Sunday, July 27, 2014

Meet the designer – the New York jewelry designer Alexandra Mor

I first heard about Alexandra Mor last year, when I found out that she was one of the 36 international jewelry designers selected by Gemfields - mining company and the world's leading supplier of colored gemstones, to produce one-off jewels using its emeralds, rubies and amethysts. Mila Kunis was then named the company’s newest ambassador and wore the jewels at movie premieres and award ceremonies throughout 2013. I fell in love with the emerald ring that Alexandra Mor created for the collection right away*.

I also remember how impressed I was when I first saw one of her photos. She is not only a very talented jewelry designer but a beautiful, confident and elegant woman. I read afterwards that she got the affinity and love for design since childhood, when her mother, a French dressmaker, tailored her clothes by hand, until she was in her teens.

The Alexandra Mor haute couture house of fine jewelry offers a signature collection of limited-edition and one-of-a-kind jewelry, as well as individual, made-to-order pieces.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the artist who likes to think of her pieces as “heirlooms in the making”!

Photo source: Alexandra Mor

1. What are the main differences between Alexandra before discovering the passion for jewelry design and Alexandra Mor we know today?

To compare the place I am in right now, versus my younger years, is truly no different to comparing the experiences, tastes and perspectives of an 18-year-old girl and those of a 40-year-old woman.

My brand and designs are reflections of my own journey-to-date, as a woman. There are constantly juxtapositions between the hard and soft; my love for history; maintaining the significance of old-world craftsmanship, whilst maintaining my pursuit to interpret contemporary aesthetics and technologies employed.

My first collection was made after I was invited to have a piece of mine included in the ‘Spring 2010’ lot with auction house Phillips de Pury. From there, the pieces developed into a very bold, geometric collection of work. 


Ever since the launch at Phillips, I have designed pieces that always aim to celebrate the wearer, but there is a softer direction for the new pieces I am adding to my Signature Collection this Fall. These are being made to celebrate the launch of my first retail location, the Alexandra Mor Salon, in Boston.

My personal experiences always find their way into my work, and will influence the choices I make during the design process. These upcoming additions to the Signature Collection will be softer, curvier and rounder in design.

The lines will be less severe and restricted, but will maintain feminine touches with a neo-futuristic edge – a little similar to the way I have been dressing this past Spring!


2. What piece of jewelry took you the longest time to create?

Within my Collection of one-of-a-kind jewels is a pair of Emerald and Diamond Drop Flower Earrings, which were worn in a recent editorial by the beautiful Brooke Shields. This pair of earrings took 17 months to craft, as I wanted to perfectly arrange the Diamonds that complement a pair of 53 carat Emerald stones, which were given to me by my father-in-law, master diamond cutter Abe Mor. There are 175 gradually colored Diamonds that drop down on these earrings, and almost look like a gradient with the Diamonds in White, Green, Yellow, Peach and Pink tones.


3. Which is the jewel you are the most proud of?

Whenever I design for either my Signature Collection, or a bespoke design for a collector, I always intend to encapsulate true meaning for the woman, or man, who wears an Alexandra Mor piece.

With regards to my collections-to-date, I sincerely hope that all my pieces bring out my best – both as a creative and an individual.
Emerald-Cut Yellow Honey Citrine & Diamond Ring: A 51.64 carat Emerald-cut intense honey yellow Citrine enhanced with Alexandra Mor’s signature details of 1mm‘floating’ Diamond melee and knife-edged wire. 0.95 carat total Diamond weight.Signed by artist. Crafted in the USA. Limited-Edition 1/25. Found on 1stdibs.com

4. Do you have a favorite gem?

Gemstones are like people. Each have a unique character and story, and so each can bring a different stimulus to the design process. I love real personalities, so I tend to love gemstones with quirk and character, too!

