japan

What are maki-e pearls





The word maki, in Japanese, means roll, as those who frequent sushi restaurants know well. Maki-e, instead, indicates an ancient pearls manufacturing technique. It is quite rare technique and often is associated with a mosaic processing.

Orecchini con perle maki-e di Deirdre Featherstone
Orecchini con perle maki-e di Deirdre Featherstone

This technique consists in adding lacquer and 24-karat gold powder paint and tiny abalone tesserae to the pearls. The result is small decorated and even more precious pearls. Maki-e, in particular, is a painting technique developed a thousand years ago in Japan. The lacquer is applied to the surface of the pearl, and then mixed with gold or silver powder paint. The mosaic applied to pearls is, however, a more recent technique, but is often used together with the maki-e process. Only South Sea pearls are used to create these creations.

Pendente con perla di Tahiti e pesci Koi di Judi McCormick Jewelry
Pendente con perla di Tahiti e pesci Koi di Judi McCormick Jewelry

Maki-e is a traditional Japanese decoration technique from the Edo period. Each bead is hand decorated using a combination of Urushi lacquer (from the Japanese Urushi tree), 24k gold dust and abalone shell.

Orecchini con perle maki-e di Karafuru
Orecchini con perle maki-e di Karafuru

If you have never seen a pearl worked in mosaic or painted with the maki-e technique don’t worry: they are very rare. In the world there are only four manufacturers of pearls decorated in this. In the US, Eliko Pearls distributes these pearls, which sells them at a price between 300 and 1200 dollars each.

Orecchini con granati, diamanti e perle a mosaico di Deirdre Featherstone
Orecchini con granati, diamanti e perle a mosaico di Deirdre Featherstone
Collana con pendente: perla maki-e di Deirdre Featherstone
Collana con pendente: perla maki-e di Deirdre Featherstone
Anello con perla maki-e
Anello con perla maki-e







The simple truth of Shihara




The world is divided into two: those who love elaborate jewels with large colored gems and those who love simple and no-frills geometries. The Japanese jewelry designer Yuta Ishihara, inspirer of the Maison Shihara, belongs to this second category. Indeed more. Because her jewels amaze with the desire not to exhibit richness or unusual shapes. In reverse. For example, Shihara offers an eternity ring that has diamonds inside the gold band. In short, when you wear the ring, diamonds are not seen: only the wearer knows. The ultimate in modesty and minimal philosophy.

Spilla con mezza perla Akoya su oro
Spilla con mezza perla Akoya su oro

Not only. Shihara also uses simple but unusual shapes, such as the open cube-shaped earring, which seems to float on the ear and is available in different sizes. Yellow gold and diamonds are the basis of the designer’s work. But there are also Akoya pearls: in this case the philosophy of subtraction pushes Yuta Ishihara to cover half of the sphere with a gold patina. The result is a jewel with half a pearl.

Orecchino singolo in oro e diamanti
Orecchino singolo in oro e diamanti

Raised in Yamanashi, a prefecture in Japan renowned for its jewelry production, the designer moved to Tokyo, a dynamic city that inspired the geometric shapes of her collections. And also destined to last a long time, according to Yuta’s wish, because beautiful and simple things are those that are handed down.

Anello eternity con diamanti all'interno della banda d'oro
Anello eternity con diamanti all’interno della banda d’oro
Orecchino in oro e diamanti a forma di cubo
Orecchino in oro e diamanti a forma di cubo
Collana in oro giallo con perla Akoya
Collana in oro giallo con perla Akoya
ANELLO QUADRATO
Anello in oro rosa quadrato
Anello eternity in oro giallo 18 carati con diamanti sul bordo
Anello eternity in oro giallo 18 carati con diamanti sul bordo







The movie jewelry by Iosselliani




The collections of the Roman brand of imaginative Iosselliani bijoux ♦

Two collections a year of jewels, precious at least for the ability to compose colors and shapes. The Iosselliani jewelry are in Rome (the first store opened is called R-01-IOS), in the Pigneto district, but there are also in Tokyo and Osaka, in addition to being distributed in New York and by some online store.

