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Q1 Pease tell us your brief file and working career.
I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in illustration and the Metropolitan University of Manchester in England with a master's degree in Graphic Design. I began my career working for the likes of Esquire, GQ, and the New York Times. However, I have always been interested in metalsmithing.
Q2 What is the concept of your brand?
Modern handcrafted jewelry based on organic shapes that maximize the inherent beauty of the gems.
Q3 When do you usually get the inspiration for your works?
Inspiration comes mainly from nature. I love walking in the botanic garden and observing the shapes and colors of flowers. I often browse the selection at my gem dealer's to see which stones inspire me. Many of my pieces have a historic inspiration, everything from Victorian and Greek revival jewelry to Art Deco. |
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Q4 What do you feel important when you are working on your pieces?
Craftsmanship and engineering are very important to me but I don't want the pieces to look fussy, more like everything came together naturally. A storeowner called me after she received a shipment to tell me how much she liked the way a certain piece was built. I try to respect the stones I'm working with, to let the design enhance and project the inherent individual personalities of the gems.
Q5 Could you tell us the work you enjoyed so far?
I enjoy the entire design process; I carry a sketchbook everywhere. I will draw a design and then try to make it. The design evolves as it translates from a two-dimensional drawing to three-dimensional object. Sometimes it's frustrating if the translation isn't working out at first, but then there's the feeling of joy when the puzzle is solved. The craft aspect is also very enjoyable. I the excitement of watching something grow and approach completion. |
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Q11 What do you think about design industry in your country?
Design has for better or worse, become largely based on a magpie approach. It's rare to find work in any discipline—graphic design, music, fine art, architecture, web design—that expresses an individual's unique vision.
Q12 When is the most important time of your day?
I like to get up early when the house is still quiet and work peacefully. |
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Q13 Are there any places or countries you would like to visit?
I am looking forward to visiting India, Vietnam and Thailand.
Q14 What is your favorite cuisine? Could you tell us your favorite restaurants?
I really don't have a single favorite cuisine because I eat everything. Blue Hill at Stone Barns is an amazing restaurant, and we also love Franny's and Diner in Brooklyn.
Q15 Are there any places, things or people you find relaxing?
I meditate as part of my Buddhist practice, and actually sometimes when I'm working on a piece the repetitive filing and soldering can become its own relaxing meditative experience. Manual work frees up a different part of your brain, it seems.
Q16 Do you wish to buy something right now? Currently are you into something?
Right now it's all about de-acquisition. I really would like to get rid of a lot of my stuff. |
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Q21 Favorite word or phrase
Don't worry, it will be fine.
Q22 Favorite music
Everything But the Girl, the White Stripes, Spoon, Beck, and Seu Jorge are on my play list this week. |
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Q23 What is your goal? What do you want to achieve in your career?
I hope to grow my business over the next few years and open my own shop. Down the road, I want to start a lower-priced line and an apprenticeship program for students interested in jewelry design.
Q24 Could you tell us about your next collection? Any future plans?
I am working on new rings carved entirely of stone set with other faceted or smooth cabochons and stones cut in unexpected shapes, like rectangles. They're as big as brass knuckles.
Q25 Do you have any advice for the young?
Don't listen to people who tell you your idea is no good. Work it out and prove them wrong. Have the courage to believe in your own vision. |
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Russell Jones have been making jewelry off and on since he was a teenager. Jones learned fabrication and casting techniques at a young age from his high school art teacher. Jones still find it kind of incredible that he allowed 14- and 15- year olds to use torches. While studying Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, Jones spent a lot of time in the light metals department. Jones continue to design and make special jewelry as gifts for his wife and friends. His wife convinced him that I should offer his work for sale because of the many compliments she received on his jewelry.
Jones create unique pieces inspired by the natural forms of blossoms, berries, and weathered beach pebbles. Hand-selected stones from India, Sri Lanka, and South America are combined in unexpected and delightful compositions of size, color, and scale. The result is clean, modern pieces that move gracefully with the wearer's body.
Russell Jones's Spring and Fall Collections, have received tremendous attention from the press. Jones's work can be seen in ELLE Accessories, Lucky, InStyle, The New York Times and has been called in and photographed by Vogue, W, Bazaar, ELLE, French Vogue for future issues. Helen Mirren and Alicia Keyes were photographed wearing his pieces this summer. |
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Q6 What kind of materials is more appealing to you?
I love the warmth and malleability of gold. I have crushes on different stones at different times! Right now I love diamond beads from India. Smooth stones and cabochons are more appealing to me than faceted ones because they feel more sensual and modern.
Q7 Which celebrities are wearing?
Helen Mirren wears our ruby drop necklace, and Alicia Keys wore our bangles during her performance at Live Earth and to the MTV Video Music Awards.
Q8 What do you think about the current jewelry trend?
There has been tremendous interest lately in handmade, high quality pieces and there seems to be a wider appreciation of unique jewelry. I feel sure this climate will allow for individual artisans to flourish. It's very exciting.
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Q9 Why did you become designer?
I've always created special one-of-a-kind pieces in my spare time to give as gifts to family and friends. I guess I'm making my circle of friends bigger.
Q10 When you were a child, did you want to become a designer?
For sure. When I was 11 I took a class at a craft school in Maine where I first learned how to fabricate in silver. I made a really ugly ring but the process was fascinating and I was hooked. |
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Q17 Is there any event that are you going to this year?
We just saw Ian McKellan in King Lear at BAM, an amazing performance. It was a rare privilege to see one of Shakespeare's great tragedies performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Q18 Are there any people who inspired you? Who do you respect?
Constantin Brâncuşi was an artist not really a designer but his work is so beautiful spare and elegant. The work of Cartier from the 1920's is just astonishing, of course. Verdura, who designed all of Coco Chanel's jewels, though he was kind of excentric. He spent his entire inheritance on a giant party and was destitute the rest of his life. I also love Castellini, Italian firm designing in the 1800's, for their historically inspired revival jewelry that combines gold, stones, cameos, and mosaic work.
Q19 Favorite place
My home. |
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Q20 Do you read design magazines?
Yes. I especially enjoy looking at European magazines like l'Officiel. W Jewelry, Wallpaper, Surface, and Paper are favorites, too. I wish Nest was still around, that was an amazing magazine. Flair, which was only published for one year in the 1950's, is another one. |
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