I do gravitate towards larger sized stones, and stones with perfect cuts. The overall symmetry and proportion of the gem I use, does play a big role in my work process. This will then influence the way I approach a stone, to then design into a piece, rather than exclusively selecting on the type of stone itself.

Diamonds, however, are a lot of fun to work with by themselves. With that said, when Diamonds surround any large center stone, they never take away from that stone, and only enhance the beauty of other surrounding stones from the Diamonds. It’s a win-win situation!

5. Which is the jewel in your private collection that you love the most?

A Rose Gold Watch that was inherited from my Grandmother. 

Photo credit: Alexandra Mor - private collection

6. What are the 3 principles that you learnt from your mother’s work and apply in your business?
  • Maintain an attention to detail.
  • Always dress to the nines! You never know who you’ll meet getting groceries.
  • Never visit anywhere empty-handed.


7. The woman wearing jewelry signed by Alexandra Mor is ... (in 5 words please).

My Collectors are authentic, empowered, nuanced and unapologetically bold.









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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Blue sapphire rings

Did you know that blue color is associated with freedom, intuition, imagination and inspiration? Blue also represents meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence and intelligence.

You can see both the sea and the sky in this color and it comforts you as you can find peace in it.

With this positive impact on our mind and body, how not to be in love with and wear blue gemstone jewelry? Especially when it’s about blue sapphire rings like these amazing ones:

Ceylon Sapphire Sugarloaf Cabochon Ring

Liens Ring by Chaumet

Natural Burma Sapphire Ring by David Morris
Large Topaz Citrine Sapphire Gold Cocktail Ring
Blue Sapphire, Diamonds and Blue Enamel Ring by Kathleen Dughi

Oval Diamond & Sapphire Ring by Alexandra Mor


Lapis and Sapphire Ring by Fernando Jorge

My favorite one is Alexandra Mor's ring and my second choice goes to the Cocktail ring. Which one is your pick?

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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Purple jewelry

Beautiful purple jewelry caught my attention this week. No matter if we’re talking about earrings, rings or bracelets, a violet touch is more than enough to obtain an amazing visual impact.

These exquisite pieces of jewelry are my picks at the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. Purple jewelry will be in high demand next year as violet tulip and radiant orchid are among the most prominent hues for spring 2014 in fashion, according to Pantone Color Institute.


Which is your favorite purple jewel?
BVLGARI Purple Earrings

Art Deco Amethyst and Enamel Pendant

Lacloche Freres. Art Deco chalcedony, sapphire, amethyst and diamond bracelet.

Gianni Lazzaro Earrings via Sabion
Emerald-Cut Rich Purple Amethyst & Diamond Ring, by Alexandra Mor

Amethyst Drop Earrings, by Jacob&Co

Magic Purple Bracelet, by Wellendorff 

Amethyst and tsavorite earrings, by Chopard

Victorian era 5.36 carat old cushion-cut diamond with amethyst border


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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Let there be GREEN

I said it before and I’m still staying it: I love GREEN in jewelry! It is elegant and sophisticated. It gives you a sense of distinction and there is no way to pass unnoticed if you wear green jewelry, especially to accessorize a black outfit.

I've decided to do an experiment a couple of days ago and search green jewelry on Pinterest. If you wonder what my picks were, here is my top:


De Grisogono mismatched earrings
Chopard Columbian emerald necklace - centrepiece of their Haute Joaillerie collection. 73 square and 830 round brilliant-cut white diamonds with 13 cascading pear-drop emeralds
Gemfields and Alexandra Mor 26.16ct elevated sugarloaf cabochon emerald ring

Gemfields’ bangle by Nam Cho - made with 23ct of Zambian emeralds in varying sizes of cabochon cuts for a dramatic and very tactile effect
I also liked this watch from Piaget because its green dial, of course. :) 

Piaget Altiplano 38mm Stone Dial with yellow gold case, malachite dial, manufacture Piaget 430P ultra-thin mechanical hand wound movement, and black alligator 


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