Mark Davis

Mark Davis, gold, diamonds and bakelite

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The ultra-vintage bracelets by Mark Davis, the old bakelite brought back to life ♦ ︎

There are simple, popular jewels, like the modular bracelets. There are the jewels of super luxury, like the bracelets of Cartier or Bulgari. And there are niche jewels, reserved for fans of a certain genre, such as vintage jewelry. Finally, there are ultra-niche jewels. Thus defines his production Mark Davis, who founded his brand in 1999, proudly in Brooklyn, New York, where he proudly produces his jewels. Why ultra-niche? Well, because the bracelets, which make up a large part of the production, are unique pieces. Not only. They are made with Bakelite. Not only. This is Bakelite recovered from objects made before the Second World War.

Bracciale in bachelite, platino, diamanti
Bracciale in bachelite, platino, diamanti

The idea of ​​producing such sophisticated jewelry goes along with a rigorous corporate ethics: no use of gems from a group or a country that engages or supports illegal, inhuman or terrorist activities, no coral, ivory or any other material derived from fauna or flora listed as threatened or threatened. It also opposes the use of coral and antique or vintage ivory. Finally, every year, Mark Davis donates some jewels for fundraising events to charitable organizations. That said, all that remains is to look at the Mark Davis jewelery. Most are rigid bracelets, even with acid, bright colors, and with gold threads and small precious and semi-precious stones that are used to increase the value of jewelry. The bracelets, which make up the bulk of the catalog, were then joined by earrings and rings, also in Bakelite.

 

Bracciale in bachelite, con oro e peridoto
Bracciale in bachelite, con oro e peridoto

Bracciale in bachelite, ametista, quarzo fumé, peridoto, zaffiro blu, giallo e rosa, citrino
Bracciale in bachelite, ametista, quarzo fumé, peridoto, zaffiro blu, giallo e rosa, citrino
Anello in oro 18 carati, bachelite e diamanti
Anello in oro 18 carati, bachelite, tsavorite e diamanti
Orecchini rossi in oro 18 carati, bachelite e diamanti
Orecchini rossi in oro 18 carati, bachelite e diamanti
Orecchini in oro 18 carati, bachelite e diamanti
Orecchini in oro 18 carati, bachelite e diamanti

Anello in oro 18 carati e bachelite
Anello in oro 18 carati e bachelite







The vintage Bakelite and gem bracelets by Mark Davis

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Bakelite jewels are very popular. Bakelite, according to Wikipedia, is a resin obtained from formaldehyde and phenol. This resin is often added to a filler material, such as wood flour, graphite, mica, diatomaceous earth and dyes. In the past it has been used for electrotechnical elements, electrical switches, electricity sockets, pot handles. So what does it have to do with jewelry? Yet Mark Davis‘ Bakelite earrings and bracelets are also sold also for $ 32,000 each.

Bracciale in bachelite, oro giallo 18 carati e pietre preziose
Bracciale in bachelite, oro giallo 18 carati e pietre preziose

The jeweler is based in Brooklyn and has chosen to offer bracelets in a vintage style. Bakelite is the base, but to this it also adds small precious or semi-precious stones. Davis makes Bakelite from modern antiques such as jukeboxes and kitchen utensils. The result is surprising: treated and worked, the bakelite turns into a lively jewel, with strong colors and marbled shades of brown, red and pink, dotted with contrasting color stones (of ethical origin, the designer specifies), like garnet, peridot citrine. They are lively bracelets, large and immediately visible. Better to combine them with simple fabrics, better if they are of a single color, and avoid wearing other jewels with too generous dimensions.

Orecchini in bachelite, oro 18 carati e diamanti
Orecchini in bachelite, oro 18 carati e diamanti

Bracciale in bachelite con gemme
Bracciale in bachelite con gemme
Bracciale in bachelite con pietre incastonate
Bracciale in bachelite con pietre incastonate
Bracciali in bachelite, oro
Bracciali in bachelite, oro
Orecchini in bachelite, oro, diamanti
Orecchini in bachelite, oro, diamanti
Orecchini in bachelite, oro 18 carati, zaffiri
Orecchini in bachelite, oro 18 carati, zaffiri
Collana in oro con pendente in bachelite e diamante
Collana in oro con pendente in bachelite e diamante

Orecchini in bachelite, oro, zaffiri, peridoto
Orecchini in bachelite, oro, zaffiri, peridoto







4×4 diamonds at Couture

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At the Couture in Las Vegas the diamonds of Canadamark in 4×4 version directed by Muse ♦ ︎

The Couture in Las Vegas organized between the Wynn and the Encore Resort is always an event full of news. One of these, in the 2019 edition, is represented by the series of jewels created by four leading designers for the Canadian Canadamark, a mining company engaged in diamond mining in Canada (responsibly, they stress).

