Could you elaborate on the process involved in creating Sabrina Guerrera's jewellery pieces by hand and the particular craftsmanship skills required?
It all starts with a spark of inspiration, an indefinable but defining feeling that fuels my creative passion and gives birth to ideas. It’s the joy of seeing a vision take shape in reality that drives me to create. The creative process then begins, with the first stage being to draw up a sketch, followed by creating a cardboard model to give life to the desired volume. I then refined this model using non-precious metals, enabling me to create my patterns and develop the flat design.
Once the concept is ready, I can finally move on to making the first prototype in the final material, usually silver. This process involves using traditional jewellery-making techniques such as tracing, sawing, filing, adjusting, soldering, grinding and polishing. Each of these steps requires a great deal of patience and perseverance because sometimes the path to the desired result can be long and full of pitfalls. Mastering these skills is essential for a jewellery designer because they guarantee the quality and authenticity of each piece.
As a designer, I also need to have solid technical know-how and be able to apply these skills with precision. Every gesture, every detail, is of crucial importance in the creation of a work of art. That's why patience, perseverance and know-how are essential qualities for success in this field. These skills are acquired through experience, practice and a constant commitment to the craft and art of jewellery making. They are the key to bringing my ideas to life and creating unique, timeless jewellery.
What drives Sabrina Guerrera's approach to creating contemporary, modern, original, authentic, and high-quality jewellery?
My passion for creating contemporary jewellery takes its roots in my childhood. From my earliest days, I was fascinated by the transformation of various materials and objects into unique pieces of jewellery. This fascination led me to study jewellery making, where I was able to deepen my interest in the aesthetic pursuit of form. Today, this passion continues to guide me towards the creation of innovative jewellery, imbued with unconventional shapes. Each piece I create is the result of an intense creative process, in which I strive to transcend the traditional boundaries of jewellery-making to offer my customers something unique and unexpected.
Ultimately, it is this passion and constant quest for innovation that fuels my approach to creating contemporary jewellery.
For me, creating a resonance with the women who wear my creations is a process that happens naturally. This connection is really strengthened when women try on my jewellery and discover their own unique style. When I take part in trade fairs, I'm lucky enough to be able to share these special moments with them.
It is here that we share exceptional moments, where I can truly understand their preferences and needs. This direct interaction is essential for me, as it fuels my creative process and inspires me to design pieces that resonate deeply with their identity and lifestyle. In short, it is this authentic connection with the women who wear my creations that motivates me and gives meaning to my work as a jewellery designer.
What draws you to working with 925 thousandths silver as your preferred material, and how do its qualities align with your creative vision?
The choice of 925 thousandths silver as the main material for all my creations is a thoughtful and significant decision. As a designer, I am deeply attracted by the characteristics of this material. For me, silver evokes white colour, purity, luminosity and modernity, which resonate perfectly with the minimalist and contemporary aesthetic I seek to express through my work.
This noble material also offers versatility and durability that match my high standards of quality and excellence. By choosing 925 silver, I ensure that each piece I create carries a timeless essence and subtle elegance that will captivate and inspire those who wear it. Ultimately, it's this union between the intrinsic beauty of silver and my artistic vision that makes this material my absolute preference in the jewellery-making process.
There are also the essential technical properties of silver: its malleability and ductility. Indeed, silver can be worked with ease, enabling the creation of pieces with varied and delicate shapes, guaranteeing an optimal end result.
Could you share insights into the sourcing of Sabrina Guerrera's raw materials from reputable European sellers and the importance of ensuring the legitimacy of each piece through legal hallmarks?
I am scrupulous about sourcing only from official and approved suppliers who adhere to the strictest European standards and regulations in terms of ethics and quality. These suppliers are carefully selected for their commitment to ethical practices throughout the supply chain, from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacture of final products. By sourcing from these partners, I can be sure that my designs are made with respect for workers' rights, the environment and the highest quality standards.
