A Peek Inside Lorinczi Jewelry Sketchbook #LoveGold

Stacey Lorinczi started designing jewelry at a very young age, with the years of experience working with gold, her designs are on a level of incredible craftsmanship. Her artistry extends to sketching, which goes hand-in-hand with her jewelry design. She brings along her sketchbook wherever she travels, finding inspiration all around her. Gem Gossip got an exclusive peek into her drawings, along with the gold jewelry that she creates in her San Francisco studio. Her layered answer is illustrated below to the big question,

How do you incorporate gold into your designs and why do you enjoy working with gold?

I can easily say that gold is my absolute favorite metal to work with. I recall when I was a teenager, and first started to seriously devote myself to jewelry making, I had little interest in gold—sterling silver was the only metal I would wear. In contrast, my mother was a devotee of yellow gold jewelry, and would rarely purchase anything silver. When I would debate this with her, she’d always insist, “just wait… when you’re grown-up, you’ll see, you’ll love gold as much as I do. Far more, in fact, than you will silver.” I was doubtful, but sure enough she was right. Now that I’m an adult, I find myself profoundly attracted to the qualities of gold. I have come to believe that it’s a metal for when you’ve fully matured as a woman. There’s something so sensual and alluring about the color, whether it’s the gleaming pale lemon of a lower karat gold, the blushing pink glow from a rose gold, or the deep, rich luminosity of an almost pure 22-karat. My personal favorite, the color of 22-karat gold is inimitable; it has a color so rich, so complex, I feel like it practically warms the body on contact.

As for how I incorporate gold into my designs, that’s easy– particularly because antiques and ancient relics continually inspire me.  I believe that a solid grounding in a historical era lends depth and gravitas to anyone’s work. I love to spend time in museums; wandering aimlessly into any exhibit hall will spark my creativity, and I find myself sketching the most random objects.  It’s amazing how inspiring old artifacts can be, whether it’s jewelry, the buckle on a pair of 18^th century satin slippers, or the hilt of a Japanese sword.  Here are some engagement rings I’ve created that are inspired by Etruscan artifacts.  

Above photos:

• Stacey at her jewelers’ bench
• A bracelet Stacey made (here pictured in wax form) that was inspired by coral formations.  The sketches were inspired by biological cell structures.
• The captivating, interlocking gold bangles and glamorous choker below are from the Fetish Collection, a playfully sexy interpretation of dominatrix paraphernalia, along with inspirational sketches.
• Some of her rings she’s designed.  Stacey says, “Usually when working with yellow gold, I prefer a rustic approach, roughing up the metal or brushing it with steel to take down the shine.  I adore matte yellow gold; I find that it brings out the beauty of the metal, and provides a deep, rich background against which gemstones seem to sparkle brightest.”
• “Gold is so versatile; it can be used in both very fine jewelry and also in more casual pieces.”  This photo shows pieces in progress, from the Black Cherry Collection.  Each leaf is designed in yellow gold and the sketches are of antique hair combs.
• This ring is 22-karat yellow gold; the bezel is a contrasting white, gypsy-set with an oval diamond.
• A beautiful compilation of Lorinczi jewelry!
• This substantial ring I called “Taj Ring.”  Inspired by an epic trip to India, it features 22-karat yellow gold inlaid with a multi-hued assortment of pink tourmalines, amethysts, rubies and pink sapphires, delicately “spider-set” in a mosaic pattern.
• Here is a sketch made at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  These artifacts inspired rings (here pictured in wax form) whose surface is reminiscent of snakeskin.
• Stacey is bewitched by the jewelry and architecture of the Art Nouveau, Edwardian and Art Deco eras.  She says, “Rather than trying to perfectly mimic the authenticity of those eras, I try to inflect contemporary pieces with historical nuances.  I might take a classic Art Deco silhouette and make it more muscular and chunky, or transform a delicate Edwardian design into something edgier by including black diamonds.”

This post was brought to you in collaboration with LoveGold