Jewellery designer Zara Simon has always had a passion for jewellery “Jewellery is an art form. Both art and Travel have inspired me with the ability to make fantasy become a reality. Craftsman delicately creating with their own hands gives feeling and spirit to form, and with the artisans who make my work we have realized our shared vision of jewellery”. After studying jewellery design at Central Saint Martins Zara took to the open road and travelled the world looking for inspirations to create her fist collection. “My passion for jewellery began when I was very young and I was lucky enough to visit strange and exotic places from a very early age. My mother is a great collector of accessories and my sisters and I would raid her drawers after a trip and pile on all of the jewellery that we could find. When I first went to India as an adult I was overwhelmed by the colours of the fabrics and spices, and the shapes of the amazing old palaces that I saw. That was the inspiration for my first collection in 2006. Many of my ideas and inspirations come from the memories I have of those early family trips, but also from my more recent travels to places like Burma and Istanbul. I am also very much inspired by architecture- I love Gaudi and recently I have become a fan of Mary Weatherford’s art works especially with her use of colour and light” The Metropolis collection, launched in early 2013, is a stunning collection of rings emulating cities around the world. Made in 9ct and 18ct gold, set delicately with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Classic collections are designed with precious and semi precious stones handpicked by Zara and set in Vermeil. Zara is currently collaborating with musician Robbie Furze and model/dj Mary Charteris on their ‘Furze’ Collection, launching in February 2014. Inspired by Masonic shapes and images, this collection is made by British craftsman in London's Hatton Garden and Birmingham’s jewellery district, all in sterling silver sometimes gold and rhodium plated or studded with diamonds. Zara is also working on a diffusion jewellery collection for ‘Accessorize’ to celebrate it’s 30th birthday this year. The collection will be launced in late 2014.
