Symbols of Light introduces a collection of inspirational jewelry in which the shapes of the Cross and the Star of David are cut as one-piece diamonds. The brainchild of Israel-based diamantaires Etan Pomrenze and Michal Nistar, the collection came about through their ties to the City of Jerusalem, where all of the world’s religions converge. After years of experimentation, the duo came up with a method of cutting a single diamond into the shape of religious symbols that can then be worn next to the heart.
Blending their varied backgrounds and love of fine jewelry, designers Catherine Marion and Amy Glaswand have launched CG arte. The designing duo met while attending New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and found that they shared a common vision for fine jewelry. Based on charms, this versatile collection is created so that the charms can be worn interchangeably on a necklace, as a bracelet or on earrings. Classic architecture, ancient spiritual icons and nature inspire the designs. The line is handmade in New York City.
Marking 30 years in business, Turkish design house Gilan — which also has stores in Europe and New York — celebrates the culture of its home country with a new collection, Bosphorus Dreams. The jewelry pays tribute to the city of Istanbul and draws inspiration from the Bosphorus Strait that forms the border between the European and Asian halves of Turkey. Based on a blend of tradition and modernity, each piece tells a story of the history of this magical nation and its unique mix of East and West. Sumptuous gemstones and rose cut diamonds are used to tell a story based on three themes: When the magic of the East marries the energy of the West, Romance on the Bosphorus and Sunset on the Bosphorus.
Congratulations to Gregoré Morin, 2010 winner of the annual American Jewelry Design Council’s (AJDC) New Talent Contest. The council, comprised of 30-plus prominent designers, selected Morin as the winner based on the originality, innovation, craftsmanship, marketability and cohesiveness of his designs. Originally from Canada, Morin has also won six AGTA Spectrum Awards. He worked as a jeweler’s apprentice in Canada prior to moving to Santa Barbara to work for Silverhorn Jewelers. In California, he studied with Swiss designer Christoph Krähenmann and London-based Stephen Webster, learning traditional jewelry-making techniques and developing his own style. Morin was honored by the AJDC at an awards ceremony at the JA New York Show, where he exhibited for the first time. The AJDC also presented honorable mentions to Chris Ploof, Danielle Miller-Gilliam, Erik Stewart, Jennifer Rabe Morin, Joshua Javaheri and Julia Behrends.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - September 2010. To subscribe click here.