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About Ricci Argentieri®
One hundred and sixty years ago, the Ricci
family artisans established their Guild House, Ricci Argentieri,
in Alessandria, a small northern Italy town near Milan. Since
1840, Ricci Argentieri (also known as Ricci Silversmiths) has
been one of the most respected and renowned silversmiths in all
of Europe.
Ricci's sterling factory is located in Padova,
Italy. At this state of the art facility, Ricci sterling is produced
to the most exacting standards. The highest quality, weight,
balance, and detail are apparent in every flatware piece. |
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Design
Design engineers carefully analyze the movement of the lines
and proportion of the pieces. The thickness of the metal on a
single spoon varies to best carry out each pattern. Each Ricci
pattern extends to the end of the piece and on both sides, front
and back. This detailing is only found on the best European flatware.
Craftsmanship
Each piece of sterling silver is handcrafted - filed, polished,
and buffed by hand, just as the original Ricci artisans did in
1840, with devotion to quality and detail. Every stainless steel
piece is manufactured with ultra-modern machinery that specializes
in intricate designs.
Quality of Materials
Ricci Sterling Silver is composed of a heavily weighted .925 Sterling Silver.
Ricci Silverplate is comprised of a minimum of
20 microns of silver, whereas the usual industry standard is
typically 3 microns or less. Ricci Goldplate is real 24K
gold, at a minimum of .10 microns, whereas the usual industry
standard is .02 microns, and frequently, is only a gold colored
wash. Ricci Stainless Steel is made of high quality 18/10
(18% chromium, 10% nickel, and 72% pure steel). The composition
of 18/10 creates a stainless that is both lustrous and heavyweight.
The knife blades are forged, carbon steel, giving them a superior
cutting edge. |
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Production and Inspection
The artisans of the Ricci flatware collections today apprentice
under expert master craftsmen with generations of experience.
Before leaving the factory, every shipment of Ricci flatware
undergoes a thorough and stringent physical inspection performed
by specially trained supervisors. The purpose of these inspections
are to monitor aesthetic look, proper form and shape, as well
as proper dimensions of the finished pieces.
A typical inspection may include checking:
* Tines of forks for proper thickness and curve of tines
* Grinding of fork tines for even tips
* Shape and form to ensure a match with the original pattern
* Weight and balance, especially on dinner knives
*Attachment of knife blades to handles on 2-piece knives
* Shape of the bowls of spoons
* Overall polish and finish
* Placement and etching of hallmark
* Gift boxes for color and layout
* Internal packaging for safety and flatware protection for shipping
If any of the above fail to meet the high standards of Ricci
production, then the entire shipment is broken down and individually
re-inspected.
This commitment to superior quality is one
of the reasons the Silver Superstore recommends Ricci flatware
as one of the top manufacturers in the world. |
