RECLAIMING METAL AND STONES
We dismantle, recover and reuse metal and gemstones. Stones are cleaned and arranged so you can really see and understand them.
Fedi a Bottega
Make your wedding bands and learn how they are made.
You work at the Old Bench yourselves, inside a real working goldsmith’s workshop. I guide you step by step: you take home not only the rings, but the process too.
Make your wedding bands yourselves. The guided experience for a pair of classic Etruscan wedding bands starts at €800. Metal excluded. Other designs, time requirements and costs are agreed individually.
01
No previous experience needed.
You come in not knowing how to do it. You leave with your wedding bands and the process you learned.
02
One bench. One seat.
One guest works at the bench while the other stays beside them and watches. Then you swap. I follow every step, constantly.
03
The wedding bands stay. So does the technique.
The process remains yours: you can use it again to create other rings of the same kind and endless variations.
The promise is simple: make your wedding bands and learn how they are made.
FEDI A BOTTEGA · FAQ
F1 · Why are places so limited?
We do not need to fill a classroom.
We do not have a classroom.
We have a bench. One seat, at Campo de’ Fiori, in the very heart of Rome: hard to replicate elsewhere.
One guest works at the bench while the other stays beside them and watches. Then you swap. I follow every move, from start to finish.
That is why we can necessarily welcome only a limited number of couples each year.
All the attention, every time, on one person.
We do not have a classroom.
We have a bench. One seat, at Campo de’ Fiori, in the very heart of Rome: hard to replicate elsewhere.
One guest works at the bench while the other stays beside them and watches. Then you swap. I follow every move, from start to finish.
That is why we can necessarily welcome only a limited number of couples each year.
All the attention, every time, on one person.
F2 · Is it expensive? Yes. Is it overpriced? No.
Yes. Fedi a Bottega costs more than a pair of wedding bands made directly by me.
And it should cost more: teaching a craft takes more time than doing the job.
If what you want is simply a pair of wedding bands at the lowest possible price, do not choose Fedi a Bottega: I can make them for you. It is simpler, faster and costs less.
Here you have a real working goldsmith’s workshop, the Old Bench, the tools and my time at your disposal. One person works at the bench at a time: every step is explained, shown, carried out by you, checked and, when necessary, done again.
The cost is not the same for every couple. Before defining it, we need to understand what kind of wedding bands you want to make, which metal we will use, which processes will be needed and how much workshop time the method will require. That is why the project and cost are agreed during an in-person meeting at the workshop. Any prior phone call is for initial guidance only.
For a pair of classic Etruscan wedding bands, the guided workshop starts at €800 per pair, metal excluded. Other designs, time requirements and costs are agreed upon before work begins.
You pay for the workshop time required for you to genuinely learn to make them yourselves. In the end, you will have the wedding bands, the method and the practice.
So yes, it costs more. But no: it is not overpriced.
And it should cost more: teaching a craft takes more time than doing the job.
If what you want is simply a pair of wedding bands at the lowest possible price, do not choose Fedi a Bottega: I can make them for you. It is simpler, faster and costs less.
Here you have a real working goldsmith’s workshop, the Old Bench, the tools and my time at your disposal. One person works at the bench at a time: every step is explained, shown, carried out by you, checked and, when necessary, done again.
The cost is not the same for every couple. Before defining it, we need to understand what kind of wedding bands you want to make, which metal we will use, which processes will be needed and how much workshop time the method will require. That is why the project and cost are agreed during an in-person meeting at the workshop. Any prior phone call is for initial guidance only.
For a pair of classic Etruscan wedding bands, the guided workshop starts at €800 per pair, metal excluded. Other designs, time requirements and costs are agreed upon before work begins.
You pay for the workshop time required for you to genuinely learn to make them yourselves. In the end, you will have the wedding bands, the method and the practice.
So yes, it costs more. But no: it is not overpriced.
F3 · Is it romantic? Very.
Is it an aperitivo? No!
It is not a classroom. It is not an aperitivo. It is not a party. It is not a demonstration.
You come here to work.
At the Old Bench, you are the ones making your wedding bands. I teach you the process, show you the gestures, guide you and step in when needed.
You do not come to watch me make your wedding bands: you come to make them yourselves.