Bracciale di Nikos Koulis con smalto nero e diamanti  Canadamark
Bracciale di Nikos Koulis con smalto nero e diamanti Canadamark

The four designers engaged by Canadamark through the Muse agency are Mark Davis, Nikos Koulis, Silvia Furmanovich and Vram. Each designer made four Canadamark diamond jewels and for this reason, the series was called 4×4.

Anello di Nikos Koulis con smalto nero e diamanti Canadamark
Anello di Nikos Koulis con smalto nero e diamanti Canadamark

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Nikos Koulis, a Greek designer who creatively uses the Art Deco style and unusual geometric shapes, has chosen to expand his famous Oui collection, obviously with Canadamark diamonds. Sylvia Furmanovich, Brazilian designer was inspired by a Japanese maple leaf represented on a kimono from the Meiji period. Vram Minassian used diamonds with yellow gold to create jewelry with inusual curved shapes. Mark Davis combined Bakelite with diamonds to create pieces like a vintage air bracelet.





Anello di Sylvia Furmanovich realizzato in legno di acero giapponese scolpito, oro 18 carati e diamanti Canadamark
Anello di Sylvia Furmanovich realizzato in legno di acero giapponese scolpito, oro 18 carati e diamanti Canadamark
Bracciale di Sylvia Furmanovich in legno di acero giapponese scolpito, oro 18 carati e diamanti
Bracciale di Sylvia Furmanovich in legno di acero giapponese scolpito, oro 18 carati e diamanti

Vram, orecchinin oro e diamanti
Vram, orecchinin oro e diamanti

Vram, anello oro e diamanti
Vram, anello oro e diamanti

Orecchini di Mark Davis in bachelite e diamanti
Orecchini di Mark Davis in bachelite e diamanti

Bracciale di Mark Davis in bachelite e diamanti
Bracciale di Mark Davis in bachelite e diamanti







Mavericks on book




The 17 nonconformists jewelry designer for a collectors book.
All about jewelry. Better, everything about the jewels that have become milestones of masterpieces in the history of jewelry. If you are fond of earrings, rings and necklaces exceptional (and probably take a look every day at gioiellis.com), you can order online the book written by Stellene Volandes, managing editor of Town & Country. The book is a journey through the designer jewelry is published by Rizzoli, 256 pages, and is titled: Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design (costs $ 85 on Amazon). Under the lens there are the works of 17 masters of the jewel, very different from each other (mavericks, nonconformists), but united by the imagination and ability to transform simple jewelry to wear in small masterpieces. After an introduction by Carolina Herrera, are for example, works of Hemmerle, Giampiero Bodino, Nicholas Varney, James de Givenchy, Judy Geib, Wallace Chan, Elena Votsi, Lauren Adriana, Marie-Helene de Taillac, Suzanne Syz, Muriel Grateau, Mark Davis. Among amazing materials and innovative shapes, stones and extraordinary virtuosity goldsmiths, are images that bring happiness to all the fans. Rudy Serra

Anelli di Nicholas Varney
Anelli di Nicholas Varney

Collana di smeraldi di Judy Geib
Collana di smeraldi di Judy Geib
Spilla a forma di cavolfiore di Hemmerle
Spilla a forma di cavolfiore di Hemmerle
La copertina di Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design
La copertina di Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design
Collana di Giampiero Bodino
Collana di Giampiero Bodino
Anelli in ceramica di James de Givenchy
Anelli in ceramica di James de Givenchy
Orecchini da «Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design»
Orecchini da «Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design»
Gioiello a forma di granchio
Gioiello a forma di granchio

Immagine da «Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design»
Immagine da «Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design»