144-08 91st Avenue Jamaica, NY 11435 call us: 718-297-6800 email us: bellissima@moschitto.com
Proudly Made in NYC of Italian Acetate
Our Story
Bellissima by Moschitto Designs is a third generation, family owned and operated company which has the distinction of designing and manufacturing its own line of fashion jewelry and accessories here in the USA. Our founder, Augie Moschitto, entered the industry shortly after completing his service in World War II, when he apprenticed as a stone-setter and began setting stones for the large jewelry houses in New York City. This led to work in the optical industry, trimming eyeglasses, and he began to develop his engraving skills. It was here that he was introduced tothe base material of the optical industry, Italian rhodoid plastic (acetate), which continues to be our base material today. Soon, Augie decided to strike out on his own, and he formed our parent company, Augie MoschittoTrim and Jewelry Corporation.Throughout the years, Augie has been joined by his three children, Lenore, Lenny and Michael, and later by his granddaughter Lisa, who have worked together to expand the product line to include fashion hair accessories, purse mirrors, eyeglass chains, and handbag trim items. They have created the Bellissima line: reminiscent of Bakelite and art deco designs of the 1940s, bold and colorful plastics of the 1960s through the 1980s, and the always popular classic tortoise shell. The result is a high quality, handcrafted item, unique in design and creation.
The designs are a group effort. Lisa pays close attention to color trends while always making sure the beauty of the Italian acetate is evident. Combining her inspiration through the moods of the colors she has chosen, and the latest trends of the season, she goes to Michael with her ideas, and with this technical expertise, they create designs that are on trend, yet classic with a vintage twist. The resulting jewelry should be able to withstand years in a woman’s wardrobe without ever looking outdated!
Our Material & Components
Our base material is the finest Italian rhodoid plastic which comes to us in sheet form. From the sheets we die cut our various shapes, selected from our growing library of more than 5,000 dies. The other material components we incorporate into our designs are Czech crystals (mainly Swarovski), French automatic barrettes, plated base metal findings, glass and natural beads, and ear posts and wires that are surgical steel or goldfilled. A combination of new and old techniques, including stone-setting, engraving, filigree scroll work, and hand painting give us capabilities that make the Bellissima jewelry line unlike any other.
