How the Italians blew another golden opportunity

Banished from Venice in 1291 because of their penchant for starting fires, the glassworkers of Murano, Italy set up shop across the water. Today the tiny Mediterranean island is abuzz with life and activity. The artists-in-exile have made their ancestors proud. While tourists mill about the souvenir storefronts, the real business

While tourists mill about the souvenir storefronts, the real business goes down in the workshops. I'm fortunate enough to have an all-access pass. You can almost feel the heat from the street and stepping inside feels like diving into a volcano: giant fiery furnaces, glowing molten glass and the clang of hundred-year-old iron tools. Hard to believe that something so delicate can come out of all that noise and flame. But that's where these world-famous, hand-blown "gems" are born. And artisans have been crafting them the very same way for more than 800 years.

Our Murano Rose Gold-fused Ring blends this ancient tradition with modern jewelrymaking techniques in one truly spectacular piece. This smooth purple cabochon of Murano glass reveals an inner layer of gold leaf, dramatically flaked and frozen as if in amber. Each unique glass dome seems scooped like a luxury confection into its setting. The band and setting feature breathtaking filigree work (think Roman wrought iron gate or Venetian trellis) in exquisite detail, fused in 18k rose gold. No two rings are exactly alike, but each brings back the history of centuries-old glassmaking technique and the timeless romance of Old World European luxury.