In Conversation With Fawaz Gruosi on de GRISOGONO's 25th Anniversary
“One of the highlights till date (in this 25 year long journey) has definitely been the acquisition, design and auction of the Creation I high jewellery piece.'
Fawaz Gruosi, founder and creative director of de GRISOGONO likes to acknowledge a huge role of luck along with passion and dedication behind the meteoric birth and rise of the brand in the last 25 years. A journey that began cleaning counters at a jewellery store in Florida led him to climb his way up to being the top salesperson in the store to working for the most renowned jewellery brands around the world.
“The desire to unleash my creative ideas and design my own jewels became stronger and stronger, until I was finally able to establish de GRISOGONO in 1993 with two partners and subsequently take sole control of the company two years later”, says Fawaz. His vision and the ability to take risks have been criticised but his relentless drive and the creative possibilities with gemstones that are otherwise disregarded by rigid industry standards perhaps made the brand what it is today. The world celebrates with de GRISOGONO on their 25th anniversary this year. “We have written new rules, upended conventions and invented a style so distinctive that a de GRISOGONO creation is unlike any other”, he adds. To mark this momentous occasion, the brand has launched the Allegra Glow line consisting a jewellery watch, ring, and a leather bracelet, all carrying the collection’s signature interlacing gold bands and available in different colour and gemstone combinations.
“Launched in 2003 as de GRISOGONO’s first fine jewelry collection and named after my eldest daughter, Allegra symbolizes life -joyful, free-spirited and bold”, he adds with pride. As a special tribute to this jubilee, the Allegra Glow timepiece has been engraved with a stylized figure 25. Inspiration comes to him from everything around him–the shape of an everyday object, the colour of a flower in his garden, a painting that he sees in an art gallery, or the way light reflects off a woman’s hair. “One of the latest watch collections, New Retro, was inspired by the rectangular shape of my cigar case”, he adds!
Being from the Mediterranean, his love for vivid colours is evident in the brand’s iconic pieces. While the sea could be an endless source of inspiration for him, it could also be his sudden love for a particular gemstone that fuels him. “This is what happened with the black diamond. This mysterious, mirror-like stone captivated me from the start because of its unusual look and for being extremely challenging to cut”. the brand went on to become one of the firsts to use black diamonds in their creations and continues to do so until today. “I also enjoy experimenting with all sorts of unusual materials, such as nano-ceramic coating on gold or woven steel mesh”, he says.
The brand’s creations are all about contrasts–the play on shapes, movement, chiaroscuro effect and unusual colour and texture combinations. “Mixing black diamonds with contrasting emeralds, sapphires, pearls, white or icy diamonds for example intensifies the sparkle of the brightest colored stones, and accentuates the silhouettes of our most iconic collections.” Fawaz is never designing solely to accentuate the physical beauty of a woman. It is her self-confident, radiant, strong character that inspires him to design–for the woman who is daring enough to wear his kind of jewellery. We ask him if he has a favourite de GRISOGONO piece that he keeps going back to and he tells us about the brand’s most iconic piece, the Creation I.
“One of the highlights till date has definitely been the acquisition, design and auction of the Creation I high jewelry piece. Made from the gem named ‘4 de Fevereiro’, it was the 27th largest white diamond ever discovered from Angola’s Lulo mine by de GRISOGONO’s strategic partner, international rough diamond trader-Nemesis, who granted the marketing rights of this incredible stone to the brand. He chose emeralds to contrast and highlight the beauty of the diamond and the beautiful piece went on to mark one of the biggest milestones for the brand with it being the largest emerald-cut diamond ever auctioned.
Fawaz fondly remembers the time Sophia Loren graced their Rue du Rhone boutique in 1993 in Geneva with her presence. “I cannot tell you how much it meant to have such an icon be our guest of honor. She perfectly embodies the strong de GRISOGONO woman and remains a dear friend of the brand till today”, he says. On the 25th anniversary, he is only getting started with his mission to put de GRISOGONO on top of the pyramid. “There have definitely been significant successes over the past 25 years, but let’s not forget the brand is still very young and there is a lot more work to be done!” He believes that there are only a handful of high-end jewellers who are able to offer immediately recognizable pieces that systematically embody their key DNA: daring creativity, exceptional craftsmanship and contemporary glamour. “I am confident that with our expertise and talent for trend setting, we can achieve even more in the watch and jewelry industry”, he adds. Fawaz never wants to sit back and relax believing that he has reached the top. This keen awareness comes from the knowledge that this point is the beginning of downfall. “It is a perpetual and uncompromising life work.” We ask Fawaz if he has any special message for brides of today. “I would say stay true to yourself, don’t let anyone pressure you, listen to your own heart, and choose the jewelry, style, and color that suits your personality best. That way you’ll be confident and glowing on your special day,” he signs off.
ALL IMAGES: COURTESY