Simeï
Combining her technical precision and creativity, Simeï’s artistic sensibility shines through when designing engagement rings. Born in South Africa and educated at the prestigious Central St. Martins, Simeï is passionate about designs inspired by nature’s finest forms.
“I love examining nature to create miniature documentation through drawing and painting. It’s a form of meditation for me that flows from my subconscious through direct observation. Coming from a creative family, I’ve always been urged to follow a creative path in something I enjoy and can expand my skills & knowledge in.”
Simeï
Quickfire Q&A
What is your favourite gemstone?
My favourite gemstone is a bicolored sapphire. I love the range of tonality you can find in a sapphire, and the durability of the gemstone.
What is your favourite stone shape?
My favourite stone shape is the Asscher cut!
What is your favourite metal?
I love 18kt yellow gold.
How would you describe your design aesthetic in three words?
Vintage, eclectic, ornate.
Sources Of Inspiration
Daniella Villegas | The Whimsical
Daniella Villegas is a Los Angeles based jewellery designer, creating one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by nature’s nuances. Her use of organic inspiration such as beetles, porcupine quills, pebbles and wood mixed with precious and semi precious stones showcases her playful style.
Villegas said “I’ve always been inspired by nature. It’s where I go to reconnect with the world, to be at peace–it makes me happy.” I definitely share Villegas’s view with passion. I love waking up in the morning to view the sunrise over the river from my balcony”. – Simeï
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Silvia Furmanovich | The Organic
Silvia Furmanovich is a Brazilian jewellery designer who uses organic materials in her work. Nature is her greatest inspiration, all her materials come from the earth. Silvia specialises in wood marquetry, adding a unique, earthy element to her jewellery.
“Silvia comes from a costume jewellery and aromatherapy background, linking the botanical elements I am familiar with, with an aromatherapy influence. “The Amazon forest is such a powerful place,” she said. “We have the colours, the flowers, the birds: a diversity in nature that is unparalleled. It’s great to be able to show the best of our country in terms of nature, materials and craft.” – Simeï
The European Renaissance Period
With a passion for detail, Simeï’s favourite design period is the European Renaissance dating from 1450 to 1650. The time period was known for great innovations in philosophy, science and, of course, art. The fashion of the time amongst upper classes and nobility was known for its intricacy and opulence. Women and men alike tended to lean towards extravagance, with clothes and jewellery being a symbol of wealth–some say it was the birth of “power dressing”.
“I love this era because the approach and intention of jewellery in this period was so different to how people wear jewellery today. Jewellery was whimsical and ornate–with a lot of detail and flamboyance. I wrote my dissertation on jewellery in Henry VII’s era. It was so interesting to me that men used to wear so much jewellery, unlike today!”
During the Renaissance period, I feel that the way people wore jewellery was quite gender fluid. We live in an era where people want ease and simplicity, but somewhere along the way I believe that we lost a sense of self expression. Back in the 1500s and 1600s, families bought jewellery to be passed down for generations–it should last multiple lifetimes. It was about quality and art.” – Simeï
Simeï’s favourite ring
Every ring we craft tells a story. Each of our incredibly talented design consultants are tasked with weaving this story into a fully-realised design, subtly imparting their flair and skill along the way. While each ring is designed with the utmost care and thought, our design consultants do have their favourites. Simeï’s favourite design was a round emerald with a diamond floral halo, set in warm 18 carat yellow gold.
“Working on this customer’s ring was an absolute joy. We had enough time to focus on all the details and view emerald options to choose the most suitable centre stone for his vision. Personally I love working on bespoke designs with a botanical element and the customer wasn’t afraid to go bold.We wanted to incorporate some more diamonds to add sparkle, without being over the top so every other petal features a diamond . It turned out beautifully. Yellow gold and emerald green is such a luxurious colour combination and gives a true reflection of the beauty of natural elements” – Simeï
As an artist, Simeï takes careful consideration with every idea presented to her. Her flamboyance with detail and appreciation of the natural world is sure to be reflected in every design, especially if you’re looking for a bolder, expressive design. With an extensive knowledge of jewellery design, you’ll be safe in Simeï’s hands.