The word “patina” is drawn from the vocabulary of painters, who have used it since the 17th century to describe the soft tonal shifts that time bestows on a canvas. Our artisans have elevated patination to a fully-fledged art form, a language that reflects the client’s personality as much as it showcases the talent of the colourist.
A Choreography of the Hands
Beyond being a highly skilled craft, patina is a discipline of the eye and hand. It begins with a smoke treatment that darkens the seams, outlines the sole and encircles the eyelets, so the client’s choice of "heart colour" stands out in contrast. Then the colourist applies alternating coats of water and pigmented waxes, building up vibrant shades of varying sheerness to give a rich, lustrous depth.
Little by little, the artwork comes to life, until its beautiful gleam – luminous, but never flashy – is sealed in with a final transparent glaze.
An Infinite Palette
Just as painters lay out their tubes of pigments, the Maison’s colourists have a library of sixty hues to draw from, such as Mogano, Tobacco, Nero Grigio, or Carmen; plus some secret mixes of their own. And like the reddish or bluish backgrounds in Bronzino paintings, these gradations shift between shadow and light. Each patina is a chromatic journey – an alchemy that brings together the master colourist’s intuition with the client’s imagination.
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Discover Berluti
Berluti. A name synonymous with the mastery of style, it speaks of consummate precision, tailored to suit remarkable men.
Bespoke Berluti
Our custom services are like a wonderful playground, where clients enjoy the Berluti experience in all its dimensions – from bespoke footwear and made-to-measure suits to one-of-a-kind pieces that only you will own.
Care & Repair
A Berluti purchase is only the beginning of the story. Each piece is crafted to last with enduring elegance – but sustaining that promise requires attentive client service offering the appropriate care and maintenance.