You come here to work.
At the Old Bench, you are the ones making your wedding bands. I teach you the process, show you the gestures, guide you and step in when needed.
You do not come to watch me make your wedding bands: you come to make them yourselves.
F4 · Do you need experience? No. You need to want to learn.
No previous experience is required. This is not an exam.
But it is not a passive activity either.
We define the project together before starting and I guide you step by step at the Old Bench. If you only want to watch, Fedi a Bottega is not the right method for you.
But it is not a passive activity either.
We define the project together before starting and I guide you step by step at the Old Bench. If you only want to watch, Fedi a Bottega is not the right method for you.
F5 · What do you take away besides the wedding bands?
Your wedding bands are your first project.
The wedding bands stay with you. So does the technique.
You make them yourselves and take away not only the rings, but the basic process you have learned. By changing the section, width, thickness, proportions, finish or texture, you can use it to conceive and make a practically endless family of variations on the same ring.
That is the difference between buying two wedding bands and doing Fedi a Bottega.
The wedding bands stay with you. So does the technique.
You make them yourselves and take away not only the rings, but the basic process you have learned. By changing the section, width, thickness, proportions, finish or texture, you can use it to conceive and make a practically endless family of variations on the same ring.
That is the difference between buying two wedding bands and doing Fedi a Bottega.
F6 · This is not a last-minute activity.
Your wedding bands take time because you really make them yourselves.
Fedi a Bottega may require several sessions and, depending on the project, weeks or months between bench work, possible castings, corrections and finishing.
One person works at the Old Bench at a time. There are two of you and you alternate: while one works, the other stays beside them and watches. Then you swap. I follow every step, constantly.
If you are looking for something to organise at the last minute, it is better to let me make the wedding bands for you.
Fedi a Bottega may require several sessions and, depending on the project, weeks or months between bench work, possible castings, corrections and finishing.
One person works at the Old Bench at a time. There are two of you and you alternate: while one works, the other stays beside them and watches. Then you swap. I follow every step, constantly.
If you are looking for something to organise at the last minute, it is better to let me make the wedding bands for you.
F7 · How do we define the project and the exact price?
Before we begin, book a meeting at the workshop: we will agree on the design, metal, difficulty, timing and cost in person. You can message me on WhatsApp to arrange the appointment or an initial guidance call. The call does not replace the meeting to define the project and quote.
If the project is not suitable for you to make yourselves, I will tell you. If it makes more sense for me to make it, I will tell you that too.
If the project is not suitable for you to make yourselves, I will tell you. If it makes more sense for me to make it, I will tell you that too.
Crea a Bottega
Your jewel,
made by you. Is it a course?
I do not call it a course. Every jewel has different needs. I call it Crea a Bottega: guided, made-to-measure work to arrive at a personal jewel, conceived by you or suggested by me, explained step by step and made by you here in the workshop.
01
We start from an idea.
It can be yours, it can start from zero, it can take inspiration from one of my jewels, or from a project I suggest and guide you through.
02
You work at the Old Bench.
I guide you through the steps.
03
It is not an exercise.
The goal is to arrive at a personal, solid, beautiful jewel, born from a real process.
This is the right answer for someone who writes: “I’d like to create with my own hands”.
Choose at Bottega
Unique pieces, ready works, made-to-measure jewels.
Not everyone comes to the workshop to work at the bench. You can also choose an existing jewel, start from a collection, or ask for a piece designed for you and made by me.
01
Choose a piece.
If a jewel is available, you can buy it as it is, or we can adapt it to your size.
02
Start from a collection.
Kintsugi, Aria, Fedi, Astrolabio: families of language, not closed catalogues.
03
Commission a jewel.
If you have an idea, a stone or a reference, we discuss a made-to-measure piece made by me.
Choose at Bottega is for those who want a Bottega MarcoAurelio jewel without working at the bench: available works, collections, commissions and made-to-measure pieces.
Collection Aria — Arabesco Nero
A proprietary technique, the manifesto.
A thin arabesque, built wire by wire. A mosaic of tiny elements: light to the eye, complex to build.
Arabesco Nero is a workshop manifesto:it shows the technical level, taste and complexity behind Fedi a Bottega and Crea a Bottega too. It is not decoration: it is proof of method.
