Julien Riad Sahyoun, the eponymous London based designer of JRS fine jewellery, recently shortlisted as Jewellery Designer of the Year, has opened his first London showroom in South Kensington.
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, of French, Italian and Lebanese descent, Julien has been inspired by his mixed cultural heritage to create jewellery that he describes as elemental, entrancing and edgy. His passion for nature and stones began as a child digging in the Sahara desert, an interest that organically grew, leading him to jewellery design. After studying jewellery making and gemmology with the GIA in New York and California, Julien began creating a unique collection of jewels that not only looked beautiful, but unfold a narrative. ‘Each collection tells a story, a way of sharing my values through my creations‘. His humanitarian beliefs of unity and acceptance of human tolerance, are represented in each piece. JRS presents a ready to wear collection of hand crafted jewels in combinations of yellow, white, rose and black 18K gold and diamonds that both express and emphasise individuality.
JRS jewellery consists of three core collections that include his signature Skin, Star and Sun. To compliment these, the designer has also created the 3ternity collection, and a selection of bespoke jewels, using combinations of ethically sourced emeralds, rubies and semi-precious gemstones. Such as the emerald and diamond chandelier earrings and its matching necklace.
The Skin collection uses multi coloured golds to represent the unity of diverse cultures through tolerance and respect.
The unisex signature Skin collection, inspired by the designer's mixed heritage, celebrates differences, unifies cultures and brings people together. It emulates exotic leathers by layering combinations of textured golds, worked by hand to create the unique JRS style. Each piece can be fused with combinations of black, cognac or white diamonds embossed into the goldwork. Comprising of rings, necklaces, cufflinks and bracelets in combinations of two or three different shades of gold, creating strong yet beautiful organic shapes.
The Star collection celebrates individuality and uniqueness.
The Star collection, has been designed to illustrate and display human individuality. Influenced by the stars in the galaxy, Julien imitates the uniqueness of humanity with vibrant floating diamonds. Each smooth, organic shaped ring has been created by hand using the traditional art of wax carving and punctuated with vibrant coloured diamonds. The edgy Touch Me ring, peppered with black and yellow diamonds, or Tempt Me, Follow Me, Love Me and Dream Me rings in combinations of white, rose, yellow and black gold and combinations of various colour diamonds.
The Sun Collection pays a tribute to Nature and elements that created life on Earth.
The Sun collection reveals a more ethereal side to the designer, whose Moroccan influences are seen in the delicate floral motifs carved from illuminous black or white mother of pearl or pave set with diamonds in 18K gold. Such as the Sun earrings in 18kt white gold, aptly set with yellow diamonds emulating the bright sun, within the delicate central floral motif. Or the cool, yet edgy rose gold bracelet encircled with pave set diamonds and embraced by an adjustable satin cord. The collection also includes pendants and is available in combinations of white, ognac and yellow diamonds and rose, white, and yellow gold.
3ternity: Love, Friendship and Soul.
The exquisite, 3ternity collection represents three essential values, Love, Friendship and Soul. Evocative words, engraved onto the rim of each ring in French: Amour, Amitié, Âme. The infinity symbol also embodies eternity, empowerment and everlasting love. Available in 18K rose, yellow and white gold, either as single rows, pave set with diamonds or a wider band of 3 infinity signs. For those who love diamonds, the ‘Eternal’, 3eternity ring features pear shaped diamonds inside each infinity signs, encircled with pave set with diamonds. Available in plain gold or with diamonds.
2018 will also see JRS launch its bespoke collection of jewels that feature a selection of coloured gemstones, ethically sourced from around the globe including emerald, pink sapphire, tanzanite, tsavorite and natural pearls to create one off bespoke pieces.
One such masterpiece is the Joon suite, featuring a remarkable pair of emerald and diamond chandelier earrings and matching necklace, set with investment grade Colombian emeralds from the Muzo region and D-IF pear shaped diamonds
The exquisite chandelier earrings feature two 1ct pear shaped emeralds and 2.5ct of white pear shaped diamonds. The asymmetry of the earrings is intriguing, posing a flow of cascading diamonds from the earlobes into diverse lengths from which the vibrant pear shaped emeralds hang. The effect is sublimely timeless, iconic and understated in its mastery, letting the gemstones to speak volumes
Intriguing oppositional symmetries are once again seen in the open necklace that appears to be weightless, featuring a cascade of 82 internally flawless, pear shaped diamonds of 18ct that take us on a journey of discovery to encounter a magnificent 2ct pear shaped Colombian emerald on one length and its matching 1ct pear shaped diamond on the other. Set in 18kt white gold, the necklace has no clasp, the fluidity of its construction, nestles across the neck, onto the décolleté.
Julien Riad Sahyoun has created an elegant yet edgy collection of jewels through which he hopes to symbolise greater understanding and unity between cultures and humanity. With integrity, he has thoughtfully entwined his beliefs and hopes into a ready to wear collection with a humanitarian message.
This is as designer, who star is rising and certainly a brand to watch.