I
n what we’re internally referencing as the “three questions” series, we’ve had the unique opportunity to delve deeper into the motivations and inspirations of the spectacular COUTURE brands who will be showcasing their work in Coconut Grove this fall. While we’re obviously only scratching the surface of their unique stories, and attendees of COUTURE Coconut Grove this November can learn even more about the designers directly from the source, with just three questions, we’ve been able to get a glimpse into what makes these artists tick. In the first edition, “The Muse Behind the Masterpiece,” we focused on those brands who are driven by the people who will ultimately connect and fall in love with their work.
Header image features Sylva & Cie.
Though the brands featured in the second edition undoubtedly delight in witnessing their work connect with collectors and seeing a piece find its rightful home, they describe the process of bringing their ideas to life as their biggest joy.
Selim Mouzannar
Image courtesy of LALAoUNIS
Though the brands featured in the second edition undoubtedly delight in witnessing their work connect with collectors and seeing a piece find its rightful home, they describe the process of bringing their ideas to life as their biggest joy. In the case of Sylva Yepremian, founder of Sylva & Cie., the process of creation is so enjoyable she tells us, “I’ve never thought of what I do as work.”
Image courtesy of Alexander Laut
Alexander Laut:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Alexander Laut: Rare, Artistic, Exceptional.
Image courtesy of Alexander Laut
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
AL: Watching an extraordinary gemstone become a finished piece of art. Every design begins with a gemstone that captures my imagination. I fall in love with the stone first, and almost immediately I know what it wants to become. The creative journey, from discovering a rare gem to seeing it transformed into a one-of-a-kind jewel, continues to inspire me every day. I also love knowing that each piece finds the one person it was always meant for.
Image courtesy of Alexander Laut
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
AL: Rare natural gemstones. Gemstones are always my starting point, especially exceptional sapphires, rubies, spinels, rare tourmalines, colored diamonds, and other collectible stones.
Image courtesy of Ascher
Ascher:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Shouq Al-Fulaij: Architectural. Sculptural. Timeless.
Image courtesy of Ascher
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
SAF: My favorite part is seeing an idea come to life and then seeing someone wear it and make it their own. There’s something very special about creating pieces that become part of someone’s personal story.
Image courtesy of Ascher
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
SAF: 18K yellow gold. I love its warmth and how beautifully it works with sculptural forms, diamonds, and different textures. My personal favorite is our Bubble Collection. It really captures the playful yet sculptural side of Ascher and has become such a special part of the brand for me.
Image courtesy of Harwell Godfrey
Harwell Godfrey:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Lauren Godfrey: Maximalist. Conceptual. Joyful.
Image courtesy of Harwell Godfrey
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
LG: I love being involved in every stage of bringing an idea to life. From the first sketch to choosing the stones, refining every little detail, and seeing the finished piece, I get to watch something that began in my imagination become part of someone’s story. There’s something magical about creating future heirlooms.
Image courtesy of Harwell Godfrey
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
LG: Gold, without question. It has an incredible history and permanence, but it’s also endlessly versatile. Whether it’s highly polished, sandblasted, engraved, or set with gemstones, it always feels warm, alive, and precious. I never get tired of discovering new ways to work with it.
Image courtesy of Hueb
Hueb:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Deepka Mehta: Passionate. Vibrant. Unconventional.
Image courtesy of Hueb
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
DM: I love the process of turning inspiration into something tangible. So much of what inspires me comes from the world around us: the colors, places, cultures and the little details we often overlook. Bringing these inspirations to life through gold, diamonds and gemstones, and seeing them come together in a piece of jewelry, is what I enjoy most. For me, every piece begins with an idea, an emotion, or a story waiting to be told
Image courtesy of Hueb
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
DM: I love working with colored stones and diamonds. The combination reminds me of the Brazilian Carnival, the vibrant colors, the sparkle and the sheer joy of it all. I love experimenting with gemstones, exploring unexpected color combinations and seeing how they come together with the brilliance of diamonds and the warmth of gold. For me, jewelry should have life, character and a story behind it. Color is one of the most beautiful ways to express that.
Image courtesy of Karina Choudhrie
Karina Choudhrie:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Karina Choudhrie: Natural. Vibrant. Timeless legacy.
Image courtesy of Karina Choudhrie
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
KC: I’m an artist at heart — I’ve loved creating since I was a child, whether that’s art, music, or jewelry. What I love most is the storytelling. I source inspiration daily, and sometimes an entire collection comes to me after traveling somewhere that moves me, hearing a new piece of music, or discovering a bit of history I can’t stop thinking about. Jewelry is an incredibly impactful medium to work in — you get to turn a feeling into something someone wears close to them every day.
Image courtesy of Karina Choudhrie
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
KC: Honestly, it’s less about one material and more about the freedom to mix them. Our mother earth inspires me, and I find real joy and peace working with gemstones of every kind. I’ve never liked the idea that some stones are “lesser” than others. If I want chrysocolla next to diamonds, or amethyst next to emeralds, I will. Every stone has its own beauty from within, and that’s what I’m always trying to bring out.
Image courtesy of LALAoUNIS
LALAoUNIS:
COUTURE: Can you describe your brand DNA?
Maria Lalaouni: LALAoUNIS is an inspirational, heritage brand creating unique gold jewelry steeped in history. “Every piece of jewelry has a story to tell…”
Image courtesy of LALAoUNIS
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
ML: It is an endless outlet for one’s creativity expressed in a myriad of ways.
Image courtesy of LALAoUNIS
C: Favorite material to work with?
ML: 18k Yellow gold.
Image courtesy of Selim Mouzannar
Selim Mouzannar:
COUTURE: What 3 words describe your DNA?
Selim Mouzannar: Colorful, savoir-faire and heritage.
Image courtesy of Selim Mouzannar
C: What is your favorite part of being a jewelry designer?
SM: It’s the magic of giving shape to an emotion. Capturing a moment, a memory or a feeling and turning it Ito something tangible.
Image courtesy of Selim Mouzannar
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
SM: Nothing carries soul, light, and stories quite like the gifts of the earth.
Image courtesy of Sylva & Cie.
Sylva & Cie.:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Sylva Yepremian: Vintage Inspired. Artisanal. Timeless.
Image courtesy of Sylva & Cie.
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
SY: I’ve never thought of what I do as work. I love the process of creating beautiful things, bringing ideas to life, and ultimately sharing them with the world. What inspires me most is the connection between the creator and the person who wears or experiences the work. It’s about making something that resonates on an emotional level—pieces that become part of someone’s story as well as bringing beauty and joy to their lives.
Image courtesy of Sylva & Cie.
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
SY: I love old vintage reclaimed stones that have a history and a story.
Image courtesy of Terzihan
Terzihan:
COUTURE: What three words describe your brand DNA?
Cem Terzihan: Mediterranean. Architectural. Timeless.
Image courtesy of Terzihan
C: What is your favorite part about being a jewelry designer?
CT: Watching an idea become an object that will outlive us. Every piece begins as a sketch, passes through the hands of our craftsmen, and eventually becomes part of someone else’s story. That journey from imagination to heirloom is what makes jewelry unlike any other discipline.
Image courtesy of Terzihan
C: What is your favorite material to work with?
CT: Rose Gold. We see rose gold as a material rather than a metal—one that reflects Mediterranean light, records the marks of craftsmanship, and becomes more personal over time.
