Simple jewellery pieces bring a refreshing elegance to lockdown style
In a mid-pandemic world, a host of jewellers are seeking order amongst the chaos. Jewellery is being crafted in clean materials such as gold or concrete and encapsulates essential concepts
Pippa Small
Pippa Small has worked in collaboration with the Turquoise Mountian charity for these elegant pieces created by local artistans in Afghanistan. The resulting collection celebrates bright gems and oversized links, but it is this ebullient zigzag of gold which we'll be reaching for to brighen up the endless Zoom calls.
pippasmall.com
YSSO
Greek-based jeweller Alexia Karides works with her mother, an archaeologist, to design their textured and sculptural gold jewellery. The pieces, hand-crafted in Greece by local artisans, are inspired by the swirling patterns of Greek lace for an understated take on modern adornment. Looping twists and swirls of gold pay homage to classical or natural concepts – here, a golden ribbon nods to the headbands traditionally worn in the cultures of the Mediterranean, Levant and Persia.
Milamore
Milamore’s Kintsugi collection is inspired by the Japanese tradition of mending broken pottery with lacquer dusted with powdered gold. Founder George Root was keen to reflect this sense of acceptance in his sharply defined jewels which curve around the neck, wrists and fingers in jagged golden lines. ‘I knew I wanted to make a collection based on Japanese culture, which is the country where I grew up,’ says Root. Fittingly for a world mid-pandemic, his abstract lines are created to bring peace to the wearer: ‘This collection wouldn't be complete without the human body. Let’s say humans are the “broken pottery”. By wearing the Kintsugi pieces, you complete the design and you become the Kintsugi repaired artwork.’
Jaclyn Moran
‘I am drawn to geometric shapes and simplicity and generally prefer order over chaos,’ says LA-based jeweller Jaclyn Moran. Her first piece of jewellery, the Hoop & Post earring, encapsulates this fuss-free aesthetic. A contemporary take on the classic hoop, it combines form with function in perfect simplicity. The pieces are available in varying sizes, although proportions remain the same: ‘The ratio of the post and the hoop remains consistent throughout the different size variations,’ she says. One version comes edged with clean pavé diamonds; in the Melted version, the hoop is gently distorted in a play on geometry. Moran adds: ‘Ultimately, whatever one chooses to focus on when approaching a design should reflect and express a personal philosophy – I believe the Hoop & Post does that for me.’
RELATED STORY
Morf
The stark architecture of Serbia is translated into contemporary jewellery by young Belgrade-based brand Morf, who were inspired by the concrete architecture of their childhood for jewels which get back to basics. ‘Growing up in Belgrade, a city famous for its Yugoslav architectural experimentations, we were surrounded by a lot of modernist, exposed-concrete architecture built by previous generations,’ says co-founder Nina Lazic. Their jewellery redraws these Brutalist lines in speciality concrete, embracing the imperfections which are an unavoidable consequence of working with the unforgiving material. ‘This feature is something we love – this honesty and inhomogeneity gives it a distinct personality that’s generally not seen in more conventional jewellery materials.’ Despite its traditionally mascuine connotations, the jewellery itself is feminine, even elegant. ‘What helped give it this look and feel were elongated and clean forms. By jewellery standards, these are chunky pieces, but when it comes to concrete, we keep it slender.’
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
jaclynmoran.com
milamorejewelry.com
madebymorf.com
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
Ikea introduces its first gaming furniture collection
Brännboll is the first Ikea gaming furniture collection, unveiled during Milan Design Week 2024 and designed to swiftly transform a domestic space into a gamer’s paradise
By Jasper Spires Published
-
Morgan take their classic roadster and give it subtle but significant tweaks for 2024
New details and features give the compulsive Morgan Plus Four an even more pared back silhouette and driving ability
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Wallpaper* Class of '24 exhibition now open at Triennale Milano
Wallpaper* Class of '24 exhibition at Triennale spotlights international emerging talent in furniture and product design, with the support of AHEC and SNOW (until 21 April 2024)
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to know
These independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal pieces
A host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a moment
We've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Eternity rings for the modern couple
Eternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Alternative engagement rings with an edge
As the sales of engagement rings sky-rocket during lockdown, enjoy our off-kilter curation of edgy and unconventional engagement rings
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collect
Today’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendants
Tiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Andreas Kronthaler’s costume jewellery for Vivienne Westwood is fun, flirty and fabulous
Andreas Kronthaler’s new jewellery draws on romantic and theatrical motifs
By Hannah Silver Last updated