Exquisite
jewelry has its own language, and German-based jeweler Wempe’s pieces speak of
quality, craftsmanship and innovative design. The company’s showstopper jewels
have sparkled at international red carpet events; Academy Award winner Lupita
Nyong’o showed off Wempe’s signature Sundance rings at this year’s British
Academy Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award ceremony in London.
“It was a seamless transition
from watches to jewelry,” says Ruediger Albers, president of Wempe USA, which
runs the company’s boutique in New York City. Citing the jeweler’s long history
of producing and selling exceptional timepieces, he explains that “jewelry was
compatible, complementary and a natural extension of our design language,
[which is] rooted in our company’s strong tradition of goldsmithing.”
To
each her own
CEO Kim-Eva
Wempe set out to create jewelry that was distinctly identifiable. It had to be
modern, feminine, comfortable and never overbearing. Wempe jewelry reflects her
vision that a sparkling diamond, brilliant colored gemstone or shimmering pearl
must enhance the wearer’s own personal aura.
That concept extends to the
setting as well. Taking advantage of the company’s goldsmithing expertise,
Wempe developed a specific shade of rose gold for its settings. That shade —
the most universally flattering, based on the brand’s global retail sales — can
also be customized to a woman’s skin tone.
“Jewelry should always be
completely your own,” Albers emphasizes.
Cut
out for innovation
The
interplay between craftsmanship and technology is at the heart of the company.
The Helioro line, for instance, features twisting strands of gold woven
seamlessly into circles, aiming to create an image of infinity. The DreamDancer
collection resembles “a flexible sculpture,” as the Wempe website puts it, with
several freely movable rings entwined around one.
The company also developed
the Wempe cut, a 137-facet round brilliant diamond. The company’s in-house
diamond experts created the cut in conjunction with IGC Antwerp, and it became
the foundation for the Splendora line of diamond jewelry. Like all Wempe
diamonds, these are ethically mined and sourced.
‘Meant
to be worn’
Another
attribute of Wempe jewelry — possibly the result of a woman’s influence on
design — is that it must be comfortable to wear. Diamond and emerald chandelier
earrings must be luxurious, but also not too heavy. The Voyage collection was
specifically designed with curved pieces that move together effortlessly
so the bracelet does not bang against the watch on
the wrist.
“Jewelry is meant to be worn.
The attention to all details of design demonstrates Wempe’s emphasis on
wearability, a quality that contemporary women look for in jewelry,” says
Albers.
Extending
its reach
Although
65% of the company’s clients in New York are male, Albers has noted a swift
increase in female customers, but admits there is a “lot more ground to cover.”
The company is planning a targeted advertising campaign with the goal of
creating a “lifestyle brand.”
“Our design vocabulary is
understood around the world,” says Albers. “Wempe jewelry speaks the universal
language of infinite beauty and exceptional quality.”
Image: Wempe JewelersArticle from the Rapaport Magazine - May 2018. To subscribe click here.