Interview with JAR

[boerumbiddy]

I am posting a link to the Financial Times interview with the jeweler JAR in this forum because of what he has to say about colored stones, toward the middle:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/63cae7d8-414f-11e3-9073-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2kwLH3PYc


Basically he says he goes for color (especially red, violet, pink and green), not size, and used to be able to pick up spinels, then known as "that fake stone," for $300 a carat, while they go for $15,000 a carat now.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

And we think Leon Mege is touchy.

He sounds like a delightful person when he is a good mood. But I do wonder at his bad moods, from how his clients react. But his jewelry is perfection.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Ap perfect lunchtime read thank you for posting. I can't wait to go!

 

[chrono]

And we think Leon Mege is touchy.

He sounds like a delightful person when he is a good mood. But I do wonder at his bad moods, from how his clients react. But his jewelry is perfection.

+1.

 

[T L]

Quote from article. "His favourite stones come in “red, violet, pink and green”, which, when he started, was a good thing because such coloured gems were not regarded as precious. “People used to call spinels ‘that fake stone’!” he laughs. “Thirty years ago I could get a great spinel for $300/carat; today they are $15,000/carat.”

Well, he doesn't use our sources. LOL!

 

[JewelFreak]

Yes, little bit of exaggeration there. His pieces are beautiful, but "the Faberge of our Time?" Not hardly, if you look at the engineering &incredible intricacy of Faberge works, and without our materials & methods; Faberge had to invent them himself. Not even the (old) Cartier of our times.

I like that he's so not into fame & all. Reading puff pieces like this, I understand why. Who cares if she ordered cottage cheese? Or that he likes peanut butter? It would be more interesting if she'd asked about how he does certain things.

--- Sourpuss

 

[T L]

Yes, little bit of exaggeration there. His pieces are beautiful, but "the Faberge of our Time?" Not hardly, if you look at the engineering &incredible intricacy of Faberge works, and without our materials & methods; Faberge had to invent them himself. Not even the (old) Cartier of our times.

I like that he's so not into fame & all. Reading puff pieces like this, I understand why. Who cares if she ordered cottage cheese? Or that he likes peanut butter? It would be more interesting if she'd asked about how he does certain things.

--- Sourpuss

Some of his pieces are drop dead gorgeous and some are meh. I didn't care for the earrings he did for Elizabeth Taylor. I find that Leon Mege might be a huge fan because I think he likes to emulate JAR by the designs he creates. They look similar.

 

[VapidLapid]

Yes, little bit of exaggeration there. His pieces are beautiful, but "the Faberge of our Time?" Not hardly, if you look at the engineering &incredible intricacy of Faberge works, and without our materials & methods; Faberge had to invent them himself. Not even the (old) Cartier of our times.

I like that he's so not into fame & all. Reading puff pieces like this, I understand why. Who cares if she ordered cottage cheese? Or that he likes peanut butter? It would be more interesting if she'd asked about how he does certain things.

--- Sourpuss

I really hate puff pieces too. The village voice did one on me once and while it was nice and favorable it was nearly all about my personal life and little about my work which is what it was ostensibly about, which left me uncomfortable and disappointed. That said I did like this one though there was nothing either new or really relevant to his work in it. I like his laissez faire idealism. Glad it works for him. Most artists who share that sensible sensibility go years between sales, significant though they may be, and remain mostly unknown in their lifetimes.

 

[sphenequeen]

I happen to agree that he is the "Faberge of our time." Much like Faberge, there is definitely a before JAR world of jewelry design and an after JAR world of jewelry design. The guy has had a huge impact on jewelry design since he began in 1978 - which is a very short amount of time indeed. I would love to hear what other great jewelry designer came from that particular period, or after for that matter. I don't love all of Faberge's work, but those that I do I admire for their innovativeness, their intricacies, and use of unusual materials. JAR has been known to work with materials such as titanium and aluminum and his pave work with gradients of mixed colored stones is unmatched. Much like Faberge, there are a handful of very high end designers that emulate his style (Carnet, Hemmerle, Bhagat, Arunashi, and Taffin to name a few). I bet that if you asked these designers who they have been influenced by they would not only attribute many of the elements of their style to JAR, but would be honored to be compared to his brilliance.

 

[canuk-gal]

Yes, little bit of exaggeration there. His pieces are beautiful, but "the Faberge of our Time?" Not hardly, if you look at the engineering &incredible intricacy of Faberge works, and without our materials & methods; Faberge had to invent them himself. Not even the (old) Cartier of our times.

I like that he's so not into fame & all. Reading puff pieces like this, I understand why. Who cares if she ordered cottage cheese? Or that he likes peanut butter? It would be more interesting if she'd asked about how he does certain things.

--- Sourpuss

I really hate puff pieces too. The village voice did one on me once and while it was nice and favorable it was nearly all about my personal life and little about my work which is what it was ostensibly about, which left me uncomfortable and disappointed. That said I did like this one though there was nothing either new or really relevant to his work in it. I like his laissez faire idealism. Glad it works for him. Most artists who share that sensible sensibility go years between sales, significant though they may be, and remain mostly unknown in their lifetimes.

HI:

With all the food references in the article, I thought you said puff pastry! Honestly, what was that all about?

I am sorry, however, I will not be able to attend the exhibit--I find his work breathtaking. For any who can, please supply a full report here!

cheers--Sharon

 

[ilovegemstones]

I liked reading about his Bronx beginnings. I craved peanut butter sandwiches so badly after reading that and even had one yesterday. It was just ok.

 

[minousbijoux]

It was fluff, but enjoyable. Sounds like a pretty charmed life.