The Museo del Bijou di Casalmaggiore was founded in 1986. Ten years later it was set up in the basement of the ex Collegio Santa Croce, a building purposely renovated that was constructed by the Padri Barnabiti around the second-helf of 18th century.

The collections are exhibited in an area of 400 square metres, divided into three sections (the exhibited objects, the archives, the technologies).

The section of the exhibited objects consists of more than 20.000 pieces produced by the industries in Casalmaggiore between the end of the 19th century and 1970. Alongside the traditional pieces of costume jewellery (brooches, cufflinks, bracelets, belts, earrings, pendants) powder-cases, lipstick holders, cigarette cases, sunglasses, devotional medals and badges may be admired. Adjacent to the Museum is an educational workshop equipped for the casting of metals, welding, gilding.

The costume jewellery industry in Casalmaggiore started in a small workshop by the initiative of the pioneer and teacher Giulio Galluzzi (b. Codogno 1855 - d. Casalmaggiore 1932), who moved to Casalmaggiore in 1878. In 1882 he achieved the first layer of gold plated metal.

As a consequence of this successful experience, an important and flourishing enterprise was set up in 1887, capable of exporting production to Latin America using the "G.G."brand.

By the end of 1920's, Giulio Galluzzi's firm, the Federal Jewellery Society, founded in 1905, and the plating firm, active from 1920, merged to form a new company, the United Gold Plated Production Ltd.