Wednesday, November 3, 2010

SOLEDAD LOWE

It is said that the city of Gamla Stan, located on the island of Stadsholmen in Sweden, is one of the “best preserved medieval” cities in Europe.

The ominous architecture of cathedrals, cobbled streets and alleyways date back to the 1600s. Sweden is also the ancestral home of featured jewelry designer Soledad Lowe.


Of Argentinean and Swedish descent, Lowe’s jewelry makes for an interesting mix of styles.

There is the understated quality of Scandinavian aesthetics blended with the more flamboyant yet subtler version of Latin jewelry.

Her Sterling Inspiration Collection, for instance, highlights clean lines, fluid form, and hammered textures. The Oyster items from this collection, which consist of sterling silver lariat necklaces, silver pendants, and freshwater pearls evoke seafaring images of coral reefs.

Alternately Lowe’s Travels Collection boasts striking outlines of 18-karat gold accented with the bold colors of rose and cherry quartz, citrine, peridot, and amethyst. The Jacaranda designs feature bumps, ridges and wave patterns that befit the well coifed jet setter beauty who is on her way to yet another exotic locale.


The sophisticated renderings of gold cuff bracelets, gold hoop earrings and gold pendants are elegant enough to solidly accentuate the wearer while items like Lowe’s repousee Shiva Pendant Necklace is dramatic enough to be quietly statement-making.

“Much of my inspiration comes from Scandinavian architectural patterns. I love to combine simple yet compelling designs. I am the daughter of a lapidary artist and sculptor so gemstones are a very important element of my collections,” says the New York-based designer.

In an older post, I had pondered on whether a jewelry artist found cultivating streamlined designer jewelry more of a challenge as it seems to require calculated restraint as opposed to a more unbridled approach to intricate designs.

I also stated in another post that in my opinion the striking elegance of this style of jewelry lies in the arrangement of materials. Lowe’s exquisite 18-karat yellow gold Jacaranda Lariat Necklace, for example, is a testament to this highlighting a single, elongated quartz stone that is suspended from a fine gold chain.


Lariat necklaces are so feminine and beautiful to begin with in the way they lay and drape against the body; and for me in the case of Lowe’s creations the more simplistic the more beautiful.
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Photo 1 (top right): 18-Karat Yellow Gold and Quartz Jacaranda Lariat Necklace
Photo 2 (center): Sterling Silver Alien Pendant with Sculpted Amethyst
Photo 3 (bottom left): 18-Karat Yellow Gold Jacaranda Cuff Bracelet with Citrine and Peridots

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