On a recent exploration not far from the glorious beaches in Malibu, I discovered some incredibly stunning rocks…of the jeweled kind. Vibrant emeralds and lush gold caught my eye as I instantly bonded with these treasures quite like a pirate would- although these gems were found inside the posh boutique Maxfield and not somewhere beneath the sea. Gorgeous Italian baubles were being represented by a New York jewelry designer collective called Rock House, which was founded by Tony Goldsberry in 2008. The opportunity for Rock House to guide a small group of next generation fine jewelers came from the struggles of these small designers to maneuver through the business process.
Seeking creative jewelers from the US and around the world- and currently working with emerging designers from Europe- Rock House works with unique designers who push the boundaries, and supports both the designer and the retailer throughout the evolution from design to sale. A bridge of sorts that allow foreign designers and US retailers to meet, Rock House enables the store buyers to look at these designers in the same way they look at US collections, and from the retailers perspective Rock House provides the confidence that the retail process will be respected. As Americans are fast becoming more adventurous shoppers, these brands are as innovative as they are beautiful yet they’re pieces that can be worn, easily transitioning from casual to formal.
During my trance, I fixated on Federica Retttore’s collection, a Milan-based designer who uses unusual materials embracing old-world techniques of jewelry manufacturing while utilizing a modern philosophy- think Bulgari- and Mattia Cielo uses advanced technologies to create his collection from his headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The materials and finishes he uses come from high-tech industries such as aerospace, yet the simplicity and minimalist look of his collection does have some serious bling going on. The attachment one feels with a piece of jewelry for no known reason was evident while I was thoroughly bewitched by these designers, and Rock House is betting on that. www.rockhousenyc.com
