Dubrovnik - a visiting card of Croatia and “a pearl of the Adriatic Area” – together with Venice and Amsterdam makes up the trio of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is under the protection of UNESCO as a cultural treasure of universal importance. Besides, Dubrovnik has received the status of one of the “world’s most romantic cities” according to the Shermans Travel Lee rating taking the third place after Buenos Aires and Bora Bora and leaving behind Paris (the sixth place) and Venice (the tenth place). Not being a world jewelry center, it is famous for its invaluable relicts and magnificent artifacts kept at the Dubrovnik Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (for instance, the ark in the shape of a Byzantine emperor crown encrusted with precious stones – one of the most valuable jewelry pieces of the 11th - 12th centuries) and for its jewelry art pieces at the Dominican Monastery Museum.
Dubrovnik, having become one of the most attractive tourist centers thanks to its urban beauty and natural environment and the cleanness of the local sea area (the most transparent in the world, according to Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s competent opinion), is also famous for its jewelry stores, or “zlatarnas,” as they are called here, which are attracting tourists, some of them being royal persons, heads of state, prominent politicians and celebrated actors. The best present from Dalmatia is a jewelry piece containing unique - pink and orange - Mediterranean corals, which are very expensive, especially if accompanied by diamonds, like the ones created by Dubrobnik’s well-known jeweler Branco Mazareckich, whose jewelry is bought by VIP customers visiting Croatia.
Branco, I see a picture of the Pope on your wall? Was he also one of you customers?
John Paul II visited this country several times – he was very popular here; he was the first to recognize Croatia as an independent state at a very tense time… He visited some of the cities and of course Dubrovnik; he led divine services in the Croatian language, delivered sermons and met the President and Prime Minister of Croatia and our bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Almost all my compatriots visited the meetings with him. So I had the honor to manufacture a present for him – this was a cross, a silver crucifix coated with gold. I met him once again in Vatican at a reception. He recognized me and thanked for my work.
What other VIP persons happened to visit your store?
Oh! Many famous people came to this place! Once this place was visited by Japanese Defense Minister Yuriko Koike– there were speculations that she was going to take the position of prime minister. She came accompanied by security people but appeared as a very modest and affable woman. She looked beautiful being a former TV anchor. She took fancy in coral jewelry pieces – so she chose some for herself. Although in Japan they probably have their own corals, but those are different – pink corals like these we have only here in Croatia. Recently, the store was visited by the Prime Minister of Canada. My daughter has a perfect command of English and she is acquainted with the Canadian ambassador to Croatia, so when their Prime Minister was here on a visit he was brought to this store and he also bought some jewelry pieces for his family. Generally speaking, Dubrovnik is a famous place and many people used to drop into our store including some Russian oligarchs. To tell you the truth, I do not know them well enough, but one very picturesque gentleman has bought a house nearby – some time ago, there was an exhibition of the Faberge eggs which he owns.
You mean Victor Vekselberg. Yes, you have a really beautiful place here. Why is your zlatarna called “Yosipa”?
It bears my grandfather’s name. In his youth he used to get corals from the sea bed diving for them from his boat. Then he learned how to process them and turned to be a jeweler. Probably he got taste and clever hands and he worked hard, so he managed to establish a jewelry business and opened this store. Now it’s me who goes on with this business.
Is it you who made all these jewelry pieces? These gold laces and coral necklaces with diamonds?
Yes, I make them myself and then sell. Now there is also my son to help me.
Diamond brilliance and lackluster appearance of corals make a stylish combination, demure and elegant. It looks unexpectedly balanced – like the sun and sea.
Yes, it doesn’t look trite and it’s very modern: corals serve as charms averting troubles and illness and a symbol of modesty and wisdom, while diamonds are girls’ best friends and act as a sign of success in life and a symbol of eternal love. Sensual corals bring in warmth, while festive diamonds convey beauty and romanticism.
Dubrovnik - Moscow
