From generations of Italian craftsmanship to an extraordinary creative friendship with Elizabeth Taylor, Piranesi brought its distinctive blend of colour, glamour and artistry to Doha for DJWE 2026.
A family legacy
Some jewellery houses are defined by a signature stone or silhouette. Piranesi is defined by attitude. Established in 1845, the Italian jewellery house has built its identity around exceptional gemstones, vivid colour and meticulous craftsmanship, blending traditional Italian artistry with a distinctly contemporary spirit.
At the heart of its story is the Hajibay family. Miriam Hajibay has shaped Piranesi’s creative language for decades, while her son, Julian Hajibay, Managing Director of Piranesi, represents the next generation carrying the house onto the international stage.
The family’s history also includes one of jewellery’s most legendary names: Elizabeth Taylor.
When Hollywood met Italian craft
Taylor’s relationship with Piranesi went beyond simply wearing its jewels. She developed a close friendship with the family’s late patriarch, Sami Hajibay, and eventually collaborated with Sami and Miriam on the Elizabeth by Piranesi collection.
Taylor would sketch ideas alongside the family, with Miriam translating them into finished designs. Pieces she approved were marked with her initials, ‘ET’, giving each jewel a personal connection to the Hollywood icon.
The collaboration reflected something central to Piranesi: jewellery as a deeply personal expression of creativity, craftsmanship and individuality.
The architecture of colour
For DJWE 2026, Piranesi returned to Doha as part of the Alfardan Jewellery pavilion, placing its colourful Dome Collection in the spotlight.
Inspired by the soaring domes and sweeping curves of Italian architecture, from Florence’s Duomo to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Dome transforms architectural grandeur into sculptural fine jewellery. Crafted in 18-karat gold, its rounded forms are brought to life with diamonds and vivid coloured sapphires in shades of pink, blue, yellow and beyond.
“The Dome Collection has a very strong connection to our Italian heritage,” says Julian. “There is structure and symmetry in these great architectural spaces, but also movement, colour and light.”
The result is jewellery with presence, yet without formality; pieces designed to be worn, enjoyed and lived in.
For Piranesi, that balance between heritage and modernity has always been part of the allure. At DJWE 2026, the house once again brought its signature mix of Italian craftsmanship, generations of family history and a touch of Hollywood glamour to Doha.
