The Asian influence on jewelry has been a big time winner on the international stage for decades. It’s more evident than ever before with mind-blowing designs popping up from this part of the world and making waves everywhere today.

In fact, these bejeweled creations seem to float or breathe only under the pledge of sanctity thanks to a group of highly talented jewelry designers who have given a whole new dimension to how a piece of jewelry is crafted and can evoke sentiments that will make one feel empowered.

It is proof that their unconventional design philosophy has only maximized the wow factor of their brands women openly prefer to wear and consider inspirational.

One such artisan working on this is Audrey Savransky, a Hong Kong-based jewelry designer whose alluring designs are in high demand from Saudi Arabia to Qatar and Beirut to Dubai.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, she talks us through her remarkable journey as a jewelry designer and what she wants her brand to be in the future.

Her love of designing jewelry into unique forms wasn’t plagued by a coincidence phenomenon. Speaking of which, it was already there in her blood since she hailed from Belgium (a country whose fascination with diamonds is famously unrivaled compared to that of any other nation on the planet) where her family had been in the diamond industry for four generations. “I grew up soaking in everything that came my way particularly related to this rich heritage of ours. I just felt intrigued by my craving for diamonds,” she says. “This intuition led me to closely experience women’s unceasing curiosity to sparkle and shine.”

From then on, harnessing the legacy and spirits of this family-owned empire became her major priority. “I really felt blessed to be able to continue what my family has been doing for centuries. It gives me immense joy and pride,” she points out.

Now that she had an absolute grasp of the industry in and out, she went on to successfully launch her own label starting with her name and lucky number entitled “AS29” in 2008. The debut collection was well-received and termed as quite fun and flirty. “I wanted to bring up something of my own as an alternative to what I call “diamond envy”. I’m very pleased that my products have touched women’s heart in such a way,” she expresses.

Even though Savransky often felt an urge to enroll at a design school to learn the artistic aspect of making jewelry, she abstained herself from such a thing because she felt there was no need for it. “My background was more sort of manufacturing jewelry than design itself. Yet, I knew instinctively how to design jewels with flair that would put me on the world map. And here I am,” she says.

Moving on to her extraordinarily edgy designs, there is one thing that she ensures no matter what; her jewelry pieces are premium in quality which women can independently buy, not with the help of their husband or partner. “My designs are aimed at allowing women to exercise their feminine wiles where they are their boss.”

Besides, they aren’t classical or bridal designs loaded with protocol but pieces one can wear on any occasion because, as she puts it soberly, “Women want something that they can wear and relate to every day in an unusual way. That’s why they lust for our 2 and 3 finger rings that run across their hand or our ear cuffs and phalanx rings.”

Asked whether she thinks of herself as the pioneer when it comes to interpreting jewelry into various scintillating forms, she replies, “I do sometimes but not sure I’m the first one who did it, everything has been done already in jewelry, it s just the way you interpret it today.”

While Savransky claims that she usually designs pieces she would wear herself, she knows how important designing for different markets she sells in is for her brand.

“Saudi women don’t have the same style as Hong Kongese or European girls … you need to know who is your audience demographically but always work toward keeping alive the same DNA of the brand you have created so that your collections are very recognizable,” explains Savransky.

The fact that celebrities endorsing a brand really make a difference in its identity can’t be underestimated. “Any celebrity wearing my designs is an honor for me,” she admits.

Since her brand sells well in the Middle East market, she wants to take it further head on by introducing new designs every season to Arab women who have got an amazing style and taste and never fall short of praising what is best. “It’s a very important region for me,” she says, “where women love to try different color combinations, such as rose gold and more pastel colors that match very well with their skin tones whereas their Western counterparts in the UK, France and New York might go for black diamonds and more dark “rock ‘n’ roll” pieces from my collections.”

It’s no wonder that Savransky’s personal style statement embodies her preference for dark colors because she is blessed with a fair skin type, but at the same time she believes there are always exceptions that can’t be ruled out.

Creativity floats endlessly in sync with inspiring ideas one stumbles upon in his or her life from numerous sources. And Savransky’s treasure box full of amazing thoughts comes from vintage jewelry collections, magazines, books and social media and so on. So she backs it up by saying, “One’s mind should always be looking for things that stir his or her consciousness to the next level as if it feels like something really nice is going on.”

While designing, she keeps an eye on putting in two quintessential things in her collections: comfort and prettiness. “That’s my design mantra to create contemporary and timeless pieces. That’s where you can’t compromise at all,” says Savransky.

This time too, her new collection entitled “Bamboo” is no different. It captures the same flamboyant spirits. For this, she was motivated by her trips to Asia and her fascination with the Bamboo plants. “I wanted to use green stones and emerald seemed to be my first choice,” she says.

With a name to be reckoned with wherever she moves now in order to extend her business and people noticing her beautiful work, it’s not long before we see Savransky open retail stores in different corners of the globe to meet the growing demands of her customers.

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