Jewelry designers Faraone Mennella, Margot McKinney, Yeprem, Jamie Turner and Men? harness the beauty of waves’ sensuous curves to great effect.
There’s nothing like the sound of the sea waves to brighten spirits and soothe the soul. The never-ending swells of water provide a rhythmic cadence that is calming and endlessly peaceful. Jewelry designers have been inspired by the ocean’s beauty—its creatures, its depths and its textures—for millennia. There’s a new crop of fine jewelry afloat that celebrates and captures the allure and beauty of the waves.
Capri Curves
Founded by Amedeo Scognamiglio and the late Roberto Faraone Mennella, Faraone Mennella takes its design inspiration from the men’s Italian heritage, both having been born in Torre del Greco in Southern Italy. Scognamiglio is the sixth generation of a well-known cameo-carving family business that was founded in 1857, and at age 15, he had mastered the craft. In 2006, he launched sister brand AMEDEO, with a modern approach to cameo artistry.
Faraone Mennella’s 18k gold and diamond wave rings, shown here in a stack of three, echo the seas of Capri, the home of one of the brand’s ateliers.
Nature’s Beauty
Brisbane-based Margot McKinney is the fourth generation of a family of Australian jewelers. McKinney’s Jewellers was founded by her great-grandfather in 1884, and Margot spent years at the family store gaining valuable knowledge and experience. In 2007, she founded her eponymous company. In the ensuing years, McKinney has built a worldwide clientele who are drawn to her large-scale designs featuring Australian gems, including the country’s famed opals and South Sea pearls.
McKinney’s jewels “are a celebration of the boundless beauty found in the natural world,” according to the brand. This South Sea pearl, 18k gold and diamond ring features a subtle curved wave design.
Off The Cuff
Austin-based Jamie Turner produces one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewels from natural gemstones and 18k gold. Founder Robert Turner, who had long been fascinated by and collected gemstones, partnered with a fellow Texan, master jeweler Patrick Dobbs, to launch the brand in 2022. The brand is named for Turner’s daughter Jamie, whose personal style serves as an inspiration for their designs.
The brand’s Sierra cuff bracelet, pictured here, is crafted of 18k yellow gold and diamonds.
Ultimate Purity
Men? was founded by Diana Widmaier-Picasso, an art historian and the granddaughter of Pablo Picasso, and Roy Sebag. Sunjoo Moon is the brand’s Chief Creative Officer. Widmaier-Picasso and Moon, who first met in Paris, set out from the beginning to only craft Men? jewelry of pure platinum and 24-karat gold.
Men?’s designs draw their inspiration “from antiquity,” with the brand citing that “the ancient Egyptians believed that [gold] conferred immortal power.” Unusually, Men? prices its pieces by weight, following the prevailing market price plus a flat crafting and design fee. The brand’s four-layer Wave Stacking Ring Set, pictured here, is made of 25 grams of pure gold.
Mediterranean Allure
Yeprem Chakardemian founded his eponymous brand after inheriting a gold bracelet from his mother in 1964. The brand is internationally known for its avant-garde designs and dedication to innovation and craftsmanship. Based in Beirut on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the family-owned company is now in the hands of Yeprem’s three children.
Yeprem’s hinged Golden Strada bangle bracelet, pictured here, is crafted of 18k white and yellow gold and diamonds.