Alexandra Jefford

The rationalist art of Alexandra Jefford

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When you are creative, there are no limits. Alexandra Jefford, designer, painter, illustrator and, above all, capable of making jewels that are truly different from others testifies to this. Luxurious, but fun, minimalist, but ironic, simple, but smart. Alexandra Jefford was born and raised in Geneva, but she moved to London, where she studied at Central St Martins. Then, she focused on engraving and drawing and worked as an artist and illustrator, before turning to jewelry in 2002 after studying jewelry design at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and Gemology the Gemological Association of Great Britain. .

Anello Yin & Yang, con onice e diamante taglio pera
Anello Yin & Yang, con onice e diamante taglio pera

The artistic training also explains the interpretation that Alexandra Jefford gives of jewelry. For her collections, in fact, she drew inspiration from the Bauhaus movement and post-war American abstraction in the 1950s, but also from expressionist painters. Result: rings like Yin & Yang look like an abstract painter’s painting.
Collana Himalayan in oro e smalto
Collana Himalayan in oro e smalto

Another aspect that seems to bring it even closer to the Bauhaus is the idea of ​​combining art and craftsmanship in a single discipline. In his curriculum there is also room for a series of proposals and interventions, such as the collaboration with the London luxury brand Smythson with a collection of five rings, the jewels presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, at the Pad London and Paris Art Fairs , in GemGèneve and many others.

Read also: Alexandra Jefford’s Bauhaus

Collana Duality Himalayan Range Navy and Gold Mammatus
Collana Duality Himalayan Range Navy and Gold Mammatus
Duality Earring Wind Wave
Duality Earring Wind Wave
Anello con onice e ametista Agartha
Anello con onice e ametista Agartha
Anello Camelot con onice, diamante e smeraldo
Anello Camelot con onice, diamante e smeraldo
Anello di Alexandra Jefford. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Anello di Alexandra Jefford. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Alexandra Jefford. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Alexandra Jefford. Copyright: gioiellis.com







GemGèneve Designer Vivarium is back




After announcing the return (after the pandemic break year), GemGèneve outlines the contours of the third edition (4-7 November). In particular, the organizers of the Geneva event presented the new exhibitors at the Designer Vivarium, a space reserved for the creators of fine jewelry, small boutiques often made up of a single jeweler. The Vivarium Designer is curated by Vivienne Becker with the contribution of Ida Faerber, one of the leading experts in the world of jewelery, and includes a range of extraordinarily original and innovative contemporary jewelery. A space that, in a certain sense, is an alternative to that of the rest of the exhibitors, focused on precious stones, high-end proposals from exclusive Maison and vintage jewelery.

Il PalaExpo che ospita GenGenève
Il PalaExpo che ospita GenGenève

I look for jewels that have a strong, individual point of view, a well-defined identity and a creative vision, and for a certain artisan refinement. I am looking for a sophisticated integration of concept, material and technique and perhaps above all I am looking for designers who have something to say, something new to say, through their jewels. I am looking for the creators of today who will be part of the long and rich continuum of the history of jewelry.
Vivienne Becker

Vivienne Becker. Photo: G.Maillot
Vivienne Becker. Photo: G.Maillot

Vivarium, on the other hand, offers avant-garde jewelry: an idea originally born by the founders of GemGenève, Thomas Faerber and Ronny Totah, perhaps to infuse a breath of freshness that balances a very traditional event. The designers participating in this edition are Aline Debusigne (Switzerland), Regina Gambatesa (Italy), Studio Renn (India), Atelier Allure (Austria), G Suen (Great Britain), Alexandra Jefford (Great Britain), Cora Sheibani (Great Brittany), Alexander Tenzo (Russia).

