It’s one of the most wonderful parts of working in the industry—to come across a wealth of different designer perspectives, each jewel bearing the mark of the hand that forges it. What’s even better than that is familiarizing yourself with those perspectives, so that when you see a piece of jewelry, you might be able to say, “Oh, I know who made that!” without even seeing a name. Though some styles may look alike in certain ways, it’s the mark of a true talent who creates jewels that are instantly recognizable—be the details blazing or subtle, quiet or bold. Adel Chefridi is one of those talents.
JCK covered the jeweler almost exactly a year ago when visiting his studio in Kingston, N.Y., getting an up-close look at the process that brings his creations to life—if you haven’t already, be sure to read it. It’s a wonderful window into the mental and physical elements of making, but also contains tidbits on selling his jewelry, too.
They’re the kind of jewels you want not only to see, but to experience. To run your fingers along the expert engraving that sets them apart from the others. To see up close the color of the beautifully set gemstones. And to wear them, which is the best thing you can do with a pretty piece of jewelry next to staring at it, after all.
The jeweler’s offerings strike the tricky balance between bold and delicate. Where the overall shape and size lean toward chunky and strong, the ornate etching, a mark of Chefridi’s work, brings a sweet, sort of old-world aura to jewels that I believe otherwise would read as quite contemporary.
You’ll find Adel Chefridi at this year’s JCK Tucson show—I know that the jewels on display there will be even lovelier than they appear on this page. If you’re attending, be certain to pay a visit and take in the artistry presented before you (while posting photos on Instagram so we can all get a glimpse). This is only a small sampling of what you may find there, but these gorgeous beauties are some of my recent favorites.
For more, visit chefridi.com, and visit jckonline.com/tucson for more information about February’s upcoming show.
Top: Wish Flower pendant in 18k yellow gold with 0.54 ct. t.w. pink sapphires and diamonds, $4,700
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