Workshop method
Care begins before creation.
In the workshop there is not only the finished piece. There are adapted tools, gestures, tests and technical choices. The right tool does not always exist. Sometimes it has to be made.
Modified tools in the workshop
This section does not directly sell a service. It does something more important: it explains why the work at the bench and the jewels of Bottega MarcoAurelio are not entertainment, but method.
KINTSUGI
The fracture does not interrupt continuity. It makes it visible.
ARIA
Lightness does not mean fragility. It means removing everything unnecessary.
MADE-TO-MEASURE WEDDING BANDS
Made-to-measure wedding bands by commission, built one at a time. For the hands-on experience, see Fedi a Bottega.
ASTROLABE / ARRAKIS
Finding your way does not mean owning a map.
New section
L’Ombra della Bottega
The Wind of Forgotten Gestures
A collection of techniques, tools and small workshop gestures that risk being forgotten.
Saved gestures
001· How is soldering done? 002· How is a pressed bezel made? 003· Why is annealed iron wire used?How is soldering done?
An illustrated guide to understand, step by step, one of the oldest gestures in goldsmithing.
There are many ways to solder metals, and every craftsperson develops personal preferences, tools and working habits over time.
In the workshop we often use a traditional tool called achalumeau: a small jeweller’s torch that allows very precise control of heat.
The fascinating part is that flame control is almost immediate. After years of practice, the movement becomes natural, almost instinctive.
Contrary to what one might imagine, soldering does not always mean pointing the flame directly at the exact joint. In most cases the whole piece is heated in a controlled and even way, allowing the heat to reach the joint.
When the temperature is right, the solder melts and flows into the desired point by capillary action.
The final result depends on many factors: temperature, clean surfaces, the choice of soldering alloy and, above all, the experience of the craftsperson.
It is one of those jobs that look simple when done well, but take years of practice to truly master.
Workshop note
There are many types of torch, and almost every goldsmith has a favourite one.
Shapes, controls and construction details may change, but the principle remains the same: controlling heat with precision.
The flame shown in the illustration is only one example. Each job may require a different adjustment.
How is a pressed bezel made?
An illustrated guide to understand, step by step, how a bezel can be closed without striking the object.
A pressed bezel is used when the object being set is too delicate to withstand blows or violent pressure.
The bezel is a simple strip of metal wrapped around the object. It is thinned first on the inside, to receive the coin or stone, and then on the outside, leaving a very thin edge.
Instead of striking the metal with a hammer, aspingitoreis used: a short tool guided by the fingers and held firmly in the palm.
The pusher does not work on the coin. It works only on the outer edge of the bezel, gently moving the metal inward through a series of small pressures.
The marks left on the edge are often not removed. They look like ornamentation, but they are also the sign of a choice: preserving what is fragile.
Workshop note
Not everything must be won by force.
Some things are preserved by accompanying them.
The plate shows the principle of the gesture. The real hand skill — the fingers, the pressure, the control — can only be learned by doing it.
Why is annealed iron wire used?
An illustrated guide to understand, step by step, how a temporary wire can hold a piece together during soldering.
Annealed iron wire is soft, easy to bend and free from the spring memory of ordinary wire. For this reason it can be shaped around an object and will retain the form it is given.
Before use, it is often turned into a small braid. A length of wire is folded in half, twisted with the fingers, folded again and twisted once more, continuing until the binding is strong and stable enough.
La treccia viene poi avvolta intorno al pezzo da saldare e stretta lungo tutta la sua circonferenza. Non serve a bloccare soltanto il punto della giunzione: tiene insieme l'intero oggetto e impedisce che le parti si aprano o si spostino durante il riscaldamento.
The pliers simply grip the two ends of the binding. The wire, not the pliers, supports the piece. This means the pliers do not need to clamp the metal directly and do not draw unnecessary heat away from the flame.
Because the iron has already been annealed, it does not try to straighten itself. It also withstands temperatures far higher than those required for soldering silver and is unlikely to stick to the piece.
Once the soldering is complete, the binding is easily removed. Like many workshop tools, it has done its job by holding everything still at the necessary moment, then disappearing almost without a trace.
