We thought it was a known story: instead the reason why a ruby is hidden in Roberto Coin’s jewels is not known by everyone. Yet the idea of inserting a small ruby inside the jewelry is undoubtedly a distinctive aspect of the Italian brand.
Therefore, the idea of ruby as a symbolic signature of the Maison of Vicenza is linked to mythology. Roberto Coin, driven by a passion for ancient history, many years ago read three stories related to the stories of the past that sparked his imagination.
The first of these legends belongs to the world of ancient Egypt and to the pharaohs: the ruby was considered a sort of amulet, which worn in contact with the skin guaranteed eternal love, eternal joy and eternal health. The second legend, however, concerns the Burmese warriors. Apparently they wore the red gem in contact with the skin to defeat wounds and death during the battle. Finally, an old Hindu myth considers rubies to be the precious fruits of Kalpa, the sacred tree of desires and hope. In short, ruby as a magic stone, perhaps associated with life for its blood color.
Fascinated by these myths, Roberto Coin therefore decided to associate his brand with ruby. So in 1996 the launch of the Appassionata collection marked not only the beginning of the history of the Roberto Coin brand, but also the principle of its signature: a small ruby set for the first time within the jewels of the collection. A signature that has remained a hallmark of the Venetian Maison.
The ancient myth of Meander in the jewelery collection of the Greek designer Anastazio ♦ ︎
Greece, in addition to being a popular tourist destination, is the country where western culture was born. There is no need to disturb the philosophy of Plato & c., The architecture of Fidia, the literature of Homer, the theater of Aeschylus, the mythology of Olympus (the list could go on) to know that this small country overlooking on the Mediterranean sea it is a sort of navel in the history of humanity. A necessary premise to explain how, even today, ancient Greece arouses interest and strong emotions. And that’s why even modern designers do not escape the desire to look for their roots.
Anastazio Kotsopoulos, founder and creative director of the Athens jewelery fair of the same name, Anastazio, has dedicated his new collection to the myth of Meandro, but with a modern design. If you don’t remember Greek mythology, you must know that Meander, son of Oceano and Thetis, on the occasion of the conflict with the city of Possene, vowed to the goddess Cybele to sacrifice the first person he would saw when he returned home if, in exchange, he had granted him the victory. But Meandro was unlucky (or punished for his request). In fact, he met his mother, sister and son Archelao. He killed them all three, as promised to Cybele, even if he then repented of his gesture and tormented by remorse he killed himself by throwing himself into the Anabenone river.
Looking back on the myth, Anastazio has now created a small collection of eight pieces. Seven pieces are in silver and 18-carat gold, while one piece is totally in gold. The jewels are enriched with orange and pink sapphires, amethyst and rutilated quartz. Please, if you wear them you do not make wrong requests to the gods.
Magerit in the Gea myth
The Earth in the myth told by Magerit with imaginative Gea collection ♦
Some people are not content to draw a precious jewel. There’s people who want to present something different. And there’s people who want to conceive something valuable, different and lso perhaps surprising. But Magerit, a Spanish company founded in 1994 by a team of experienced professionals in the creation and fine jewelry design, does more: it tells a story. It may be that the story of Swan Lake, as in its award-winning collection, or dedicated to the myths of antiquity, as in the case of Gea, the collection presented at Baselworld 2017.
As you can imagine, Gea is a virtuous and dizzying interpretation of the myth linked to the Earth. The origin of creation, of nature, of life. With this background, it was inevitable that the imagination of Spanish designers had no limits. Colors with the choice of stones, an almost baroque in exuberant shapes, flowers, earth and nature are intertwined in showy creations.
Among all, the most important piece is Germina (name derived from the Latin word): represents the figure of a woman born from within a seed. The jewel symbolizes the origin of life and the magic of the moment of creation. It is made of 18-carat gold, diamonds and amethyst. Veris, springtime name in Latin, is instead a set representing the nature and fertility as key elements of continuity and development. The woman and the vegetation merge into a gentle embrace. They used gold, white and green diamonds. Other top piece is Aurea, inspired by the golden spiral that is repeated in nature and guarantees the harmony of all creation: gold, diamonds and sapphires. Genus is instead inspired by the original shape adopted by multiple births in bloom: yellow gold, diamonds and blue topaz. Lavinia Andorno
Lebole Gioielli has experienced great success with her earrings that use exotic fabrics, colors, and style is not traditional. Now the story continues with the new collection Mito, consisting of a pair of asymmetrical earrings with a Dragon King by a lobe and a Torii other. It is made with a thirst for ancient Japanese kimonos, spread out on a wooden base lacquered with ancient Eastern methods. The jewelry are available in six different colors, mounted exclusively in 925 silver. The earrings are inspired by Japanese stories and legends. Here, then, the explanation Lebole: the Torii is the traditional gateway from which you enter a sanctuary or simply in a sacred area. The Dragon King Ryu lives in his mansion located at the bottom of the sea, near the Ryukyu Islands. The legendary palace, built in red and white coral, protected by the Dragons, is full of treasures. Fish and other sea creatures serve Ryu as vassals and turtles are used as messengers. In the north of the castle snow falls throughout the year, in the east there is the room where the Spring flying butterflies and cherry is always in bloom, while in the south there is the room where the crickets sing in the Summer warm evenings. Finally, in the western part of the building where there is the room of Autumn maples they have bright colors. For a human being one day in this building amounts to 100 years on earth. The price for each pair of earrings is 110 euro. Sayonara. Federico Graglia