Tenzo

Tenzo, spells of a gem-hunter

The magic of Tenzo, a Russian gem hunter able to excite with his jewels ♦

There are those who call him a gem-hunter, a sort of Indiana Jones in search of the extraordinary stone to be set in his jewels. Certainly Alexander Tenzo, a high jewelry designer based in Tallinn, Estonia, but with constant ubiquity, from Switzerland to the United States, is part of the small patrol of gem artists. He is able, for example, to carve an emerald with a unique ability, or to use precious stones with unusual shapes. In addition to choosing lesser-known gems, such as alexandrite, chrysoberyl, spessartite, along with tourmalines, rubies or diamonds.

Anello in platino con tsavorite di 10,9 carati, zaffiri, diamanti. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Platinum ring with 10.9 carat tsavorite, sapphires, diamonds. Copyright: gioiellis.com

For each creation, Tenzo tries to show the hidden soul of the stones. “I always have to start from what a stone can tell me”, confirms the artist-jeweler to gioiellis.com on one of the rare occasions when he agrees to talk about his work. The designer founded his small workshop in 1996 and soon the fame of his ability has managed to cross national borders. His unique, teased pieces unite the ancient traditions of jewelry, which in Russia are often Fabergé’s legacy, his eclectic compositional ability.

Collana con diamanti, spinelli birmani rosa. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Necklace with diamonds, pink Burmese spinels. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Alexander Tenzo’s professional career began with a trip to Sri Lanka. On the large island located south of India, he discovered a passion for gems. For several years, Alexander has been involved in the extraction and cutting of gems, from Asia to Africa. An experience that led him to transform himself into a jewelry designer, capable of carving stones to transform them into surprising works of art.

Anello con smeraldo intagliato di 18,38 carati. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Ring with carved emerald of 18.38 carats. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Alexander Tenzo. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Alexander Tenzo. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Orecchini con spinelli naturali e diamanti
Earrings with natural spinels and diamonds
Anello in oro bianco, pietra luna, spessartine
Ring in white gold, moonstone, Spessartite
Orecchini con oro bianco e giallo, diamanti grigi, gialli e bianchi
Earrings with white and yellow gold, gray, yellow and white diamonds
Pendente in oro giallo e argento, spinello, zaffiri, diamanti
Pendant in yellow gold and silver, spinel, sapphires, diamonds
Orecchini in oro giallo e argento, spinello rosa e rosso
Earrings in yellow gold and silver, pink and red spinel
Orecchini con granato demantoide, diamanti
Earrings with demantoid garnet, diamonds
Spilla intagliata con morganite, crisoberillo, spessartite, tormalina, crisoprasio
Brooch carved with morganite, chrysoberyl, famartite, tourmaline, chrysoprase
Anello con rubino e diamanti taglio marquise
Ring with ruby and marquise cut diamonds
Anello con zaffiro cabochon e diamanti
Ring with cabochon sapphire and diamonds

GemGèneve returns and celebrates Fabergé




Ronny Totah, one of the two organizers of GemGèneve together with Thomas Faerber, announced it last April: “GemGenève is like a wedding planner for exhibitors. If they want us to schedule two editions a year, we will. We have already received requests for a fair in November of this year ”. The confirmation arrived in mid-August: GemGèneve autumn edition will take place. Last year the appointment with vintage jewelry, avant-garde design and precious gems in the Swiss city was set in November due to the restrictions due to the covid, which had blocked the spring edition. This year, however, the double event, after the one in May, is simply the response to market demands.