Anello composto da otto cerchi di argento
Anello composto da otto cerchi di argento

Iosselliani is one of those brands that relies entirely on design, fantasy, on the combination of shapes and colors. Despite the company’s name is Georgian, like the filmmaker Otar, the House was founded in 1996 by two Italians: Paolo Giacomelli and Roberta Paolucci designers, former collaborator of Missoni. The Iosselliani eclettism relies entirely on the ability to mix styles and inspirations, including the ethnic jewel and the hi-tech. Metal and colored cubic zirconia come together in pieces that often seem puzzle composed of many small pieces, like the Mandala collection of which you see the pictures on this page. They have gold threads and fringes, intricate messages, tinkling sounds. They are also very showy and therefore are highly sought after by costume film or photo shoots. After all, some ideal relationship with the director they have it.

Collana in argento placcato oro, quarzo rosa, cubic zirconia
Collana in argento placcato oro, quarzo rosa, cubic zirconia
Collana con pendente a forma di ghepardo in argento placcato e cubic zirconia
Collana con pendente a forma di ghepardo in argento placcato e cubic zirconia
Orecchino in argento placcato, cristalli e perla di acqua dolce
Orecchino in argento placcato, cristalli e perla di acqua dolce
Orecchini pendenti in argento ed elemento placcato oro, perle di acqua dolce
Orecchini pendenti in argento ed elemento placcato oro, perle di acqua dolce
Bracciale in argento ed elemento placcato oro
Bracciale in argento ed elemento placcato oro

Anello in ottone placcato con cristalli
Anello in ottone placcato con cristalli







Kuwayama to discover




Kuwayama is a large Japanese jewelry company. It’s time to learn something about it ♦

In Europe many identify Japan with the auto or technology industry. It is commonplace: Japan also has, for example, a tradition in jewelry. Kuwayama is, perhaps, the best known name, also for the size of the company, which is even listed on the stock exchange. Founded by Yukihiro Kuwayama in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, in 1970, the company immediately saw the jewelry from a very industrial point of view, with factories in China and Thailand, as well as Japan.

Choker vincitore dell' Craftsmanship Award Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Award (JJJA Awards). È composto con rubellite, diamanti, zaffiri rosa
Choker vincitore dell’ Craftsmanship Award Economy, Trade and Industry Minister’s Award (JJJA Awards). È composto con rubellite, diamanti, zaffiri rosa

Born to work precious metals, the company has grown and evolved, to become a consolidated brand also in the design of the jewels, as demonstrated by the numerous international awards (33 at the moment) won by Kuwayama, the latest as Manufacturer of the year at the JNA Awards 2018 in Hong Kong Jewelery & Gem Fair in 2019. The company also has a branch also in Europe, in the capital of diamonds, Antwerp. The jewels offered by the Japanese house are the most varied: from collections with diamonds and semi-precious stones, to lines that are based on Swarovski gems. But most of the production is reserved for other jewelry brands, which use elements such as metal chains.

Collana in platino, diamanti e zaffiri vincitrice ai JJA Jewelry Awards 2018
Collana in platino, diamanti e zaffiri vincitrice ai JJA Jewelry Awards 2018
Kuwayama, collana in platino composta da bolle, Best in Platinum ai Couture Awards 2018
Kuwayama, collana in platino composta da bolle, Best in Platinum ai Couture Awards 2018
Collana in platino di Kuwayama
Collana in platino di Kuwayama
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2008
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2008
Platinum Design Awards 2009, The Best Award, Nature Inspired Category
Platinum Design Awards 2009, The Best Award, Nature Inspired Category
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2013
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2013
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2014
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2014
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2007
JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2007
IL premio vinto a Las Vegas nella categoria Best in platino
IL premio vinto a Las Vegas nella categoria Best in platino







Takayas Mizuno’s rings between manga and video games

/




He is a Japanese jeweler working in Los Angeles. Not only that: Takayas Mizuno is also an artist from Ikebana, the fourth generation of a family specializing in flower arrangements. In short, he seems to be a soul full of poetry. But Takayas, who personally designs and manufactures his jewels, has also decided to fly on the wings of fantasy. A good part of his production, in fact, consists of rings inspired by manga, Japanese cartoons and even the most popular video games.

