Striking Design + Brilliant Watch Pairings
At the beginning of December, we hosted our first initiative under the umbrella of The 1916 Company, partnering with Eleonor Picciotto and The Eye of Jewelry to introduce four contemporary jewelry designers: Suzanne Syz, Elie Top, Alexandra Rosier, and Selim Mouzannar. Each of these designers transforms gemstones, precious metals, and mesmerizing color into elegantly bold collections, evoking the similar allure of independent watchmaking.
Revolution Magazine U.S. editor Troy Barmore visited us while the exhibition was in New York, and together with Eleonor, selected striking watch and jewelry pairings in this very spirit, as he captured in the accompanying images.
Getting to Know Suzanne Syz
Suzanne is celebrated as a contemporary artist, a long-time art collector with a magnetic charm, and a friend to some of the art world’s most recognizable names – think Warhol, Basquiat, Koons… She crafts one-of-a-kind pieces in precious and modern materials: titanium, aluminum, ceramic, gold, diamonds, and striking gemstones, with a sometimes classic, and usually playful aesthetic. There is a modern sensibility to her wares, and they are deceptively comfortable and astonishingly light given their volume! But we shouldn’t be surprised; Suzanne insists that each piece of jewelry be crafted to perfection, as should unique pieces be. We were thrilled to have had her join us in Miami, New York, and Baltimore for this occasion.
The Pairings
F.P. Journe Linesport Automatique Réserve and Shield Earrings by Suzanne Syz; and De Bethune DB28GS “JPS” and Suzanne’s Megellanic bracelet in titanium sprinkled with diamonds on top of which sits a 90-ct gray diamond
The Rationale
Eleonor Picciotto: “We first thought of a color pairing to state the obvious, then we thought about the material and how titanium has this bold, rough, edgy, and yet so modern and elegant touch that just made sense. The two combinations genuinely resonated as a perfect pairing with two statement pieces that need no further explanation – that’s what happens when beauty strikes.”
A Closer Look at Elie Top
Elie Top’s lifelong intrigue with architecture, space, geometry, and haute couture collide in his eponymous jewelry collections. The Parisian designer seamlessly blends traditional techniques with a modern, artistic sensibility, creating pieces that are not just accessories but wearable works of art. His Mécaniques Célestes collection is multi-dimensional, inspired by astronomical clocks and celestial measuring instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Spinning cages open and close to reveal another design, introducing colorful gems and pearls alongside distressed silver and gold.
The Pairing
Daniel Roth Tourbillon Retrograde Date and the Diamonds Scaphandre Pendant by Elie Top
The Rationale
EP: “What looks bulky isn’t, what seems heavy isn’t. Don’t get fooled by a picture. This Scaphandre necklace is the jewelry version of a tourbillon. What seems to be a hidden and complicated mechanism at first simply is magic and beauty. The top dome closes or opens up at the tip of your fingers, unveiling a pearl in its heart protected by a turning cage made of gold and diamonds like a bejeweled Saturn!”
The World of Alexandra Rosier
Alexandra Rosier dreams in vibrant colors, seeks inspiration from nature and cultures around the world, and looks to a palette of exceptional gemstones when designing her mesmerizing collections. There is often a spiritual quality to her designs – from the ying and yang of masculine and feminine influence in her Union cuff, to a series of pendants that symbolize the seven chakras. Her soft rings weave tourmaline, sapphire, topaz, tsavorite, amethyst, diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones together with gold for a fit that can only be described as a “second-skin” level of comfort.
The Pairing
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar and the Siberian Owl Pendant by Alexandra Rosier
The Rationale
EP: “The ancient rose cut diamonds and the fact that the body of the owl flips to the other side unveiling a hand-engraved side to keep quiet and not show-off felt like a classic beauty where simplicity was key regardless of the amount of work that was put into the piece… as a parallel to the watch complications.”
Selim Mouzannar’s Kaleidoscope of Color
Selim Mouzannar’s jewelry collections are a kaleidoscope of color, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle East, and Selim’s childhood memories from the Beirut jewelry souk where his family had a workshop. His family’s jewelry making heritage dates back generations, yet Selim didn’t exercise a ‘jewelry birthright’ – he chose a path of expertise, studying gemology, mineralogy, and enamelwork before establishing his company. Selim’s deep reverence for tradition and technique are evident through each piece he creates and his endless combinations of enamel, colored sapphires, rubies, spinels, emeralds, tanzanites, diamonds, pearls, and more.
The Pairing
F.P. Journe Chronometre Souverain Dubai Edition and Selim Mouzannar’s Sea Flowers necklace in pink gold and green enamel, set with extraordinary tanzanites
The Rationale
EP: “That necklace with a 44 carats tanzanite sitting on the head of the snake won 3 consecutive prizes… one of which was the Couture Award in Las Vegas. The multi-layers and subtle hues of the green enamel of this masterpiece was the perfect match to a super rare if not unique Journe.”
Photography: Troy Barmore