This approach guarantees not only the integrity of my jewellery but also my contribution to a more sustainable and ethical jewellery sector as a whole.
To enhance its mechanical properties, silver is alloyed with small amounts of copper. This is why 925 silver, also known as sterling silver, is the ideal choice for my creations. The 925 hallmark on each piece guarantees its quality, indicating that it is made from at least 92.5% pure silver.
Then there's the master hallmark, which guarantees that the jeweller has been approved by the guarantee office. And when my jewellery exceeds a certain legal weight, it also receives the hallmark inscribed by the State at the Bureau des Garanties in Paris.
How has your background in both the fashion industry and jewellery design influenced Sabrina Guerrera's unique perspective and unconventional approach to creating jewellery?
My experience in the fashion industry has always been an invaluable source of inspiration for my artistic vision. My career path has allowed me to develop my drawing skills, an essential faculty that has blossomed thanks to my explorations in the world of fashion.
For me, jewellery and fashion are inseparable, and this fusion has profoundly shaped my creativity. As a designer, I felt an irrepressible need to create jewellery that fully expresses my personal style, thinking outside the box. Each piece I design is an extension of my unique artistic vision, inspired by my love of bold and innovative aesthetics, and working as a model has also given me a unique perspective on the creative process.
The transition from 2D design to 3D realisation helped me to understand the crucial importance of structure and line in creating exceptional pieces. I've always been fascinated by this transition, where an abstract idea comes to life in a tangible and captivating form. It is in these moments of transformation that I find true artistic satisfaction, bringing my ideas to life and pushing the boundaries of creativity. For me, fashion and jewellery are not just professions, but passions that allow me to express myself and inspire others through my creations.
As a fashion designer, I create jewellery with an open mind, jewellery that doesn't necessarily look like traditional jewellery. My experience in the fashion industry has given me a unique eye for trends and styles, which I transpose with boldness and originality into my jewellery designs.
How does Sabrina Guerrera translate the search for lines and shapes into three-dimensional jewellery pieces, maintaining precision and aesthetic appeal?
In my creative process as a jewellery designer, translating lines and shapes into three-dimensional jewellery while retaining precision and aesthetic appeal is a crucial step.
To achieve this, I engage in a meticulous, iterative process that combines both my artistic vision and the technical constraints of jewellery-making, starting with a phase of in-depth research where I draw my inspiration from a variety of sources such as art, nature, architecture and contemporary trends. I look for lines and shapes that captivate the eye and evoke an emotion or a story. This research is fundamental to feeding my creativity and giving me a clear direction. This phase allows me to explore different variations and iterations, constantly adjusting proportions and details to achieve the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality.
When I'm satisfied with the initial design, I move on to the prototyping phase where I create small-scale physical models. This allows me to visualise the jewellery in three-dimensional space, identify any manufacturing problems and make any necessary adjustments.
How do you envision the future of Sabrina Guerrera's brand, and what aspirations do you have in terms of reaching and connecting with women who appreciate your pieces?
The future of my jewellery brand looks exciting and promising. My jewellery brand is shaped by an unwavering passion for artistic exploration and innovation. I am deeply committed to continuing to push the boundaries of creativity and artistic expression through my designs. My ambition is to continue to create pieces that capture the imagination and evoke emotion while maintaining the integrity of craftsmanship and technical precision that define my work.
When it comes to connecting with the women who appreciate my jewellery, I am guided by the desire to create a truly immersive and rewarding experience. I want every woman who comes into contact with my brand to feel transported to a world where beauty and creativity are celebrated in all their glory. To achieve this, I am committed to cultivating an authentic relationship with my customers, offering them not only exceptional pieces of jewellery but also a window into my creative process and a platform to express their own individuality and style.
My ultimate goal is to transcend the boundaries of art and fashion and create jewellery that is more than just an accessory, but an art object in its own right, evoking beauty and wonder with every glance.