Alexander Tenzo. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Alexander Tenzo. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Cora Sheibani
Cora Sheibani







The Bauhaus by Alexandra Jefford

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The Bauhaus and the design of the thirties revive in the jewels of Alexandra Jefford ♦ ︎

Alexandra Jefford has been making and designing jewelry for years. In short, she is not a designer who has just finished her studies. Alexandra Jefford, from London, married to screenwriter and director Hossein Amini, was actually born and raised in Geneva. But she studied art at London’s Central St Martins. But she does not design for jewelry: instead she has taken courses in engraving and drawing. And this explains why her jewels are conceived precisely by putting the design in the foreground.

Anello in oro bianco, con perla dei Mari del Sud, granato e diamante
Anello in oro bianco, con perla dei Mari del Sud, granato e diamante

After a debut as a painter and illustrator, indeed, in 2002 Alexandra dedicated herself to jewelry, after the usual jewelery design course at the Gemological Institute of America and gemology in Great Britain. Those who know the design of the mythical Bauhaus and abstract art in the 1930s and 1940s will find a clear echo in Alexandra Jefford’s sculptural jewels. But, unlike the design objects of the famous German school, her jewels are collector’s items, not for retail. Gold and stones like tourmalines and peridots are in fact used for jewels one of a kind.

Anello in oro giallo 18 carati
Anello in oro giallo 18 carati
Anello Solomon's Knot, in oro giallo
Anello Solomon’s Knot, in oro giallo
Anello ovali in oro bianco e diamanti
Anello ovali in oro bianco e diamanti
Orecchini Hotel California in oro bianco, diamanti, lapislazzuli
Orecchini Hotel California in oro bianco, diamanti, lapislazzuli
Guggenheim Ring, in oro giallo 18 carati, diamanti gialli, e berillo giallo
Guggenheim Ring, in oro giallo 18 carati, diamanti gialli, e berillo giallo
Lady Luck ring, in oro bianco e giallo, peridoto, diamanti, perla del Mari del Sud
Lady Luck ring, in oro bianco e giallo, peridoto, diamanti, perla del Mari del Sud
Anello in oro bianco e giallo, diamanti, perla dorata dei Mari del Sud
Anello in oro bianco e giallo, diamanti, perla dorata dei Mari del Sud

Anello in oro 18 carati
Anello in oro 18 carati







GenGèneve’s second chance





GemGèneve includes gems, designers, vintage jewelery, diamonds and … The second edition starts ♦ ︎

Started in 2018 as an adventure on which not many were ready to bet, GemGèneve returns (9-12 May) with more exhibitors and with a series of collateral events that certify its vitality.
For example, Elizabeth Fischer together with Vivienne Becker will address the issue of the relationship between jewelery design and contemporary society. Another meeting is dedicated to Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, explorer, adventurer, merchant and narrator of his wanderings, who helped develop the knowledge of elsewhere in Europe and the taste for precious stones. In short, an articulated and fully organized fair.

GemGenève, insieme di booths
GemGenève, insieme di booths

And so, the idea of ​​two jewelers, Thomas Faerber and Ronny Totah, tired of the Basel formula, could have had an uncertain destiny. Instead it seems a success. The second edition of GemGenève sees the presence of around 200 exhibitors, with a large presence of those who buy and sell precious gems, diamonds, and even vintage jewelry. But not only.
Interesting, for example, the two sections dedicated to emerging designers, with Ena Iro, Horowicz Fine Jewelery, Pierre d’Alexis and Syz Firework, and the Design Vivarium area, with the presence of Alexandra Jefford, Cora Sheibani, Milio, Ming, Mr. Lieou, Nadia Morgenthaler, Ninotchka, Racine Geneva, Sean Gilson, Tatiana Verstraeten, Tenzo. Monica Battistoni





Vetrina a GemGenève
Vetrina a GemGenève

Acquamarina da 130 carati e morganite di Nomads
Acquamarina da 130 carati e morganite di Nomads

GemGenève, vetrina di Dover Jewelry & Diamonds
GemGenève, vetrina di Dover Jewelry & Diamonds