Anello in oro bianco con rubini ispirato  all'ambientazione gotica del videogioco Bloodborne e dai misteriosi Cainhurst Knights
Anello in oro bianco con rubini ispirato all’ambientazione gotica del videogioco Bloodborne e dai misteriosi Cainhurst Knights

On the other hand, what do young people do before getting married? They play on the Playstation or other platforms with video games like Final Fantasy or Bloodborne. Or like the ring inspired by two figures from Japanese folklore, such as Kitsune, a fox who possesses paranormal abilities that increase as they age, and Sesshōmaru, an antagonist transformed into an anti-hero in the manga and anime series Inuyasha.
Anello di fidanzamento elfico in oro rosa e rubini
Anello di fidanzamento elfico in oro rosa e rubini

Buying an engagement ring or a wedding ring inspired by characters or situations linked to the fantasy world, in short, can maintain a link with one’s youth. The rings are, however, full-blown jewels, in gold and precious stones such as diamonds, rubies or sapphires.

Anello che unisce Kitsune, volpi con abilità paranormali del folklore giapponese, con Sesshōmaru, antieroe nella serie manga e anime Inuyasha
Anello che unisce Kitsune, volpi con abilità paranormali del folklore giapponese, con Sesshōmaru, antieroe nella serie manga e anime Inuyasha
Anello Lightning con topazio blu e citrino ispirato a Final Fantasy
Anello Lightning con topazio blu e citrino ispirato a Final Fantasy
Anello con diamanti e rubini ispirato al videogioco Persona 5
Anello con diamanti e rubini ispirato al videogioco Persona 5
Anelli ispirati a Final Fantasy VII: fiori di Aerith, il mistico Lifestream e l'Angelo con un'ala
Anelli ispirati a Final Fantasy VII: fiori di Aerith, il mistico Lifestream e l’Angelo con un’ala

Anello con zaffiro   all'interno di una luna crescente e una stella incastonata, ispirata allo Star Seeker Keyblade dal libro «Kingdom Hearts».jpg
Anello con zaffiro
all’interno di una luna crescente e una stella incastonata, ispirata allo Star Seeker Keyblade dal libro «Kingdom Hearts».jpg







The delicate Orient of Gimel

/





The ancient Japanese art transformed into fine jewelry by Gimel ♦ ︎

She is a kind, 80-year-old Japanese woman who lives and works in a small town in southern Japan, Ashiya. She is Kaouru Kay Akihara, but the name of her little Maison, Gimel is more famous. Although small, this studio-workshop has become famous for its refined jewelry creations, ranging from pieces inspired by the delicate Japanese pictorial art to those with a more Western style.

The designer, Akihara, received an extensive education in her youth, which included many traditional Japanese arts.

Pendente per collana o spilla con diamante rosa vivido e coccinella con zaffiro cabochon
Pendente per collana o spilla con diamante rosa vivido e coccinella con zaffiro cabochon

From the difficult art of writing, Shodō, to the ability to compose a space even with voids as well as with the volumes: the particular Japanese sensibility is applied to his creations. The designer began her career in the seventies, involving only the best craftsmen to create her jewels. An example of Gimel’s work is the Lotus brooch, with diamonds and garnet sold by Christie’s. Or a pendant necklace and brooch designed like a flower, centered on an oval-shaped purple diamond, oval-shaped, weighing about 1.39 carats, inside a pavé surrounded by petals wrapped with pink and colorless diamonds in brilliant cut, accompanied from a ladybug pin with cabochon sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds, mounted in platinum and 18k yellow gold.

Orecchini «camerieri», in platino, diamanti, rubini
Orecchini «camerieri», in platino, diamanti, rubini

A special Jewelry exhibition will be held from February 19 to June 19 2022 at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo. The exhibition features around 200 types of rough and polished stones. But also 60 works by Gimel, including funny brooches.

