Bea Bongiasca

At WHITEBIRD, we love designers who break the rules with a smile. With Bea Bongiasca, it's a full-blown firework show. Pop colours, playful shapes, and inspirations that bounce between Tokyo and Milan — her collections are like design candy you’d love to bite into (but proudly wear on your fingers instead). A graduate of Central Saint Martins and already a key figure in the contemporary jewelry scene, Bea speaks to a generation that craves meaning without compromising on style.

To celebrate the arrival of her Baby Vine and Tarallo collections at WHITEBIRD, she opens up to us in a vibrant conversation — creative confessions, movie references, and a glimpse into her personal journey.

1. If you had to sum up the Bea Bongiasca universe in just a few words, what would they be?
Pop, colourful and fun.

2. From Tokyo’s underground to Milanese design: your style is a joyful explosion of pop cultures. Can you tell us how your background shaped this unique visual identity?
I believe it’s deeply connected to who I am as a person, shaped also by the influences you mentioned. Growing up in Milan, with my mother working in fashion and the luxury industry, had a significant impact on me, also because she is an aesthete. I was also fortunate to travel with her to Japan and other contries as a teenager—an experience that left a lasting impression on my identity as a designer. Later, I studied jewellery design at Central Saint Martins, a place that brings together people from all over the world. Living in such a vibrant, cosmopolitan city like London, surrounded by a diverse community, further enriched my perspective and creative voice.

2. At just 30, you're already a contemporary jewellery icon. What was your very first connection to jewellery? A childhood memory, a formative emotion?
When I was younger, I loved creating jewellery using miniature objects from dollhouses. Later, during my first trip to Japan, I discovered tiny plastic food models and was instantly captivated. I ended up using them in one of my art class projects, where I created my very first pieces of jewellery. I was already trying to sell them to my friends too 😂

3.Your jewels are like bubble gum cast in 9k gold. What craftsmanship hides behind this playful aesthetic? Can you walk us through your production process — and your choice to keep it all made in Italy?
Usually, I start with an idea—or a couple—that have been quietly forming in my mind for some time. Once they begin to take shape, I start researching and sketching, then I build mood boards to better understand the direction I want to explore. From there, I begin drawing and after a few A3 sheets, the essence of the collection starts to emerge and we start drawing it on CAD to 3D print the first shapes.

Then once I’ve completed this part, we take them to the atelier to discuss with the goldsmiths how each piece can be brought to life and we begin creating samples, experimenting with techniques and finishes. When we finally arrive at the perfect sample in the perfect colour variation—which is always the hardest decision!—we move on to production 😊

As an Italian, I’ve always felt it was essential that our jewellery be handmade in Italy. Our country is internationally renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, and I believe it’s important to support local artisans and small businesses that carry on this tradition. The atelier where my jewellery is made in Valenza, which is the Italian hub for excellence in jewellery. Being nearby allows me to visit regularly—often weekly—and we’re in touch every day. This closeness has fostered a strong, collaborative relationship that would be difficult to achieve with a large factory, especially one in another country or time zone.I’m proud that our pieces are made in Italy; each one carries a small but meaningful piece of Italian heritage within it.

5. Coloured enamel is your signature. What does this material mean to you?
Enamel holds a special place in my practice because it offers complete freedom with colour—something that even gemstones can’t fully provide. With stones, you're limited to a finite palette, and even then, finding a particular hue or matching a beautiful gem can be incredibly difficult. Enamel, on the other hand, allows for limitless expression. For me, the ideal combination is the brilliance of gold, the bright popness of enamel, and the dazzling allure of a gemstone—all coming together to create a harmonious jewel.

6.The Baby Vine collection feels like a miniature jungle of winding lines. What inspired this series, and how does it speak to our generation?
In You're So Vine I was inspired by my earlier collection Floricultural, which explored botany and the secret language of flowers. The idea behind You're So Vine is that the jewellery pieces, much like in nature, appear to have been entwined and overtaken by climbing vines and tendrils. In this case, it’s the gold itself that has been “contaminated” by colour—something that’s not commonly seen in jewellery unless it involves gemstones like we said before. The evolution from plain gold to brightly enamelled surfaces gives the pieces both a kinetic sense of movement and a bold, pop-inspired aesthetic. I think it speaks to a lot of people because it is a different take on jewellery which is usually much more on the traditional side, as we evolve so does design. 

7. And Tarallo? Those near-hypnotic spirals — are they a nod to Italian snacks or to Memphis design?Memphis design is my favourite so it is always in the back of my mind but in this collection, I was inspired by childhood memories of my grandma who was from Puglia and I was always fond of playing with food, in particular of wearing taralli—traditional Italian ring-shaped snacks—as rings.  These memories sparked the creation of Tarallo, and its bold, XL designs, reflecting both the enveloping warmth of familial love and the brand’s signature colorful style.

8. Is there a shape you haven’t explored yet that currently fascinates you? 
I am currently working on a new collection that more than shape, focuses on texture which is an element that I have no entirely explored yet so I am very excited about making these new jewels. 

9. What are the works (films, songs, artists...) that feed your imagination on a daily basis?
I wish I had more time to dive into my interests and visiting museums, exploring new places, simply letting myself be inspired. These days, I’m often tied up in the office or travelling for work, which makes it harder to find those quiet moments of discovery. 

10. Your favourite piece of jewellery (from your collection or not): the one you'd wear to dance in Tokyo, brunch in Milan, or stroll through Paris?
In Tokyo I think I would wear a more statement pieces like the Maxi Vine Necklace or a mix of many different layered colourful Pop Chokers, as they are the most fashion forward. In Milan I would wear Baby Vine rings across most of my fingers in colours similar to my outfit of that day. In Paris perhaps I would choose to wear fun earrings like the Two Tone Flower earrings, two pairs on each ear ☺

11. And now, the WHITEbIRD ritual question — your mini “Chinese portrait”! If you were...
 A piece of jewellery: a ring
 A gemstone: a lime green heart shaped diamond
 A flower : a bouquet of multicoloured orchids, lilies and peonies
 A dish: an elaborate plate japanese bento
 A work of art: Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian
 An author or a book: JRR Tolkien
 A country: Japan
 An animal: A fluffy cat

12. And finally, a word from Stéphanie Roger, founder of WHITEbIRD : What instantly drew you to Bea Bongiasca’s world? 
I was instantly charmed by Bea’s joyful and spontaneous personality when we first met a few years ago. Her jewellery is just like her — colourful, graphic, delightfully offbeat. They make life a little lighter.