Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Faraone Mennella

This is the first post of a “Style Setters” series brought to you by The Jewelry Brief. In each post of the series, the Brief will reach out to the creative minds behind today’s best jewelry, and ask the about their inspiration, style and influences.

Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S. was founded in New York City in 2001 by two longtime friends, Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, who moved to the United States to further their professional design interests after growing up in Italy surrounded by art and beauty. Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S. produces jewelry of timeless style and elegance for every woman, from collections sold at major retailers to one-of-a-kind jewelry couture featured on the large and small screen made for some of the world’s most glamorous women.

Their complete collections can be viewed at www.rfmas.com

A while back, Amedeo sent me a thank you e-mail for a post that I had written about Faraone Mennella earlier this year. Amedeo and Roberto graciously agreed to answer a few questions for The Jewelry Brief, reaffirming once again my belief that the world is small and people are kind.

What is the source for your design inspiration?

We like to think of ourselves as “artisans” of the jewelry design, so while we draw inspiration from many sources (Capri, the 60′s Dolce Vita, Romy Schneider…) we are mostly driven by the beauty of creation. The “bench” is our main source. It drives our work.

Is there a secret to your contemporary yet timeless style?

The secret is staying focused on the message: We want our pieces to be a beautiful adornment for women, constructed with elegance. Classic is discreet, when jewelers conceptualize too much they get lost in the process.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?

Our grandmothers: Augusta (for Amedeo) and Stella (for Roberto).

What do you love most about what you do?

When a woman stops us in a restaurant to say she loves our work and that she gets compliments every time she wears our pieces. That is the ultimate goal, the look on that face.

What is the greatest luxury that you treat yourself to?

Luxury is quite an overrated word nowadays, and overused. To us luxury is a not repeatable “experience”. Having dinner with friends on my terrace, overlooking the Capri’s marina and the entire bay of Naples in Summer, is priceless.

What Titles are on Your Summer Reading List?

Overused, but still one of my favorite interview questions. This Summer my plans are to dust off a couple of classics along with two new, albeit ambitious, books.

“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a favorite of mine. Perfect reading for a warm Summer night. If you don’t remember the end, it is a must read.

I am currently reading “Leo & His Circle: The Life of Leo Castelli” by Annie Cohen-Solal. Ms. Cohen-Solal tells the complete story, beginning with the family in fifteenth century Italy, of one of the 20^th century’s most influential art dealers.

This year “To Kill A Mocking Bird” turns 50! I always enjoy re-reading this book because inevitably I finish feeling like I just read it for the first time.

“Priceless: How I Went Under Cover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures” by Robert Wittman, the founder of the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Having heard a radio interview with Mr. Wittman, a wonderful story teller, I added the book to my list. A real life Thomas Crown Affair tale, which has received many rave reviews. By the way, Mr. Wittman also received training from the Gemological Institute of America, and I am looking forward to the diamond heist chapter.

Let the Jewelry Brief know what you are reading. Any good jewelry-related novels?

Rubies: The Color of Summer

Ruby is the birth stone for the month of July.  This month when we think of red we recall boiled lobsters, strawberries and the Red Sox! Red is, however, a very emotionally charged color. It is the color of fire, but also of love and passion. Rubies have every bit of the allure as the color they bear.

Rubies are a variety of the corundum species, the same as sapphire, so they are relatively durable, scoring a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness (diamond scores a 10). Rubies are red, ranging in color from an orangy-red to a purplish-red. The very finest rubies come from Burma. In September of 2008 the US government placed an embargo on these stones.  These are the stones that earned the now outdated, but descriptive, term “Pigeon Blood Red”. Rubies are also found in Thailand, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and parts of Africa.

Throughout history Kings, Queens and even the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston, have sought to assemble and exhibit the finest color rubies. Red has long symbolized courage, which is why it is present in many national flags; and energy, which are the pure emotions drawn from the color itself. Red jewelry is very vibrant and attracts attention. Rubies “pop” right out of a piece when put next to diamonds.

Happy 4th of July!