Spilla a forma di foglia in platino, diamanti
Spilla a forma di foglia in platino, diamanti
Spille in platino e diamanti a forma di cani
Spille in platino e diamanti a forma di cani
Spilla margherita con perla
Spilla margherita con perla
Anello con smeraldo ottagonale e diamanti
Anello con smeraldo ottagonale e diamanti
Suite con diamanti e rubini
Suite con diamanti e rubini
Anello con zaffiro e diamanti
Anello con zaffiro e diamanti
Spilla con zaffiri, granato demantoide e diamanti
Spilla con zaffiri, granato demantoide e diamanti
Suite di Gimel con diamanti bianchi
Suite di Gimel con diamanti bianchi

Spilla Lotus, in platino con una fiore con petali di diamanti rosa e incolore, con la centro un granato demantoide dal taglio circolare e foglie di diamanti gialli
Spilla Lotus, in platino con una fiore con petali di diamanti rosa e incolore, con la centro un granato demantoide dal taglio circolare e foglie di diamanti gialli







Everyone on a diet with the food jewelry

/




Do you happen to like food, but have you eaten too much lately? Instead of going on a diet you can limit yourself to wearing these jewelry in the shape of food by Norihito Hatanaka ♦

Melon, zucchini, citrus fruits: no, they are not the ingredients of a detox diet after the big binges, but of necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets, so realistic that you want to eat them, except that they are made with resins. The idea comes from Norihito Hatanaka, a Japanese artist of display food, a very common custom in the Japanese restaurant industry, who launched his own line of jewelry with traditional Asian and Western dishes.

Spilla a forma di croissant
Spilla a forma di croissant

There is the brass bracelet covered with bacon (fake, of course), the pendant with cream and strawberry shortcrust pastry and fork, the pork necklace with vegetables, the pancake ring with a lot of maple syrup and butter . They can be found on the website http://ii-fake.com/ and prices range from 2 to 9 thousand yen (from 18 to 60 euros). To visit only when you are not hungry. However, Hatanaka does not only create jewelry food, but also elaborate reproductions of Japanese, Western, Chinese food, sweets, bread and sandwiches, fruit, ingredients and drinks: it is difficult to distinguish fake food from authentic food.

Anello Daigakuimo
Anello Daigakuimo
Anello Yakimochi
Anello Yakimochi
Orecchini banana
Orecchini banana
Orecchini pancake
Orecchini pancake
Orecchini a forma di pancetta con pepe nero
Orecchini a forma di pancetta con pepe nero

Spilla sushi
Spilla sushi







Yutai, Japanese style high jewelry

/




High jewelry made in Tokyo. To propose it is Yutai, a brand founded by the designer Yuta Ishihara. The style that characterizes Yutai combines the rational minimalism of Japanese design with the exuberant Western abundance. With one aspect to underline: the designer’s goal is to create jewels that can last over time. The unique pieces are made with precious metals such as yellow or white gold, but also platinum, and with precious stones such as rubies and emeralds, but also by combining together semi-precious stones such as quartz and topaz. Or select Akoya pearls together with ruby ​​pearls for modular necklaces (Rihanna also bought one).

Anello in platino, zaffiro, diamanti
Anello in platino, zaffiro, diamanti

Before moving to Tokyo, where he graduated in 2008 from Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, the designer was born and raised in the Yamanashi region of Japan, which is also a jewelry district, as well as the area where it is located. Mount Fuji. The first jewelry brand he founded, however, is called Shihara, distributed all over the world as well as online. But if Shihara is a fine jewelry brand, Yutai is two steps above and combines formal research with luxury.

Anello in platino, smeraldo, diamanti
Anello in platino, smeraldo, diamanti
Anello La Reine in platino, rubino, diamanti
Anello La Reine in platino, rubino, diamanti
Collana con perle Akoya, rubini, quarzo rosa
Collana con perle Akoya, rubini, quarzo rosa
Orecchini in oro giallo e perle Akoya
Orecchini in oro giallo e perle Akoya
Anello La Reine in platino, smeraldo, diamanti
Anello La Reine in platino, smeraldo, diamanti

Bracciale con perle Akoya su oro giallo
Bracciale con perle Akoya su oro giallo







The new jewelry by Natsuko

//




Japanese design, sculpture and Milanese avant-garde: it is the mix at the base of Natsuko Toyofuku ︎jewelry ♦

The simple and ingenious design of Japan inspired by a sculptor’s soul. Natsuko Toyofuku, known as Natsu, is a jewelry designer who lives and works in Milan, with a showroom workshop in one of the nightlife streets, Corso Como. Born in Japan, she has lived in Italy since she was a child. Her father, Tomomori Toyofuku, was a great sculptor active in the sixties and seventies, a bridge between the Japanese tradition and the western avant-garde. And the mother, Kazuko, was a painter.