GemGenève, visitatori
GemGenève, visitatori

GemGenève 2018
GemGenève 2018

La vetrina di Robert Procop con i gioielli disegnati da Angelina Jolie
La vetrina di Robert Procop con i gioielli disegnati da Angelina Jolie







11 designers for GemGenève

The 11 independent jewelers who will participate in the Designer Vivarium, at GemGenève ♦ ︎

It is called Designer Vivarium: a name that recalls a space dedicated to a species cataloged by the natural sciences, but which is instead an area of GemGenève for independent jewelers. And so, yes, the independent designers are a strange species, even if unknown to the heirs of Darwin. The fair, in its second edition, will be held from 9 to 12 May at the Geneva Palaexpo. And, like last year, it will reserve an area for small innovative brands: a space that has been at the center of visitors’ interest. The Designer Vivarium was curated by the jewelery expert Vivienne Becker, and has been expanded to include more designers. Here are the 11 brands that will exhibit their jewelry at GemGenève 20198.

Nicholas Lieou
Born and raised in Hong Kong, he studied in Europe, taking a masters degree in London at the prestigious Royal College of Art, before working for major jewelers in London and New York. He is a cerebral and passionate designer, who mixes a scholarly approach with art and imagination to revitalize the classicism of high jewelery. For example, in jewelry inspired by the myth of Daedalus, with diamonds in the shape of stylized wings.

Nicholas Lieou
Nicholas Lieou

Alexandra Jefford
Designer born in Geneva, based in London, which draws on his artistic training to create jewelry deeply considered modernists of powerful line and bold form, color and consistency, often incorporating the engraving of the illustrator that was his specialty. Contrasts darkness and light.
 Alexandra-Jefford
Alexandra Jefford

Ming Lampson
Known simply as Ming, he is a private “secret” London jeweler who was born in Hong Kong and learned about the gems in Jaipur. He launched his company in 1998, mainly to focus on custom jewelry. In the last two years, he has created his first two themed collections, blending his Asian roots with refined western craftsmanship.
Ming Lampson
Ming Lampson

Milio
This is a mother and daughter duo from Moscow: Lyudmila and Olga maintain the Russian culture through the use of refined gems and stone carvings, balancing at a certain nostalgic romanticism with a timeless modernism inspired by the Art Deco.
Tatiana Verstraeten
She is a designer of accessories and costume jewelery of Belgian origin, which emerges from behind the scenes of the Parisian fashion elite. Tatiana launched its first high jewelery collection during the last Paris Couture in January.

Tatiana Verstraeten
Tatiana Verstraeten

Nadia Morgenthaler
Designer and jeweler based in Geneva, she was already present last year. She has an unmistakable style, which blends architectural details with an almost Victorian romanticism.
Alexander Tenzo
Extraordinary Russian gemologist, restorer, engraver, stone sculptor, creates cameos, carvings and complex carvings, with jewels and slowly revealing their fascinating secrets.
Alexander Tenzo
Alexander Tenzo

Sean Gilson
American goldsmith artist who makes every jewel by hand with pearls and gold, in a modernist geometric and graphic look.
Ninotchka
Duo of young and dynamic Russian designers, who deepens the tradition with precious stones, often ancient and coming from the Urals, to create fantastic ornaments with rich cultural references.
Cora Sheibani
Designer born in Switzerland and based in London, she grew up in the art world. He uses his innate sense of line, form and color to break the jewel rules and explore completely new spaces.

Cora Sheibani
Cora Sheibani

Racine Osieri
Husband and wife, the emerging talent of the GemGenève section of last year, enters the Designer Vivarium with pavé, a blend of harmonies or surprising contrasts.




GemGenève 2018
GemGenève 2018

La vetrina di Robert Procop con i gioielli disegnati da Angelina Jolie
La vetrina di Robert Procop con i gioielli disegnati da Angelina Jolie
Gioielli d'epoca
Gioielli d’epoca

Il PalaExpo che ospita GenGenève
Il PalaExpo che ospita GenGenève