In the heart of Florence, a city synonymous with Renaissance beauty and old-world goldsmithing, one name quietly bridges centuries of tradition and oceans of culture: Kato Rikiya. Trained in Tokyo at Hiko Mizuno Jewelry College and shaped by the legacy of master engraver Mr. Nishizawa, Kato took his skills to the source—Italy’s cradle of fine metalwork—where he remains the only Japanese craftsman working professionally in the Florentine high jewelry world.

Since 2012, Kato has refined his technique under the roof of Meini, a prestigious atelier steeped in the same traditions that once guided Cellini and Ghiberti. His style, marked by fine hand engraving, balanced proportions, and sculptural finesse, channels the Renaissance spirit with a distinctly Japanese eye for detail. The result? Jewelry that feels both classical and quietly radical—artifacts of a dialogue between East and West, etched in gold.

Kato’s pieces are heirlooms in the making, each one a tribute to patience, legacy, and the enduring relevance of the artisan’s hand.