Italian Superstitions: Interview with Co-Founder of Bella Luck Charms -

Are you a superstitious person? Italians, typically from the south have many superstitious beliefs. I discuss this topic a little further with an interview that I conducted with Nicole Cappelieri, co-founder of Bella Luck Charms. Bella Luck Charms is a jewelry company that mixes a great accessory with the “Cornicello”, a horn charm to fight off evil.

Let’s get into the interview.

What is a cornicello? What does it mean and where did it originate from? The cornicello is an Italian good luck charm often worn on a necklace or found hanging in people houses. The Italian horn as it is often referred to is said to protect against the evil eye and bring good fortune. There are many different names used in throughout Italy for the cornicello. Some areas use names such as cornetto, corno or portafortuna.The cornicello can be traced back to Roman times with the bulls horn a symbol of fertility and good luck. In Italy you will often see cornicelli in the traditional red however you often see gold, silver and coral corno’s on chains and hanging in people houses.

Does the corncicello have a special meaning to you?
Our family are from southern Italy so it represents our heritage and we think this is why people love it so much too. It reminds people of the traditions of their grandparents and people want to preserve the past. We remember our Nonna had the cornicello hanging in her house above a door and always remembered it. She also had a necklace with the charm so it holds a special place in our heart.

What made you open your boutique?
My sister Lana has always had a passion for jewelry and has been a big fan of the cornicello jewelry in Italy but often couldn’t find what she wanted. During COVID we wanted to start
an online business and with my background in eCommerce and my sisters passion for jewelry, we decided to start a cornicello jewelry store, Bella Luck Charms.

Where is your jewelry made?

All our jewelry is made in Sicily or sourced in other areas in Italy. There are so many amazing Italian artisan jewelry makers in Italy and the quality is world-class.

How would you describe the style of the jewelry?

Our cornicello necklaces are a modern twist on the traditional jewelry our nonna’s would wear. The style is simple, classic, understated and yet makes a point – very Italian! We have designed our jewelry as keepsakes that you can keep forever. We have unique cornicello bracelets handmade in Italy that are classic and you could wear for years. The corno necklaces are often paired with a horned hand or other charms sourced from Italy so we still keep our brand looking traditional. Italian style never goes of date!