Is it handmade?
'Fatta' — FAT-ta. Double 't' — crisp.
Ask when buying from a traditional Italian jeweller or artisan goldsmith shop ('laboratorio orafo'). Handmade pieces are more valuable and unique — worth knowing before comparing prices.
'Fatta a mano' = handmade (past participle 'fatto' agreeing with the feminine noun, e.g. 'la collana è fatta a mano'). For masculine: 'fatto a mano'. In Italian jewellery, 'artigianale' (artisanal) and 'pezzo unico' (one-of-a-kind) are marks of distinction and pride.
È un pezzo unico?
Is it a one-of-a-kind piece?
Checks uniqueness.
Chi l'ha realizzato?
Who made it?
Asks about the maker — important for artisan pieces.
Avete il certificato artigianale?
Do you have the artisan certificate?
Certification of handmade production.
Italian master goldsmiths ('maestri orafi') undergo years of apprenticeship. The title is not just professional but cultural. Cities like Vicenza (which hosts the world's largest jewellery fair, Vicenzaoro), Valenza, Arezzo, and Naples are historic centres of Italian goldsmithing.