Solange Azagury Patridge… Who is this ingenious designer?

Born and raised in England, Solange Azagury-Partridge’s jewellery is a blend of technology and design. Her last collection displayed the use of black diamonds along with titanium, is an impeccable example of her unique style.Following the design of her own engagement ring, it took three years for Solange to further train herself and start up her company. By then she was a well established jewellery designer.

Fluent in both  French and Spanish, Solange worked for renowned antique dealer Gordon Watson after graduation.It was during that period that she familiarized herself with the unique works of Cartier, Vacheron and Van Clef among others. With her iconoclastic designs, this young woman created a piece for Boucheron in 2002, using precious stones such as jade, sapphire, ruby and black diamonds.When questioned about her engagement with jewellery design, her answer is as plain and sincere as it can be in that she did not cultivate any special interest until she started to work for Butler and Wilson during her school years to earn pocket money. It wasn’t until she quit her job following her pregnancy, that she treated design as a simple hobby.

It was then that her interest evolved as a passion. Initially, she worked closely with precious stones, establishing her unique approach. She feels she is lucky not to have pursued a formal training. This has enabled her to work without any constricting formats or boundaries.She defines ancient Greek and Roman pieces as her source of inspiration. She also depicts the works of Madame Belperron, Cartier and Boucheron as designs that have influenced her work.For the last couple of years, she has been the creative director for Boucheron and tells of spending long hours in the design house archives, reviewing old works and reinterpreting the iconic snake design.The symbolic essence of a snake representing renewal has appealed to her immensely.

Solange lives in London with her husband Murray, her son Otis and her daughter Mardi, aged 16 and 10. Although she never had the chance to practise it, Solange says being a dancer has been her life long dream. In her wardrobe, her most time-honoured piece is a pair of Monola Blahniks bought when she was 21 years old.She expresses her passion for Manola Blahnik designs and says that she always wished to be the Manola Blahnik of jewellery design.

Hot Lips, a ring from her collection, is her favorite design as a present for her girlfriends. Last November, she launched her perfume line called Stoned. Her second store has just opened on Madison Avenue, NY. Her original shop is in London.Click to www.solangeazagurypartridge.com for more detailed information. If you are in London, visit her shop on 187 Westbourne Grove Notting Hill, London W11 2SB (phone number: 020 7792 0197)

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