The COUTURE Podcast

A former U.S. Olympian, Erica Molinari never would have guessed she’d one day be designing jewelry. Drawn to the technical aspect of jewelry fabrication, Erica also discovered that she loves the process of coming up with a concept, and making it work. We were thrilled to sit down with Erica to hear about her background as an athlete, how her training continues to fuel her approach to her business,...

As a fifth generation diamantaire, designer Jade Trau has an intrinsic understanding of diamonds that allows her to reinterpret classic styles with a unique and fresh perspective. It was a delight to sit down with Jade to hear about her life-long affiliation with diamonds, the ongoing joy she feels in being able to do what she loves for a living, and how grateful she is for the support she receive...

Designer Tariq Riaz initially embarked on jewelry design in an effort to solve a problem. The exercise resulted in a newfound obsession with jewelry design and fabrication that he knew he needed to explore, and with his wife's support, Tariq began to immerse himself in learning everything he could about the craft. With a background in engineering and robotics, Tariq's work evokes a form-...

While working in her previous career in advertising, Lauren Godfrey, the designer behind Harwell Godfrey, learned how to take an idea and turn it into a reality. Drawn to the tactile nature of jewelry design, Lauren also discovered that working with precious metals and gemstones was a profound way to connect with her spirituality. With a loyal following of collectors that includes some of the worl...

While working as a fine art photographer, Monica Rich Kosann became fascinated with seeking out vintage powder compacts, cigarette cases and lockets and turning them into keepsakes for her most beloved clients. The stories these heirlooms evoked resonated with her process of capturing the essence of her photography subjects in order to convey their unique stories. Over time, Monica’s fascination o...

King Baby Studio has long been a go-to jeweler for some of the biggest names in Rock n’ Roll (and for those who embody a Rock n’ Roll aesthetic!). We were thrilled to sit down with Ben Binder, Director of the brand and the son of its founder, Mitchell Binder, to learn about the brand’s commitment to authenticity, how the brand started and how it continues to evolve, and the important role that fam...

Fine jewelry house DAVIDOR creates pieces that evoke a sense of precision and sophistication. Its unique use of lacquered ceramic pays homage to ancient jewelry craftsmanship, and yet the brand’s ethos is actually a seamless blend of both tradition and innovation. We were thrilled to sit down with the brand’s founder, David Gusky, to discuss the years he spent developing the concept for the brand,...

Artist Paula Crevoshay is widely known as the “Queen of Color.” A painter from a very young age, Paula continues to “paint” with precious gemstones and metals, playing with refractive indices and the light of the earth itself. Tune in to our discussion with Paula where we discussed her approach to jewelry design, her supernatural ability to see color and her belief that the events of her life are...

Designer Jacquie Aiche is ever-cognizant of the powerful effects gemstones and minerals have on the human form, and her sensual, effortlessly chic silhouettes beg to be layered and stacked and worn as talismans of strength and protection. Tune in to our latest episode of the COUTURE Podcast to learn more about Jacquie’s journey, and to get some inside tips on what gemstones we all need to be weari...

We sat down with Marion Fasel, Jewelry Historian, Author, Curator and Founder of The Adventurine, to learn about her rise to prominence in the jewelry industry, to discuss her curated exhibit, "Beautiful Creatures," at New York City's American Museum of Natural History, and to hear more about her philosophy regarding jewelry and jewelry designer's relevance throughout history....

Designer Katherine Jetter first made her mark on the fine jewelry industry with the introduction of fresh, contemporary designs featuring opals from her native-country of Australia. She is now recognized for prolific collections that highlight a vast array of extraordinary gemstones sourced from across the globe, and with her multi-brand storefront and Atelier in Nantucket and Boston respectively,...

While he may still be waiting for a call from Beyonce, Fernando Jorge has been lauded by the media, he’s been awarded countless accolades, and he has been courted by some of the most highly coveted stores in the world. And yet, Fernando continues to be kind, humble and curious, and he remains committed to expressing his voice and representing the current spirit of our time through his jewelry desi...

