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As our world becomes increasingly digitized, chances to connect with mother nature seem ever more fleeting, and therefore ever more precious. So it makes sense that nature-inspired luxury jewels are now in demand. After all, this is an industry that has built its wealth and prestige on glittering natural treasures.
Flora and fauna continue to be a creative source, with jewelers seeking to capture the beauty of a petal or the power of a living creature. Whether softly painted in enamels or sparkling with gemstones, these odes to the natural world — when executed well — never fail to delight.
To incorporate the earth’s bounty, some designers are relaxing their views on what kinds of materials are luxury-worthy. For example, wood — polished or fossilized — has become a welcome accompaniment to gold and diamonds. It also makes a keen statement on what we ought to hold dear.
Provocative jeweler Silvia Furmanovich pushes the envelope further with her Amazonia Bamboo collection, which uses thin strips of bamboo woven together in a Japanese technique. She chose the material for its renewable, eco-positive credentials, as it grows swiftly from seed to full height in less than three months. The jeweler is also partnering with Instituto Jatobás — which is working to increase Brazil’s bamboo production — to share weaving skills with the project’s craftspeople.
