Jewellery is increasingly being given 'art' status as it becomes the focus of major museum exhibitions, such as the current Van Cleef & Arpels show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Wearable pieces are being elevated too, thanks to a new wave of boutiques offering 'curated' collections. Accessories specialist Valery Demure is taking the latter concept to virtual realms, launching an e-shop featuring the work of a carefully selected group of upcoming jewellery artists.
'To me jewellery is wearable art,' says Demure, who is also constantly concerned with seeking out new accessories design talent. 'I love beautiful design and great craftsmanship combined. It's quite rare, but these are precisely the elements I look for in a new designer.'
Taking the gallery concept a little further, Demure has assembled a guest-list of curators who will each create 'a cabinet of curiosities' from the online shop every two weeks. The first is Yasmin Sewell, trend forecaster and current chief creative consultant at Liberty, London. 'Yasmin is not only poised and chic, she is also funny and smart. Of course, we like that she possesses an innate sense of style and an infectious energy too,' says Demure.
It's easy to see what she means: not only does Sewell's choice of A-Morir's crystal-trimmed Betty eyelash glasses alongside unique earring, bracelet and necklace designs, give some idea of the curiousities to expect, her way of wearing them - hooked onto the neck of her top - effortlessly underlines the whole idea of accessories-as-jewellery-as-art.
Other new designers include Maryam Keyhani, gaining a name for her strong 'neckwear', and the Danish designer Vibe Harsløf, whose neckbrace of gold sticks firmly - and beautifully - to an intrinsic philosophy of 'simple is best'. The designer Smadar-Pola Azriel's Paula Bianco label, meanwhile, creates pieces adhering to Demure's constant search for that magic mix of expert craft and great design: her bracelets of chiffon, stones and gold plate, are a gorgeous mélange of texture and colour.
Star headband from 'The Midnight Girl' collection by the millinery and luxury headwear designer Benoît Missolin
Favourite fashion-designer collaborator, Scott Wilson's studded barrel necklace has a machine-as-art-as-jewellery aesthetic
Eddie Borgo bangle, with trapped gold link chain
New York costume jewellery designer Eddie Borgo's designs will soon be available at the Valery Demure e-shop
'Coeuraline' necklace, who is known for her playful - yet slick and smooth - organic aesthetic
Enamel and smoked crystal earrings. Designers Matthieu Mouton and Nicolas Collet draw influence from the animal and vegetable worlds
'Ball' cuff, in black nickel-plate, embellished with two gold-plated spheres and bound in electric blue, grey and orange chiffon
'Elephant' earrings. The brand works with rare and precious discovered elements
Gold neckbrace. A delicate vision of form and function informs the Danish designer's pieces
-
‘Concrete Dreams’: rethinking Newcastle’s brutalist pastA new project and exhibition at the Farrell Centre in Newcastle revisits the radical urban ideas that changed Tyneside in the 1960s and 1970s
-
Mexican designers show their metal at Gallery Collectional, Dubai‘Unearthing’ at Dubai’s Gallery Collectional sees Ewe Studio designers Manu Bañó and Héctor Esrawe celebrate Mexican craftsmanship with contemporary forms
-
At The Manner, New York has a highly fashionable new living roomThe Manner, a new hopsitality experience by Standard International in the heart of SoHo, triples up as a hotel, private residence, and members’ club
-
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