Workshop note
Annealed iron wire is not used to solder. It is used to keep everything else still.
Ordinary wire tends to spring back, may shift or loosen, and is harder to keep in the required shape. Annealed wire, by contrast, grips the piece continuously and retains the form it is given.
The best tools are often the ones that, once the work is finished, seem never to have existed.
Note
The techniques illustrated in this collection describe the way I work in my own workshop and are the result of my personal experience.
Goldsmithing includes different schools, tools and procedures. Other craftspeople may achieve the same results by following different methods.
These pages are not intended to replace a manual or a professional course. They are simply the testimony of a craft, told through the gestures that have accompanied my work.
Anyone who chooses to put the processes described into practice does so at their own responsibility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hours / Access
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
By appointment only
Same-day availability · flexible hours, evenings included
Same-day availability · flexible hours, evenings included
Three hours of public opening are not too few: this is time dedicated to appointments. The rest of the day is dedicated to designing, making jewellery and bench work.
Message, don’t call
I reply to messages within the day.
Calls are scheduled after.
Calls are scheduled after.
348 276 2842 · info.marcoaurelio@gmail.com
01 · What is A Bottega?02 · What is the difference between Fedi a Bottega and Crea a Bottega?03 · Is it a course?04 · Do I need experience to take part?05 · Can I create a custom ring?06 · How do I book Fedi a Bottega or Crea a Bottega?07 · Can I buy a jewel without working at the bench?08 · You do not know where to start? That is normal.09 · Can I order a custom gold ring before arriving in Rome and collect it during my trip?10 · How much does a custom jewel cost?11 · How long does it take? Can I buy immediately?12 · What if I need it today, as an urgent gift?13 · If I want something made from scratch, how long does it take?14 · Do I need an appointment to visit?15 · When I request an appointment, do I need to explain what I need?16 · How do I book?17 · Do you make custom jewellery?18 · Can I transform a jewel I already own?19 · Can I ask for an estimate?20 · Can I see the jewels even when the workshop is closed?21 · Can we design the jewel or agree on a quote by phone or video call?
01 · What is A Bottega?
It is the name for the methods and guided experiences that take place at the Old Bench of Bottega MarcoAurelio.
It is not a classroom and it is not a demonstration: it is a real workshop, in operation. Depending on the project, you can take part in the making of your wedding bands, create a personal jewel, or discuss a made-to-measure piece.
It is not a classroom and it is not a demonstration: it is a real workshop, in operation. Depending on the project, you can take part in the making of your wedding bands, create a personal jewel, or discuss a made-to-measure piece.
02 · What is the difference between Fedi a Bottega and Crea a Bottega?
Fedi a Bottega is the method dedicated to couples: you design and shape your wedding bands with me.
Crea a Bottega is the method for a personal jewel: a ring, a pendant or another object to build together, starting from your idea, from zero, or from a project I suggest.
Crea a Bottega is the method for a personal jewel: a ring, a pendant or another object to build together, starting from your idea, from zero, or from a project I suggest.
03 · Is it a course?
I prefer not to call it a course.
A course suggests a standard programme, the same for everyone. Here, every jewel has different needs. That is why I call it Crea a Bottega: a made-to-measure method, built around the object to be made.
A course suggests a standard programme, the same for everyone. Here, every jewel has different needs. That is why I call it Crea a Bottega: a made-to-measure method, built around the object to be made.
04 · Do I need experience to take part?
No. For Fedi a Bottega and Crea a Bottega, no previous experience is needed.
The method is designed to be guided step by step at the Old Bench.
The method is designed to be guided step by step at the Old Bench.
05 · Can I create a custom ring?
Yes. You can start from your own idea, from a jewel you have seen, from a material or a stone, or from a suggestion of mine. From there we choose whether to build it together with Crea a Bottega or make a made-to-measure jewel made by me.
06 · How do I book Fedi a Bottega or Crea a Bottega?
Write to me on WhatsApp or by email, indicating the method that interests you, the period, the starting idea and, if you have them, reference images.
The initial guidance call and the first meeting at the workshop are without obligation. The call helps clarify your request; the project and quote are agreed in person at the workshop.
The initial guidance call and the first meeting at the workshop are without obligation. The call helps clarify your request; the project and quote are agreed in person at the workshop.
