Memo

RUSSELL JONES

A true artisan, Russell Jones crafts every element of his jewelry by hand. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Russell pursued a successful career as an editorial illustrator and web designer in New York City before turning full-time to his true passion, jewelry design. In his work, Russell favors gemstones in their natural, untouched state, such as uniquely shaped pearls and raw tourmalines. He embeds them in clean, simple settings, which he sketches in elaborate renderings before beginning working with the materials. Russell counts historical jewelry as one of his influences and often incorporates playful elements from antique designs such as his signature mismatched “King and Queen” earrings. Russell currently splits his time between his studio in Hudson, New York, and teaching jewelry design and rendering at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

IN HIS WORDS

“I enjoy the physical challenge of making jewelry. Metal is hard, and stones are hard, but metal is malleable enough that you can bend it to your will. I really enjoy the coaxing together of these beautiful objects. It’s kind of astonishing that you can marry these materials together and make something more beautiful than they are separately. I love working at the bench, the making, and the problem solving. I also really like when something is completed—the feeling that I can’t believe I made that.”

WHAT WE LOVE

Russell Jones’ designs have a uniquely personal quality to them. With every element designed and forged by his own hand—from the clasps to the gemstone settings---his creations feel like they are custom-made for the wearer. He brings an artist’s eye to his selection of gemstones, cherry-picking specimens that catch his fancy. Stones in unusual shapes and extraordinary colors dominate his clean, spare designs. We think of his work as couture for the jewelry lover.

Jewelry

Designers

Russell Jones

Russell Jones