Anello in bronzo con acquamarina
Anello in bronzo con acquamarina
With this imprinting, Natsuko has developed her creativity in jewelry. She use silver and bronze, with the addition of pearls, a classic element of Japanese jewelry, along with enamel, natural stones. But above all, her jewels are distinguished by their unusual shape, sculptor to wear and which does not go unnoticed. Crafted by craftsmen, Natsuko Toyofuku’s jewels turned out to be a shock in the eighties, when the designer started the business. Now, however, they are generally accepted and have won over a wider audience.

Anello in bronzo e smalto
Anello in bronzo e smalto
Anello in bronzo e fluorite
Anello in bronzo e fluorite
Anello in bronzo e tormalina
Anello in bronzo e tormalina
Orecchini con smalto blu
Orecchini con smalto blu
Anello in bronzo e perla
Anello in bronzo e perla

Orecchini con perle di fiume
Orecchini con perle di fiume







Yoshinobu Kataoka, the surprise of Japan

/




From Japan to Las Vegas: the success of a master of jewelry with the touch of the Rising Sun, Yoshinobu Kataoka ♦ ︎

What can the Japanese spirit do when it enters a jewelry workshop? Simple: like Yoshinobu Kataoka, an artist and goldsmith with over 25 years of experience, who in 2011 created his Maison, with stores in Tokyo and New York. Kataoka has followed his vocation through the cleanliness and minimal, among the vocations of the Rising Sun and the glitter of the stones that come from the markets of the West. The result is a delicate jewelry, without pomp, where the richness lies in the details as the milgrain borders, that is with tiny beads, handmade, innovative cuts and diamond settings. A work that has also received a prestigious award: a Couture Best Design Award 2019 in the category Best in Diamonds Above $ 20,000.

Anello Fiocco di neve, con rubino e diamanti
Anello Fiocco di neve, con rubino e diamanti

Kataoka jewels are handmade in Tokyo. Gold is customized in special alloys according to the requested specifications of Yoshinobu Kataoka, which also underlines one aspect: no harmful chemicals are used in the jewelery production process. All the pieces are handmade with precious stones and diamonds hand-picked and set and produced in limited quantities to guarantee a minimum environmental impact.

Anello trinity con diamanti
Anello trinity con diamanti
Orecchini con diamanti a grappolo
Orecchini con diamanti a grappolo
Orecchini con nappe di diamanti
Orecchini con nappe di diamanti
Orecchini in oro e zaffiri blu
Orecchini in oro e zaffiri blu

Orecchini con smeraldo e opale
Orecchini con smeraldo e opale







Kataoka essential

/




The minimal jewels by Yoshinobu Kataoka: pearls, stones and Japanese spirit ♦

In 2011, Yoshinobu Kataoka decided to go ahead alone. The Japanese designer, who graduated from the Faculty of Visual Design of Seika University, Kyoto, left the position of chief designer that he held in the family business and started to create his own, original jewellery. Within a few years, his brand, Kataoka, has gained recognition for its creative designs in pastel colours.

Anello in oro bianco e diamanti
Anello in oro bianco e diamanti

As in the drawings of old Japanese masters such as Hokusai, the tones are muted, even when using bright gems such as tourmaline and tanzanite.

If you like pearl jewelery, Kataoka offers collections with delicate nuances, in which small flowers bloom next to opalescent spheres. The design is simple, without too much volume and concentrating only on what is essential. With 25 years of experience, Yoshinobu Kataoka loves to follow all the stages of jewellery creation, from design to the finished piece. He also does not forget to pay  attention to the environment: too much wastage of raw materials in the jewellery industry he says, so the gems he chooses and the way he processes his jewellery are designed to leave minimal impact on the environment. Kataoka jewels are handmade in Tokyo with gems and precious metals, but with provenance from conflict-free countries. Gold is an alloy created to Yoshinobu Kataoka’s unique specifications.

Anello con due zaffiri incastonati
Anello con due zaffiri incastonati
Anello con rubino e diamanti
Anello con rubino e diamanti
Anello con diamante a taglio marquise
Anello con diamante a taglio marquise
Collana con diamante
Collana con diamante
Orecchini in oro rosa con diamanti
Orecchini in oro rosa con diamanti

Orecchini in oro rosa con diamanti e smeraldi
Orecchini in oro rosa con diamanti e smeraldi