Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Sami Zeira

Sami Zeira studied classical jewelry making at the Jewelry Arts Institute and with Fred de Vos, learning the ancient art of granulation.  In Zeira Signature, he translates his love for ancient pieces and its techniques into chic jewelry for the modern woman.

Zeira Signature line offers bold pieces crafted from 22kt yellow gold. My favorites in the collection feature Italian coral. The deep red combined with the yellow of high carat gold simply radiates warmth. Turquoise and other gem stones hold a prominent place in Zeira’s designs; most stones are bezel set, as in ancient jewelry, and often accented by granulation. This technique is best associated with Etruscan jewelry, although it can be dated to pieces of even earlier times, where the goldsmith applies small spheres of a precious metal to a jewel in a decorative pattern.

Zeira Black is Sami’s second collection and features the hottest trend in jewelry: oxidized silver. While still applying ancient jewelry techniques, these pieces are hip and very fashion forward.

What is the source of your design inspiration?

It’s very hard to pinpoint one particular thing. From the concrete to the abstract, I can walk in the streets and be inspired by a building, a car or nature. The ironwork in gates, the head lights of a car, the curves of a woman’s body…beauty is all around us, we just have to open our eyes.

More concretely, I can look at ancient jewelry and be inspired by the richness of design, technique and concept. Sometimes from just looking at stones I envision a finished piece.

There is a great emphasis on color in your pieces. How does color fit into your creative process?

Life is full of colors. Sometimes my pieces are made up of one color and sometimes it’s the harmony of the colors blending together that makes a piece of jewelry attractive. It’s color that makes the world so diverse and beautiful.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?

My mom. She is strong, loving, giving and sees the good in the most challenging situations.

What do you love most about what you do?

I make women feel beautiful. And I do it by expressing my own creativity. My jewelry gives elegance to the entire presentation of a woman: the sophistication of a personal timeless accessory.

It is through my work that I get to meet a variety of people and some of them have become my best friends and art is one of the only things that is not bound by religion, race or ethnicity.