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Jennie Kwon Shows Her Softer Side
The jewelry designer discusses how she’s transitioned her aesthetic without losing the design signature that put her on the map.
Jewelry designer Jennie Kwon discusses how she’s transitioned her aesthetic without losing the design signature that put her on the map.
Los Angeles--Jennie Kwon is in the mood for pastels; specifically, Ceylon blue sapphires, morganite, opals and green sapphires, all light-hued stones that bring to mind the serenity of a Monet painting.
“This past season we were drawn toward watercolor, painterly tones in our stones and that’s really what inspired the design,” said Kwon.
With her latest collection, Kwon has transcended the conundrum designers face after solidly establishing themselves in the industry: how to evolve artistically without losing their hard-earned customer.
“I was kind of pigeonholed as being a more minimalistic jewelry designer with a slight edge, so most of my pieces were kind of streamlined and we used a lot of black and white stones--black diamonds, white diamonds, onyx--and that’s what we were known for,” explained Kwon, “but the jewelry is basically a reflection of each of the seasons of my life and I just found myself drawn to softer tones and a little bit more romantic lines and designs.”
Kwon seems to find success in everything she touches; the Californian was a violinist then corporate lawyer and turned to jewelry design after becoming a mother.
“I felt my sense of aesthetic softening a bit,” she said.
Kwon’s bridal collection, launched last year, was a precursor to her softer sensibility. The range features romantic rose-cut diamonds, straying from the starker colors Kwon used in previous main-line collections.
The latest sorbet-colored offerings manage to stay on-brand through Kwon’s signature delicate scale, which encourages customers to layer.
“I’m drawn toward color but on a more manageable, dainty scale so it’s not so in-your-face,” she said. “It’s not a statement cocktail ring.”
Kwon said the response to her new designs has been positive, perhaps denoting a customer base that is evolving with her.
Ultimately, the designer still wants to create the same type of fine jewelry for customers she started out designing, which she describes as, “something that makes [customers] feel unique when they wear it but on an everyday, wearable scale, so it’s precious and it’s meaningful without being untouchable.”
The spring summer collection retails from $295 to $2,266 and is available at select retailers and JennieKwonDesigns.com.
14-karat yellow gold ring with morganite, opals and white diamonds, $750
14-karat yellow gold ring with opals and white diamonds, $890
14-karat yellow gold earrings with opals and white diamonds, $385
14-karat yellow gold earrings with white diamonds and opals, $295
14-karat yellow gold necklace with white diamonds and opals, $530
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