Romancing the stones: new Irish jewellery collection

Chalcedony, lapis lazuli, turquoise, rose quartz, lime jade, lavender amethyst, onyx, gold stone, blue lace agate – the names of semi-precious stones roll off the tongue like a mysterious incantation from some ancient ritual.

I am in Juvi's Dublin studio where the designers, husband and wife duo Vincent Tynan and Julie Danz, ply their jewellery trade using hand- and laser-cut gemstones from all over the world.

These hang in glittering colour-coded ropes and coils around the walls as the pair explain their provenance and their use in the Juvi collections known for their affordable look of luxury.

Danz's design approach was nurtured in New York where she worked with a leading interior designer. Tynan, a silversmith originally from Dundalk, is a keen diver and both he and his wife love travelling, their adventures informing themes for each collection.

"Each piece is a story brought home," says Tynan, citing travels to Antibes, Sicily and to Mexico where the Coco Pod collection proved one of their most successful. The Shooting Star collection was inspired by a visit to Ballinskelligs in Kerry, one of the best sites in Ireland for stargazing.

Their latest line-up, the Coral Collection, is based on the rich banks of coral they encountered in the Philippines Islands last Easter.

Those shapes form everything from earrings and rings to bracelets and necklaces, some set with gemstones that include moonstone, iolite and aqua chalcedony paired with 18ct-gold vermeil, sterling silver and for the first time, rose gold vermeil.

The centrepiece of many items – rings and pendants – are these beautiful stones, but there is a mix of bold and chunky shapes with more delicate pieces at prices from €35-€119 attracting customers of all ages and with many repeat buyers. The business, which was founded in 2007, was rebranded three years ago and now has some 30 stockists in Ireland, the biggest outlets being their Irish Jewellery Collective in Arnotts and House of Fraser.

Growth is also steady online. Service, they say, means a lot; ring buyers , for example, get a free ring-sizing chart and there is no charge for replating. The design process is all done inhouse with stone setting and plating carried out in their workshop which employs five people. Though proud of being Irish, they see Juvi more as a European brand and have set their sights on further expansion.

The best-seller last year was green onyx and since fashion often determines the colour and type of stones used, the current vogue for pink means that this year rose quartz is having a moment.

juvidesigns.com

The Coral Collection is in Arnotts, House of Fraser, Weirs, Kilkenny, Avoca and independent retailers.

Photograpy Alex Hutchinson, Model Tereza Holanova (New Icon Models Mexico City), Styling Courtney Smith, Make-up Nicki Buglewicz using Wet'n'Wild cosmetics, Hair by Esperanza Avila. Shot on location at the Papaya Playa Project.