People will come here and change the way they think about jewelry," promised Alba Cappellieri, director of the Museo del Gioiello. "You'll start thinking about what jewelry means to you. And your idea about jewelry will be different after you visit."

She just might be right. The museum, which opened in December 2014, features nine rooms focused on different concepts. For example, the "jewelry as function" room has buttons, cufflinks, cloak clasps, tiny bottles meant to hold perfume and little coin pouches, all decorative items with workaday roles. "We have examples from all over the world, from Africa, China, India, America," said Ms. Cappellieri, professor of jewelry design at Milan Polytechnic, pointing out an Italian Renaissance belt woven of gold.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/