I fondatori di GemGèneve, Thomas Faerber e Ronny Totah
I fondatori di GemGèneve, Thomas Faerber e Ronny Totah

“We originally planned to hold only one edition, in May 2022. Following calls from our exhibitors, we decided to organize a second edition in autumn 2022 in Geneva, but this should not become standard practice in the future,” says Ronny. Tota. The new edition of GemGèneve will be held from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 November at the Palexpo in Geneva and will coincide with the great autumn auctions of the Geneva Luxury Week. In addition to the presence of exhibitors, side events are scheduled. But, of course, business remains the focus. The numbers measure the weight of this deliberately selective event: the first edition, in 2018, had 147 exhibitors and 3,206 visitors. The following year 210 exhibitors and 3,474 visitors. In 2021, autumn edition with problems of post covid restrictions, 120 exhibitors and 2,757 visitors, last May 201 exhibitors and 3,302 visitors. The visits are actually many more if you count those who attended the fair for several days.
Gioielli a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Gioielli a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com

For this edition, which this time will be held in pavilion 6 (usually it is 7), the organizers have also imagined a new scenography, very different from the previous editions and “adapted to the place”. The layout of the room is more squared, less elongated, requires more central spaces that should appeal to more participants and visitors. It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Fondation Igor Carl Fabergé, which this year turns 40, will celebrate its anniversary during the fair and is preparing a beautiful exhibition of exceptional pieces by the famous jeweler of the Tsars. The Foundation will present a range of pieces representing the vast experience of Carl Fabergé and his skilled artisans, ranging from imperial eggs to objets de vertu, testifying to the elegance of his work.
Visitatori a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Visitatori a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Nadège Totah is once again entrusted with the Emerging Talents area, dedicated to young designers. Among the recent discoveries, in particular, a young self-taught multidisciplinary artist-jeweler who will be presented for the first time at the GemGenève: Wallis Hong, born in China, lives in Spain. Among the new emerging talents also Serendipity Jewelery, created in 2017 in Paris by Christine Chan, and the Vincent Michel jewelery workshop, which offers sur mesure jewelery as well as an exclusive high jewelery collection made up of unique pieces that blend aesthetics, sometimes poetic, and technique. GemGenève will also include the Designer Vivarium for this edition. Tenzo is back, together with the stand of Ukrainian jewelers Strong & Precious, already present in May. An entire space will be dedicated to the art of micromosaic, with a “big surprise” announced.
Anello di Filippo G&G. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Anello di Filippo G&G. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Padiglione di GemGèneve maggio 2022. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Padiglione di GemGèneve maggio 2022. Copyright: gioiellis.com
GemGèneve, maggio 2022. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Gemme a GemGèneve, maggio 2022. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Espositore a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com
Espositore a GemGèneve. Copyright: gioiellis.com







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







Tenzo, the precious soul of Russia




The extraordinary, and rare, jewels by the Russian Maison Tenzo ♦ ︎
Alexander Tenzo is anusual figure in the world of jewelery. He is Russian, he opened his Maison in St. Petersburg in 1996 when he was not yet 30 years old, and specialized in the trading of precious stones and gems: a passion that was born during the visit of ruby ​​mines in Sri Lanka. He loves very much the colors of stones like spinelli, crisoberillo, green garnets, rubellite, alexandrite. His Russian soul leads him to create theatrical jewelery, with strong contrasts, sculptors. Like other great jewelers, Tenzo makes a few pieces and conceives them from the quality and, above all, the character of the stones. This adds fantasy to the design of form, tradition, passion, craft skill that encompasses the very popular enamel technique in Russia, or micro pavé. One of his points of reference is the Russian jeweler, Carl Fabergé. Gold is often twisted, embroidered, sometimes transformed with unparalleled nuances, often to infuse vintage air. In addition to boutique in 7 Rentgena Street in St. Petersburg, his jewels can be found (with some luck) in Switzerland, Heimperg, New York and London. Alessia Mongrando



Anello con rubellite di 12 carati della Nigeria
Anello con rubellite di 12 carati della Nigeria
Particolare di una spilla con pietra luna intagliata
Particolare di una spilla con pietra luna intagliata
Anello con occhi di gatto e alessandrite
Anello con occhi di gatto e alessandrite
Orecchini con granati, oro, platino
Orecchini con granati, oro, platino
Orecchini con smeraldi e diamanti
Orecchini con smeraldi e diamanti
Anello con diamante rosa e diamanti bianchi, oro ossidato per donare un aspetto vintage
Anello con diamante rosa e diamanti bianchi, oro ossidato per donare un aspetto vintage

Anello con smeraldo intagliato e diamanti
Anello con smeraldo intagliato e diamanti