ARMOURA DESIGNS
Through his brand, Armoura Designs, Irish sculptor turned jewellery designer Stuart Mcgrath brings sculptural pieces with a joyous tactile feel to the jewellery stage.
Working from his studio in Dublin, Stuart meticulously crafts enticing details into each piece: “I want people to pick up my pieces — examine the design, the construction, and materials — and enjoy the feel of them”. To add more excitement to each piece, he integrates design surprises on the reverse.
Influenced by his sculptor training, Stuart tends to use jewellery materials in controversial ways, sometimes turning them on their heads, as he effectively did with his Fibonacci rings: the crowns of colourful sapphires and diamonds are set into the gold with their pointy pavilions sticking out on the surface. His design process is sculptural, too: “I sketch and re-draw, allowing design ideas to develop and evolve, then build models with clay or cardboard to resolve issues”.
Among the perennial best sellers in his collections include the Arclight ring, a broad eternity band with 44 tapered baguette diamonds channel-set into its vertical edges; and Trilliant, a square ring with rounded edges set with eight trilliant-cut diamonds at its corners.
“Creating precious and personal connections between my jewellery and the wearer is my passion,” he shares. “And I believe my next collection, inspired by the Art Deco movement and amulet artefacts, will connect in extraordinary ways.”
For more information, visit www.armoura.com.