07 · Can I buy a jewel without working at the bench?
Yes. You can choose an available piece, start from a collection, or ask for a made-to-measure jewel made by me. This is Choose at Bottega: you do not take part at the bench, you choose or commission a Bottega MarcoAurelio jewel.
08 · You do not know where to start? That is normal.
Most clients arrive with an idea, not with a fully defined project.
To prepare an estimate or understand what can be made, a few details are useful:
To prepare an estimate or understand what can be made, a few details are useful:
- What kind of object would you like? Ring, pendant, bracelet, earrings, or something else.
- Which metal? Silver, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or “I do not know”.
- Will there be stones? Diamonds, coloured stones, no stones, or “I do not know”.
- Do you have reference images? Screenshots, online photos or hand drawings are fine.
- Are there symbols or personal meanings? Dates, initials, animals, constellations, personal themes.
- When would you need it? No rush, within a month, or for a specific date.
- What approximate budget do you have in mind? A spending range is enough: it is needed to assess the feasibility of your request before arranging a meeting.
- How did you discover the workshop? Google, the website, Instagram, Facebook, the shop window or word of mouth? Please also mention any reference images or jewels.
09 · Can I order a custom gold ring before arriving in Rome and collect it during my trip?
No.
A custom jewel is not a stock product and cannot be properly designed, estimated and made only through messages, photographs or drawings sent from a distance.
To begin a made-to-measure piece, an appointment in the workshop is necessary.
The finger size must be taken in person, because the final fit also depends on the width, thickness, section and proportions of the ring. A simple numerical size is not enough.
The weight of the gold also cannot be determined before the project has been defined. Small variations in shape and proportions can significantly change the amount of metal required.
The same applies to emeralds, diamonds and other stones, which vary by size, cut, quality, colour, availability and price.
For this reason, custom work is considered only under these conditions:
Once completed, the piece can be shipped to the client’s address with documented shipping.
A custom jewel is not a stock product.
It is work that begins with a meeting and ends when the piece is ready, not when the travel calendar demands it.
A custom jewel is not a stock product and cannot be properly designed, estimated and made only through messages, photographs or drawings sent from a distance.
To begin a made-to-measure piece, an appointment in the workshop is necessary.
The finger size must be taken in person, because the final fit also depends on the width, thickness, section and proportions of the ring. A simple numerical size is not enough.
The weight of the gold also cannot be determined before the project has been defined. Small variations in shape and proportions can significantly change the amount of metal required.
The same applies to emeralds, diamonds and other stones, which vary by size, cut, quality, colour, availability and price.
For this reason, custom work is considered only under these conditions:
- appointment in the workshop;
- size taken in person;
- choice or definition of the model in person;
- real evaluation of the stones;
- initial deposit equal to the estimated value of the metal plus 50% of the estimated workmanship;
- full balance before delivery or shipment;
- final calculation based on the metal actually used, including the normal loss of handmade work, conventionally considered as 25% of the metal used;
- any project changes, stone variations or different amount of gold required are calculated in the final balance.
Once completed, the piece can be shipped to the client’s address with documented shipping.
A custom jewel is not a stock product.
It is work that begins with a meeting and ends when the piece is ready, not when the travel calendar demands it.
10 · How much does a custom jewel cost?
It is one of the questions we receive most often.
The most honest answer is: it depends on what we are making.
A handmade jewel is not made only of metal.
The final cost can depend on many factors:
a very simple ring may require little material and few hours of work.
On the other hand, a jewel with complex engraving, handmade details or many stones may require dozens of hours of work, regardless of the weight of the metal.
For this reason, the cost of materials and the cost of workmanship are two separate items.
As an indication, the workmanship for a custom handmade jewel starts from about 200 euros.
Any metals, stones and special processes are then added to this amount.
If you would like an estimate, even a simple description or a reference image is enough to begin.
The most honest answer is: it depends on what we are making.
A handmade jewel is not made only of metal.
The final cost can depend on many factors:
- quantity and type of metal (silver, gold, etc.);
- presence of stones and their characteristics;
- complexity of the project;
- hours of work required.
a very simple ring may require little material and few hours of work.
