Independent Designers Vie For International Attention At Vicenzaoro Jewelry Fair - Forbes
Among the more than 1,500 companies that exhibited at the Vicenzaoro Jewelry fair in January, quite a few were independent designers from around the world. Twelve were invited to exhibit in “The Design Room,” a well-branded, dedicated, comfortable space in a high profile area of the trade show floor. Some of the designers are new and have caught the eye of those in the jewelry industry, while a few already have international reputations.
Honey Bear by Anna Maccieri RossiAnna Maccieri Rossi
Anna Maccieri Rossi is one of the newer jewelers. The Italian native spent years in Switzerland doing high-level artisan work for luxury watch brands. The jewels under her name combine the circular shape of watches and employ many of the artisan crafts of the watch world. To this she adds jewelry making techniques and some Italian creativity. It’s a nice formula. For example, her Honey Bear open necklace features the face of bear on a burnished silver and 18k white gold disk made of painted and engraved natural moonstone that resembles a marquetry pattern. The bear appears to be looking anxiously at a honey drop on the other end of the necklace made of amber.
Lydia Courteille from her Maya collectionAnthony DeMarco
Lydia Courteille is one of the best known high jewelry designers in the world. The Parisian artist specializes in elaborate one-of-a-kind pieces filled with precious materials and high craftsmanship that depict fantastical images from myth, legend and actual history. Many of her works are based on her travels. For example, her Maya collection, which she showed at the fair, was based on her visit to Guatemala and covers in great detail and beauty Mayan history and culture.
The gea necklace by MageritMagerit
The Spanish jewelry brand, Magerit, specializes in elaborately themed, highly decorated and extremely well-crafted gold jewels with colorful gems. For example, the necklace pictured is inspired by the goddess, Gea, considered a source of all life and creator of the universe according to ancient Greek mythology. With a base of 18k white gold, the leaves, branches and the sculptural body of the goddess that make up the design is made of white diamonds, green diamonds, sapphires and tanzanite.
Bee Goddess Honey Collection emerald ringBee Goddess
Bee Goddess, based in Istanbul, is a well-thought-out brand that produces a large number of gold jewels with colorful gems. The rose gold ring pictured is paved with emeralds and topped with a rose gold and diamond bee.
Swinging Stones earrings by Marie MasMarie Mas
French jewelry, Marie Mas, likes movement in her jewels and her Swinging Stones collection reflects this. Rose gold with pink and blue hues the pieces are versatile and as advertised, they swing. The earrings pictured are made of 18k rose gold, with 124 gemstones that include pink quartz, pink amethyst, Brazilian amethyst, African amethyst, Blue moon quartz, sky blue topaz, Swiss blue topaz, London blue topaz. They can be worn on either side.
Elixir collection bracelets by Alessa JewelryAnthony DeMarco
The Alessa Jewelry brand was created by a young married couple, Alessandra Robles of Guatemala, and Yuvraj Pahuja, a native of India. The brand focuses on contemporary designs based on geometric shapes that can be easily stacked and matched. Angular shapes seem to be prevalent in the pieces. Their latest collection is called Elixir, a series of hand painted bracelets, rings and earrings using the triangle as the main shape. The bracelets feature a flexible 18k gold structure, vibrant color combinations, and precious gems, giving them an extravagant mosaic look.
