In this room, jewellery meets some of the most fascinating materials in history: glass, micromosaic, rock crystal, and hardstones. Fragile and man-made, glass soon emerged as a precious alternative to gems, from the earliest glass paste beads of ancient necropolises to Murano beads and murrine, and to contemporary compositions that play with light, transparency, and color.

In Rome, between the 18th and 19th centuries, micromosaic techniques transformed tiny glass tesserae into views of ruins, squares, and monuments later mounted into necklaces, bracelets, and brooches. Alongside these miniature masterpieces are rock crystal, a colorless quartz variety, and hardstones such as lapis lazuli, quartzes, and jaspers, worked between glyptic traditions and mid-century design.

The exhibition intertwines history and experimentation, showing how ancient materials and refined techniques continue to inspire contemporary artists and goldsmiths, giving life to jewels that are at once adornments, keepsakes, and micro–works of art.