On the other hand, a jewel with complex engraving, handmade details or many stones may require dozens of hours of work, regardless of the weight of the metal.
For this reason, the cost of materials and the cost of workmanship are two separate items.
As an indication, the workmanship for a custom handmade jewel starts from about 200 euros.
Any metals, stones and special processes are then added to this amount.
If you would like an estimate, even a simple description or a reference image is enough to begin.
11 · How long does it take? Can I buy immediately?
Yes.If you find something in the window, you can buy it immediately. In most cases, however, the size will not be perfect.
That is not a problem: I can adjust it to your size or recreate it as faithfully as possible, with no additional cost after purchase.
That is not a problem: I can adjust it to your size or recreate it as faithfully as possible, with no additional cost after purchase.
12 · What if I need it today, as an urgent gift?
If the right piece is not ready, I can prepare a certificate addressed to the person receiving the gift.
The certificate states that the jewel is being created especially for them: you do not show up empty-handed, and the person can later come to the workshop to complete the piece together.
The certificate states that the jewel is being created especially for them: you do not show up empty-handed, and the person can later come to the workshop to complete the piece together.
13 · If I want something made from scratch, how long does it take?
It depends on the project. It can take about a week, or several months.
Every piece is unique: it is not chosen from a catalogue, it is built together.
Every piece is unique: it is not chosen from a catalogue, it is built together.
14 · Do I need an appointment to visit?
Yes.Access is by appointment only, so every person receives proper time and attention.
15 · When I request an appointment, do I need to explain what I need?
Yes. Before we arrange a meeting, tell me what you would like to have made, the approximate budget you have in mind, and how you discovered the workshop.
Your budget helps me assess whether it makes sense for us to meet in the first place. You do not need an exact figure: a spending range you would like to stay within is enough. It allows me to assess whether the project is compatible with the materials, work and time required, or whether I can suggest an alternative.
If you have no idea what it might cost, tell me, but please still indicate how much you would consider spending. Without this reference, I cannot tell you whether a meeting to discuss an estimate would be useful.
How did you discover the workshop? Through Google, the website, Instagram, Facebook, walking past the shop window, or a recommendation? If a particular jewel, photograph or page caught your interest, send me the reference.
This helps me understand what you already know about my work and what information you need before an appointment.
When requesting an appointment, please always clearly explain the reason for your visit and, whenever possible, include photographs or reference images.This is necessary because different requests require different amounts of time, preparation and arrangements. You may wish to discuss a made-to-measure piece, show me stones or jewels you already own, ask about a piece displayed in the window, or request a service the workshop does not provide.
I do not provide jewellery repair services.
I do not buy gold, precious metals, jewellery or gemstones.
If you are interested in a piece displayed in the window, you can simply send me a photograph of it. In many cases I can give you the price and the relevant information directly, without asking you to come to the workshop unnecessarily.
Once I understand what you need, I can indicate the best way to proceed: appointment, timing, preparation needed and first availability.
Same-day appointments may be available, but they are not guaranteed and must always be arranged in advance.
16 · How do I book?
Message me on WhatsApp or SMS. I reply during the day.
17 · Do you make custom jewellery?
Yes. Every piece is designed and made according to the request.
18 · Can I transform a jewel I already own?
Yes. It is an important part of the work: recovery, transformation and new life.
19 · Can I ask for an estimate?
Yes. Write to me and we can understand together what makes sense.
20 · Can I see the jewels even when the workshop is closed?
Yes. The windows are lit and visible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
If something interests you, message me on WhatsApp or SMS and we can arrange an appointment.
If something interests you, message me on WhatsApp or SMS and we can arrange an appointment.
21 · Can we design the jewel or agree on a quote by phone or video call?
No. Jewellery design, assessment of materials and gemstones, and preparation of a quote take place exclusively in person, at the workshop.
A scheduled phone call can provide initial guidance: understanding what you would like to do, whether your request falls within the work I undertake, and what to bring to the appointment.
A phone call does not replace the meeting. I do not conduct remote design or quotation sessions, either by phone or by video call.
When you are able to visit, message me a little in advance: we will arrange an appointment and I will set aside the time your request needs.
A BOTTEGA 008 · 09/09/2026 · 17:51 (Roma) · FAQ21 · TEL1