Emirati jewellery artist Mariyeh Ghelichkhani unveils one-off jewellery pieces rich in narratives. One is a versatile, nature-inspired necklace with three interchangeable pendants. The other piece, a gem-studded pendant, is an architectural masterpiece that explores the play of light that bring together creativity and geometry, while the third, a pair of earrings highlights the power of beauteous pearls.
The necklace from The Branches of Light collection, featured above, is a convertible piece with three pendants that can be worn together or separately. Conceived as stylised branches, each pendant features a distinct composition.
Drawing inspiration from the Horae, three sister goddesses of Greek mythology, associated with the cycles of nature, the pendants signify renewal and harmony. Thallo, represents spring, signifying new beginnings, and renewal, is represented by indicolite tourmaline; Auxo, associated with flourishing and abundance, by morganite; and Carpo, goddess of fruit and harvest, by a Tahitian pearl.
The slender, sinuous Vesper necklace is crafted in 18-karat gold and set with baroque pearls and coloured gemstones. Mariyeh’s penchant for detail extends to the reverse of the piece, reflecting her belief that beauty should be appreciated from every angle.
The organic necklace comes to life with diamonds and pearls, brought together with precise craftsmanship (see below).
Mariyeh was fascinated by the Persian architecture and ornamental art from Shiraz, a historic city in southwestern Iran, renowned for its Persian art, poetry, gardens, architecture and exquisite decorative traditions. The challenging aspect was to capture the effect of sunlight filtering through stained glass in a jewellery piece. Thus, the pendant titled The Window of Paradise (see above) was born.
The pendant, crafted in rose gold, features a rare 11.3-carat opal, whose shifting colours lend a lifelike sense of movement to the piece. The opal is surrounded by emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds in a geometric arrangement inspired by the Persian architecture. The framework of diamonds and gem-studded arch sheltering the opal evoke cultural memory while reflecting the artist’s individual interpretation of this architectural vision.
The novel 18-karat rose gold Floral Tango earrings evoke rhythmic movement through an elegant dance of colour and light. Stealing the spotlight are large, luminescent freshwater pearls, with a godet-inspired flared motifs embellished with multi-colour sapphires.