The Canadian diamond brand, Canadamark, has partnered with jewelry design showroom, Muse, to present a collection of jewels created in collaboration with four acclaimed jewelry designers. The project is named, “4x4,” and it presents the works of Mark Davis, Nikos Koulis, Silvia Furmanovich and Vram. Each designer crafted four jewels using Canadamark diamonds.
The collection of 16 jewels will be unveiled at the Couture Show, the luxury jewelry industry tradeshow, which runs till June 3 at the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Resort.
Canadamark is owned by Dominion Diamond Mines, a Canadian diamond mining company with ownership interest in two mines (Ekati and Diavik) in Canada’s Northwest Territories, approximately 125 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The origin of all the diamonds with the Canadamark hallmark is traceable from those two mines, which Dominion says operates in a sustainable manner.
Muse, a New York jewelry showroom that represents emerging and established talent, was founded by Jennifer Shanker.
Each of the designers created pieces with the diamonds that adhere to their unique esthetic and design philosophy. For example, Mark Davis is known for working with Bakelite, an early plastic used for practical and decorative purposes, and combining it with rare woods, gemstones, gold and platinum. For the collaboration, he used bakelite with Canadamark diamonds to create pieces with captivating colors and sensual shapes.
Nikos Koulis, who quickly became an international favorite with designs that mix Art Deco and modern geometry, evolved his celebrated Oui collection, which received the Couture Design Award for two consecutive years, using cushion-cut Canadamark diamonds intertwined with black enamel for jewels with an Art Deco structure and feel.
Silvia Furmanovich, another international sensation, is widely regarded as one of the most visionary jewelry designers working today for her colorful, decorative creations. For her Canadamark collection, she drew inspiration from a Japanese maple leaf found on an obi—the sash worn with traditional kimonos—from the Meiji period. The motif is expressed with sculpted Japanese maple wood, 18k gold and Canadamark diamonds.
Vram, led by Vram Minassian, is known for sculptural forms with highly intricate pavé settings, and jewels that produce movement with light. For his collaboration with Canadamark, he used the diamonds in his signature pavé setting and paired them with highly polished yellow gold in sensual, contemporary shapes.
In addition to the 4x4 collaboration, Canadamark is partnering with Muse on its new “Have a Heart” charm program debuting at Couture. Fourteen designers (Bea Bongiasca, Buddha Mama, GuitaM, Luis Morais, Maria Canale, Mark Davis, Marla Aaron, Michelle Fantaci, Nancy Newberg, Nikos Koulis, Silvia Furmanovich, Stephanie Windsor Antiques, Sylva & Cie and Ten Thousand Things) have created approximately 25 charms in gold using Canadamark diamonds.
Sixteen charms will also be made in platinum with Canadamark diamonds and showcased in partnership with the Platinum Guild at Couture. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Have A Heart charms will benefit charity.
In addition, Muse is working with three philanthropic fine jewelry ambassadors and their preferred charities—Lizzie Tisch for City Meals on Wheels, Lori Hirshleifer for Project ALS and Sukey Novogratz for Joyful Heart Foundation—to each create their own custom Have A Heart charm necklaces, as well as co-host trunk shows to help raise funds for these organizations.
