Two years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Monica Vinader for our very first Azyaa Mode interview. The British jeweler has been garnishing women’s fingers, wrists and necks ever since she first started making jewelry in 2002 –and we are in awe of how far she’s come.
Luckily for us, as of this summer, her creations are available at Boutique 1 in Beirut and Dubai. To welcome her with open-arms, we met with the lovely designer in her bright London flagship store –located right off the King’s Road– to discover her latest dazzling Alphabet collection and discuss her fascination with Arabia.
Engravings have always been a big part of your brand, but what made you think of introducing the Alphabet collection?
A lot of our design is centered on the ability to make the jewelry feel completely individual to you, and ‘Alphabet’ adds a new layer of personalization. As well as having the names of your loved ones engraved on your jewelry, you can wear their initials. It’s those meaningful details that make you love your necklace and want to keep on wearing it every day.
How did you decide on each letter’s font?
The design for the ‘Alphabet’ collection came from my obsession with typography. We did a lot of research into fonts, drawing inspiration from old magazines, huge books on typography, and even vintage signs I’ve collected over the years. I wanted every letter to be totally unique - a little miniature sculpture in its own right - so we deliberately varied the pendants’ depths and textures, and they all hang at different angles.
We’re noticing more and more Middle Eastern touches in your designs –including your version of the evil eye. Can we expect Arabic calligraphy to some day join your Alphabet Collection?
I love calligraphy and Arabic calligraphy is my favourite, so I would love to!
You’re now present at Boutique 1 in Beirut & Dubai. Do you have any other expansion plans in the region?
We’ve received an amazing response to our concept corner at Boutique 1 and I’m incredibly excited to announce that we will be opening our first standalone store in Dubai this winter, in partnership with Boutique 1.
You are the first person we ever interviewed a year and a half ago – and we’re absolutely amazed to see how far you’ve come. What is the secret to your success?
When my sister Gaby and I set up the business, we strongly believed that there was a gap in the market between fine and fashion jewelry, so we focused on creating beautiful, contemporary designs that are both high in quality and accessible to many women, of different ages and backgrounds. I think that’s the secret to our success. Our fans can walk into our store, find something they love, wear it instantly, and it becomes a part of their everyday style.
What’s your absolute favorite holiday destination?
I’m in love with Zighy Bay in northern Oman. It’s a beautiful, peaceful retreat with sandy beaches - the ideal place to relax and unwind.
I also try to return to Hotel Esencia at Yucatan in Mexico every year with my family. Mexico has always been a place of inspiration and holds so many memories because I lived there with my husband years ago. The buildings, colors, and landscapes – there’s no place quite like it.
Which Monica Vinader pieces are you currently wearing?
I’m wearing the new ‘Alphabet S’ - my daughter’s initial – layered with my Marie pendant. And I’ll always have a stack of bracelets on my wrists. At the moment, it’s the ‘Linear’ collection and some beautiful new colored diamond pieces, which we’ll be launching later in the year.
Many celebrities can be spotted wearing your jewels. Is there someone in particular you’re most proud of?
It’s always an honor to see high profile people like Olivia Palermo and The Duchess of Cambridge wearing our designs, when they have so many other options open to them. I don’t ever design with a specific person in mind, I just create jewelry that I would want to wear myself, and it’s amazing to see how different people style it in their own way.
Would you ever consider creating engagement rings?
Although our pieces are made to be personalized, my focus isn’t on bespoke jewelry so I wouldn’t design engagement rings.
Is there anything you’d never be caught wearing?
I’d never wear a fake.
What’s the best present a man could give a woman?
Something meaningful and chosen to be personal; it’s not about the value but the sentiment behind it.
Leonore Dicker
