After a spectacular Couture 2022, it was a pleasure being a part of the 2023 edition from June 1-4 at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas.
Couture is the most exclusive and intimate destination for the designer fine jewellery and luxury timepiece market. Catering to an elite community of renowned heritage brands, emerging design talent, the finest retailers and award-winning media from around the globe, COUTURE is the premier event where the jewellery industry gathers to connect, collaborate and conduct business.
Allow me to share a few of my discoveries from the Couture Show 2023.
AWKN1 offers unique collections of fine jewellery with a devotion to luxury craftsmanship. The designs are contemporary and elegant, yet sometimes edgy and provoking. With their clear conviction, AWKN1 jewellery collections expose meaning and purpose and honour the essence and potential of the human spirit. Anne-Marie Le Flanchec, Founder and Designer of AWKN1 uses two sophisticated engraving techniques to create intricate signature patterns called the “Guilloché” and “Flinking.” This affirms a recognizable trademark that is the heart of the AWKN1 brand. The Guilloché technique has historically been used in decorative art among the wealthiest European Royal Courts in the 18th Century. The renowned Peter Karl Fabergé employed the Guilloché and Flinking ornamental engraving to decorate his masterpieces of Imperial Eggs and the Crown Jewels of the Royal Courts across Europe.
This time at the Couture Show; I came across Akillis Paris founded by Caroline Gaspard in 2007. Featured above is The wild nature of Akillis wildlife with Rock N’ Wild tattoo magnetism. The uniqueness of the piece lies in the sharp triangles, alternating solids and openwork that reveals the skin graciously!
Piranesi, established in Milan, cultivated its vision for artistry and the influence of the Italian culture to further elevate the already prestigious and sophisticated brand. At its core, Piranesi values excellent quality and fine craftsmanship as the key to its success. It was a delight meeting the Piranesi family at the show and discovering their unique and modern collection.
Bringing you magnificent peals and exquisite corals by Assael Pearls. Since the early the House of Assael has been synonymous with magnificence. Today it’s North America’s purveyor of pearls and responsibly sourced corals. It’s always a delight to meet the entire team at the Couture Show and admire their unique collection designs!
I have been a great admirer of YePrem’s innovative jewellery creation, and it was a pleasure meeting their Creative Director Virna Chakardemian and hearing the wonderful story behind their artistically intelligent contemporary jewellery. Her luxurious diamond statement jewellery, with a creative flair for modernity will refine your looks, attire, and style and make you look GLAMOROUS! Featured above is the latest hair accessory from their collection! Their bold, edgy and creative designs are truly mesmerising. Don’t you agree?
Elsa Jin, a contemporary jewellery artist and fine jewellery designer is globally recognised for creating exquisite and meaningful work works of art. Featured above is a brooch from LIFE 2023. The centre gemstone is a radiant 85.33 cts, Garnet. What I admire about her collection is that each work of art embodies the essence of artistic expression and creativity!
Allow me to share one-of-a-kind gold and gemstone jewels made in Italy using Sicis signature micromosaic technique. The intuition and the mission of Sicis Jewels are to reinterpret the enchantment and the mystery of the ancient Micromosaic techniques applied to the goldsmith art and making them into contemporary jewelry. This remarkable and ancient technique, the brand’s signature, uses tiny glass fragments with varied shapes, and is set one by one by hand with precision to create colourful and fascinating designs; the result is extraordinary wearable art! Featured above is a Concentric micromosaic circles necklace embellished in diamonds, sapphires and tanzanites.
One of the designers, I have been looking forward to meeting is Turkey-based Sevan Bicakci. His work of art is inspired by the culture of Anatolia, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, and his curiosity to turn precious stones into even more precious pieces has resulted in creating unique jewellery. His wearable art features jewels capturing moments and stories from palaces to mosques, from the portraits of Sultans to the women of the harem, and from mythological legends to brilliant natural scenes. One such example is this masterpiece necklace, with Intaglio detailing.
Celebrating rich global cultures, Silvia Furmanovich is a true creative alchemist. Based in Brazil, but with an international presence, the family-run business is founded on a fascination with craftsmanship, a love of natural materials and meticulous attention to detail. Among the unusual elements in their collections are wood marquetry, ebony, oxidized copper, vintage lacquer, shells, woven bamboo and netsukes. These are balanced by the rich opulence of yellow gold, rose gold, diamonds and the dazzling coloured gemstones for which Brazil is known. It was a pleasure meeting the family at the Couture Show.
I had a memorable time, discovering unique works of art and meeting my friends at the Couture 2023, I look forward to the 2024 Couture Show!