Nomination Charm Bracelets - Where It All Began

A small town on the fringes of Florence in idyllic Tuscany is the unlikely birthplace for one of the most sought-after jewellery brands on the planet.

The endeavours of ice cream-making Paulo Gensini and his three entrepreneurial brothers helped to create a globally-successful product which is now the darling of fashionistas the world over.

What evolved out of an ice cream parlour in the early eighties is today the jewellery range of choice for A-list celebs in Hollywood, Bollywood and among sporting superwomen when they are not performing.

In the late seventies, the Gensini name was notorious in the family's home town for its small popular caf which served coffees and groceries to the local community.

Meanwhile, former mechanical worker Paulo had fashioned a name for himself as an ice-cool creator of desserts to keep customers coming back for more.

Ice cream, and a range of new flavours he introduced, became synonymous with the Gensini name around Florence.

The family's involvement in the jewellery business began in 1983 when the brothers established G4 - a company which allowed Paulo to marry his skills gained from his experiences working with metal with his creative streak.

Four years later came the flash of inspiration which ultimately elevated the Italian jewellery makers to the international stage.

Just as Paolo had tailored his ice cream sundaes to suite the tastes of his customers, he decided to make quality jewellery which could also be customised whichever way people chose.

And so was born Nomination - a charm bracelet which gives people the opportunity to make their own creations in a far more sleek style than the more rustic do-it-yourself bangles available previously.

Paulo's creation was spotted by Danish distribution firm Lottie Firenze during a visit to Florence and the Nomination brand has since spread all over the world.

Today, Paulo continues to influence new creations from the family business, although his son Antonio heads up the firm, with another of his sons on the board of directors.

Recent success stories for Nomination include its latest composable bracelets, the St Tropez, Capri and Cubiamo leather lines.

Composable bracelets, which are now available in over 30 different countries and through online retailers, are made up of links of stainless steel, diamond and other precious stones, 18K gold and enamel.

The seemingly-infinite range of charms available includes letters, entire words, zodiac signs, hearts, flags and flowers, fruit and birthstones.

The bracelets have become popular as a way to mark life passages, to express an interest in a sport or hobby and, according to its creators, to display a wearer's personal mystique.

Nomination is now the world's largest manufacturer of Italian charm bracelets and is a global style statement for international actors, singers, rock stars and rap artists.

It seems the Gensini's have come a long way since the days of the family caf, serving up sweet delights to passersby.