Tradition, passion and innovation
One very quickly runs out of adjectives when admiring Masriera jewellery up-close for the first time. By my third piece – the Charm necklace from its Springtime collection – I was reduced to “oohs” and “aahs”. Set on an 18-carat yellow gold necklace are 139 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.48 carats in total), five round-cut rubies (3.01 carats), seven round-cut pink sapphires (6.61 carats) and six round-cut aquamarines (0.54 carats).
Also featured on the necklace is plique-a-jour fired enamel, a signature technique of the brand. It’s a meticulous process where enamel is applied into spaces and fused as part of a finished surface. When light is shone through from the back, the effect resembles that of stained glass. Plique-a-jour is often considered the most challenging among enamelling techniques.
In 1985, Masriera was acquired by the Bagués family, which started its eponymous jewellery brand in 1917. Since then, it has been run as a dual-brand business. Iconic pieces from the Masriera range include Diamond Flight from the Nymphs collection, a lovely 18-carat yellow gold pendant brooch with brilliant- and pear-cut diamonds, and the Reinassance Princess from the News collection, an 18-carat gold pendant brooch with brilliant-cut diamonds and a cultured pearl. Every piece comes with a serial number.
Masriera’s managing director Oriol Bagués shares how the company has stayed ahead of the times.
Where does Singapore and South-East Asia figure in your vision for Masriera?
Besides Barcelona, Masriera is also present in New York, Tokyo and Beijing. Singapore is our gateway to customers in South-East Asia.
How do you think Masriera appeals to women here?
We have observed how women in this region appreciate the relationship between jewellery and art. They buy jewellery that not just looks attractive but also comes with a meaningful inspiration or story behind the piece.
What should we know about Masriera?
Masriera’s pieces draw strongly on the art nouveau movement. Our jewellery reflects elements of art nouveau craftsmanship, such as enamelling. We keep our silhouettes organic and our pieces often feature designs such as flowers, swallows and dragonflies. We also love the female form – it recurs frequently throughout our collections as nymphs and angels. You can also say that Masriera’s jewellery is a tribute to the beauty and perfection of nature.
How does a brand with heritage keep up with the changing tastes and needs of women?
One word: trust. Women want real value for their money. Our pieces are valued not just for the history and techniques behind their creation, but also for the passion that went into their making. At the Masriera workshop, a team of 10 craftsmen has spent years perfecting the various techniques to produce the jewellery. Every piece is treated like art, not a product. So for many customers, Masriera jewellery is to be collected, rather than bought.
Describe your first experience with Masriera jewellery.
[Laughs] As a child, I knew my mother loved Masriera jewellery. She owned one of the Nymph brooches – I thought it was one of the most exquisite things I’d ever seen!
