer and even just a look in the shop is a pleasure for the eyes.
And the prices are nice and for every budget (I would say from an average of 5-8 euros to 50 euros maximum. For 20 euros you can buy a very beautiful necklace or bracelet)
If you live in Florence and never been here (I doubt...) or if you're visiting the city and you're searching for a nice gift for a friend (or simply for yourself... eheh...) you should really visit one of their two shops.
This one in the picture is in Via de' Tavolini (a side street of via Calzaiuoli, the shopping street that leads to Piazza Signoria from the Dome) and it is, in my opinion the most beautiful.
If you're wandering in the area of the San Lorenzo market/central station Santa Maria Novella it can be convenient for you to visit their shop in Via De' Ginori instead.
You can also find all of the useful informations, contacts and more pics on their website, falsigioielli.it
I really want to thank the wonderful Mara and Ombretta that kindly allowed me to take pictures in their realm (and gave me and my sister also a small gift *Al has heart-shaped eyes*), and the owners Sandro (that also chatted with me and the other girls a little bit) and Silvia (she wasn't there today, maybe she was in the other shop).
*please tell me I remembered the names correctly, I would die of shame otherwise... Remember, if I made a mistake is not because I don't love you!*
-I really hope that the owner of that fabric shop in the center that in a very rude way didn't allow me to take pictures will read this and eat his hands for regret (we say like that in Italian, do you have a similar saying in english?), tsk!-
