Fernando Jorge: The Shape of Seduction

Words: Harriet Quick

Photography: Laurent Segretier

Sensual fine jewellery that caresses the female form

Fernando Jorge, the newest fine jewellery designer on everyone’s lips combines gold, precious gems, and sculpted Brazilian stones in technically complex designs that have an effortless appeal. The latest collection is called Stream and features sinuous lines that ripple around the fingers and arms.

“Things need to come from an authentic, real place,” says Fernando Jorge from his East Studio that is planted with an exotic display of tropical plants that remind him of his native Brazil. What’s “real” for Jorge, a pioneer in the new fine jewellery movement, is truth in form, craftsmanship and materials. Jorge’s pieces, with their fluid lines and organic and cosmic shapes seduce and mesmerize with a subtly sensual power. “I don’t wear jewellery myself but I love the tactility – I love looking at it and handling it,” says the designer.

He combines gold, precious gems, and sculpted Brazilian stones in technically complex designs that have an effortless appeal. The latest collection is called Stream and features sinuous lines that ripple around the fingers and arms. “I wanted the pieces to hug the body,” says Jorge.

The value is in creativity mixed with craftsmanship and I think women are attracted to that today. I’m not about solely placing the value and focus on one big ‘diamond’

Growing up in Sao Paulo, Jorge’s earliest jewellery-related memory was “a little box set of Brazilian gemstones that I got as a gift from my grandparents,” he says. “I treated it like a treasure. As a teenager I used to be really drawn to objects like pillboxes, beer cans and tin signs and started all sorts of collections.”

“Back when I started, London was the most exotic place you could think of and I loved it because of that – because jewellery needs energy.” Now splitting his time between Europe and Brazil, Jorge find inspiration everywhere: “There is always an element of jewellery technique from some era but there is also shape, movement and the stones that join my work together.”

What I try to design is something feminine that fits the body that does not have to fit with the outfit – it’s so feminine. If you choose a piece that has your skin colour or eye colour, it matches you. And the wearer adds emotional meaning to the piece.

In jewellery, I believe you are using the excellence of nature and enhancing it with design and when wearing it you are allowing yourself to feel special. I don’t want people to ‘think,’ about the wearing – the jewellery becomes a part of you.

Fernando Jorge

“In jewellery, I believe you are using the excellence of nature and enhancing it with design and when wearing it you are allowing yourself to feel special. I don’t want people to ‘think,’ about the wearing – the jewellery becomes a part of you,” says Jorge.

As the collection arrives in store, many women will be summoning a piece of Jorge’s jewellery to become a part of them.