This week we are so excited to be hosting Master Jeweler Ray Griffiths. I ran into Ray during market week in New York and we made a connection through my dear friend Faye Cannon, the former owner of Saint Germain in New Orleans who represented Ray in her store. I worked for Faye while I was studying for the Louisiana Bar right after graduation and she was the first person who taught me more about hard work and responsibility (how did I get through college and law school without this knowledge? Good question!) I probably took her advice to heart because I also admired her aesthetic sense - Faye has amazing taste and is one of the chicest, most stylish women I know. As the years went by, I would visit and shop and always admired Ray's work.
Ray Griffiths, originally from Australia, has spent over forty years making enduring fine jewelry. A love of gemstones and jewels from an early age led Ray to study restoration under master jewelers whilst still a teenager, and he then went on to obtain degrees in Gemology and Diamond Technology. A very successful career as partner and head designer for Sydney's premier jewelry store in the 80s and 90s followed until he moved to New York.
Each Ray Griffiths piece speaks of his life’s adventures and the passion that fuels his story. Inspirations from the past include the Edwardian and Regency eras, Spanish Moors, and Roman Greco. These coupled with a love for mid century architecture drive the designs in his collection. Jewelry lovers and collectors appreciate the special pieces Griffiths creates, but ultimately it’s his enduring love for the craft of making fabulous jewelry that keep his fans coming back for more.
The New York Times “Styles” section raved, “I was stunned by the work of Ray Griffiths, an Australian designer trained in the dying art of designing and repairing crowns for royalty. His bracelets are jaw-dropping…”
Ray is also passionate about gemstones and is drawn to stones that are individual and interesting, through his design of the jewelry he strives to enhance the natural beauty of the stones he uses.
Ray Griffiths will be at Sotre May 8 , 12-7pm and May 9, 10-5pm.