Valerie Messika’s high-profile collaborations with Gigi Hadid and Kate Moss are illustrative of this designer’s distinctive ability to appeal to a devout audience of well-heeled and stylish women from across the globe. Born into the diamond trade, Valerie was surrounded by important diamonds from a very young age. In our latest episode of The COUTURE Podcast, Valerie shares with us her vision, her...

While it’s now instantly recognizable for its exquisite gemstone, enamel, diamond and high-karat gold jewelry, Buddha Mama had humble beginning at the kitchen table of its founder, Nancy Badia, who decided to string beads in order to raise money for her Buddhist center. In our most recent COUTURE podcast, Nancy and her daughter and co-designer, Dakota, share with us the gradual evolution of their...

For designer Stephen Webster, a normal routine is the absence of routine. He’s perpetually jet-setting across the globe to visit clients and make personal appearances, but when COVID hit, Stephen found himself grounded at home in England. We caught up with Stephen, remotely, to hear about some of his adventures in quarantine, and we also reflected on some of his past experiences, his drive to give...

Managing partner of Alex Sepkus, Jeff Feero, loves a challenge. Whether it’s finding a solution for a design dilemma, fixing up one of his many vintage cars, or establishing a complex agenda for one of his infamous, annual road trips, solving problems is his creative outlet. Several weeks into sheltering in place due to the pandemic, Jeff started think about how he could keep in touch with his loy...

The venerable design house, Oscar Heyman, has been continuously operating since 1912. Still family-owned, Oscar Heyman makes magnificent jewelry utilizing the finest gemstones sourced from around the globe and has designed for maisons such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. We spoke with Tom Heyman and learned about the collaborative process involved in making each of its exquisite designs, in...

With his proud Italian heritage, artist Mattia Cielo wants his brand to speak to a new generation of jewelry aficionados. His collection is his dream, and he wants to share his dream with the industry. Mattia is steadfast in his belief that fine jewelry is transcendent, that it represents unity and is symbolic of human resilience and strength. We were thrilled to talk to Mattia via Skype about his...

Fashion correspondent Lynn Yaeger is a well-known fixture within the global fashion scene. Touted as one of the industry’s most influential people, Lynn has long been the muse of several prominent fashion designers. Lynn is also a NYC institution. With her distinctive, iconic look, Lynn garners attention wherever she goes. We were so excited to speak with Lynn, remotely, to talk about her rise to...

Artist Bibi van der Velden considers herself first and foremost a sculptor. Her primary artistic medium informs her sublime jewelry designs in many ways, including her drive to create pieces that don't need a "body" to become something. A lifelong collector, Bibi's jewelry transcends the expected and often incorporates unique and unusual materials, giving her work a sense of ad...

As the implications of the COVID-19 situation became apparent, and we ultimately had to cancel our 2020 event, our resolve to keep this community connected, in whatever way we can, was only strengthened. While we’re definitely going to release our previously recorded episodes at some point, hopefully in the near future, we decided to move forward with capturing some voices remotely. We want to kno...

For the past 17 years Julez Bryant has been helping women feel empowered through her designs, her mentorship and her advocacy. Julez has faced and overcome a lot of adversity in her life and she's learned countless lessons along the way; looking at the challenges she faced as an opportunity to enrich her character. We were delighted to have a Skype conversation with Julez to discuss how she i...

Michelle Orman sits down with COUTURE Director, Gannon Brousseau, to discuss exactly why the world needs another podcast, and why they’re excited about highlighting the incredible COUTURE community.

The work of artist Victor Velyan is instantly recognizable. His proprietary patina process is utterly unique and distinctive and serves as a perfect canvas for the array of colored gemstones he incorporates into many of his designs. Victor also has a reputation of being a bit of a rockstar, and often makes sartorial choices that draw attention and invite comments and compliments. We were thrilled...

In the last few years, the name Spinelli Kilcollin has become synonymous with chic, contemporary, and sophisticated design. And while it might seem to those on the outside that the brand achieved overnight success, its founders, Yves Spinelli & Dwyer Kilcollin, had been working for years to try to convince stores to get behind their functionality meets design concept. We were delighted to sit...