An architecture degree and a background in fashion informs the simple aesthetic of jewellery designer Elena Sardo’s brand, Sardo. The minimalist jewellery, created in Turin, Italy, encompasses off-beat silhouettes; streamlined in 18ct gold, silver and precious stones, the pieces create a tantalising play with light.
Now, the new Wild Flowers collection takes the beauty of nature as its inspiration, but in true Sardo style shies away from any sickly sweet connotations, instead interpreting its colours and shapes in understated and beautiful forms.
‘My aesthetic is always a bit visionary: in this collection, for example, the flowers are certainly not the flowers of realistic painting, but they are deconstructed, abstract flowers,’ Sardo explains. ‘In my aesthetic I don't look for oddities, but I always try to create jewels that are timeless: for me every detail is studied, and I often prefer to remove rather than add, with the aim of creating clean and refined pieces that have their own personal and distinctive style.’
The collection, created in lockdown, nods to her fascination with flowers, the irregular placing of petals and vivid juxtapositions of colour reflected in her rings and earrings. ‘I was fascinated by their variety of shapes and colours,’ she says. ‘For example, after a storm, I happened to observe petals on the grass forming an irregular and multicoloured composition, but beautiful and harmonious in its naturalness and simplicity: it made me think how apparently different elements can not only coexist, but also be more beautiful when put together.’
Tendrils of vines are drawn in gold and irregularly dotted with diamonds in dangling earrings; the petals from the Loves Me/Loves Me Not game from childhood are a minimalist addition to matte gold orbs. ‘In this collection, the more significant design details are the different cuts of the stones (baguette, marquise, pear cuts) and the use of coloured stones that for me is very unusual,’ adds Sardo.
INFORMATION
-
Jaguar reveals its new graphic identity ahead of a long-awaited total brand rebootJaguar’s new ethos is Exuberant Modernism, encapsulated by a new visual language that draws on fine art, fashion and architecture
-
Olfactory Art Keller: the New York gallery exhibiting the smell of vintage perfume, blossoming lilacs and last night’s shameOlfactory Art Keller is a Manhattan-based gallery space dedicated to exhibiting scent as art. Founder Dr Andreas Keller speaks with Lara Johnson-Wheeler about the project, which doesn’t shy away from the ‘unpleasant’
-
Explore a barn conversion with a difference on the Isle of WightGianni Botsford Architects' barn conversion transforms two old farm buildings into an atmospheric residence and artistic retreat, The Old Byre
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
-
Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden HourLate summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to knowThese independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal piecesA host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a momentWe've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
-
Eternity rings for the modern coupleEternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
-
Alternative engagement rings with an edgeAs the sales of engagement rings sky-rocket during lockdown, enjoy our off-kilter curation of edgy and unconventional engagement rings
