Bespoke Polokwane jewellery pieces make way across world

The story of local bespoke brand Vitri’s Manufacturing Jewellers can be traced to the foothills of the Alps where the late Gianfranco Giardino Vitri had his roots. Fast forward to the Seventies when he opened a business in Bulawayo in the then Rhodesia before relocating to Polokwane in 1985 where his son, David attempted producing his first piece at the tender age of five.
It was a wedding ring made of brass for his mom, Yvonne and almost 30 years later David is still churning out handmade conversation pieces. David’s work and that of wife Voné and two benchers doesn’t only find its way around the city or southern African countries like Botswana and Namibia but all over the world, from Europe to North America and Australia to New-Zealand.
Aptly the business is among the tenant offerings at recently rejuvenated Uhuru Lifestyle Emporium that is proving to be Polokwane’s newest trendsetter.
Surrounded by exquisite pieces in display cabinets and under construction in the on-site work space, David narrates a tale that translates into resilience, hard work, team effort and the firm positioning of a brand that has stood the test of time. He describes the pivotal role his mother continued to play in the business along with his one sister, Grace Clayton who took care of the family concern after their father’s passing away and until David could take over upon completing his studies.
Having gone from an erstwhile factory to a boutique jeweller, they manufacture exclusive commissions for their discerning clients and at times the odd production line for large orders on request of corporates or schools, while also stocking items from ranges imported from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
They work in silver, all colours gold in 9, 14 and 18 carats as well as platinum and can do commissions in the lesser used 10 or 22 carat gold. The diamonds incorporated in their designs are conflict-free and locally-sourced, as is the case with gemstones located in Gauteng or abroad only when unavailable back home.
According to David items made from a mix of metals to which the Japanese metalwork procedure of mokume gane is applied are starting to pick up in Polokwane, whose clientele at times is seen to be adventurous when searching for individual pieces.
David prefers a contemporary-commercial style in jewellery that challenges a jeweller to take an existing design and turn it into a wearable piece. He expresses excitement over a current commission by an artistic individual who ordered a ring and matching bangle in silver, allowing him creativity in producing a conversation piece.
Asked about the most extraordinary commission ever, he recalls a past order for a striking cuff in silver and copper, which was one of the few times he worked in the particular precious metal in his career. It was 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, had to be displayed on a catwalk and complement a matching designer dress. David mentions he applied a traditional North African technique for making over-sized earrings when manufacturing the bangle that resulted in it having both an architectural and organic appearance.
When posed the question about his most favourite design ever made, he disappears among the benches to return with a bold, movable bangle embellished with etching and enhanced with slumped glass set in castings. The glass was manufactured through a collaboration with another artist while he was studying at Durban University of Technology and coming up with interactive jewellery, it was learnt.
Techniques in jewellery manufacturing have pretty much remained the same over the years, he says as he points out that he had developed a technique of titanium photo etching while still studying. He hasn’t paten­ted the technique not to be restricting what he describes as a small industry with few job opportunities that easily gets stifled by red tape and strict regulations pertaining to the licencing of gold.
Over the years the Vitri family was evidently committed to growing a brand that has found a secure foothold in the city of Polokwa­ne. There is ample proof in the example of a female customer who purchased a silver ring David Giardino Vitri made at the age of seven or eight – displayed in a cabinet on his father’s suggestion and carrying a R5 price tag – and returned four years ago only to have it resized.

Story and photos: YOLANDE NEL
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