When Reinstein|Ross first reached out to me about a potential blog feature, I was in Italy. I read the name out loud, thinking it sounded familiar but struggling to picture their designs in my jet lagged state. The jewelry designer friend I was with immediately burst out, “Reinstein|Ross? Yes! Gorgeous, somewhat Etruscan-inspired, handmade gold jewelry. They’re great.”
Two seconds of recon proved her right: I loved everything I saw online and I knew I needed to share Reinstein|Ross’s designs with you posthaste.
Every piece of Reinstein|Ross jewelry starts out as an ingot of pure, 24K gold. The gold is melted, alloyed, and then shaped into its destiny right there there in the workshop. Their designs celebrate the lusciousness of high-karat gold and often feature sapphires of spectacular color and diamonds.
Because they alloy their own gold, Reinstein|Ross is able to carefully coax the precious metal into five custom shades of color: 22k Apricot Gold, 20k Peach Gold, 18K Chartreuse Gold, 18k White Gold, and 22k Yellow Gold. They frequently use the traditional techniques of cloisonne and granulation, inspired by Etruscan, Byzantine, and Roman jewelry.
Here’s a stunning piece that’s a great example of everything we just talked about: luscious high-karat gold textured with granulation and studded with gorgeous colored sapphires. When I look at this pendant, my fingers itch to touch it.
The Reinstein|Ross aesthetic combines ancient techniques with modern sensibility to create high-quality pieces that are timeless in a no-fuss way perfect for everyday wear.
Reinstein|Ross was founded in 1985 by renowned jewelry designer Susan Reinstein and gem expert Brian Ross.
In their own words:
Our jewelry is modern, striking, and timeless. It is jewelry for the client with discerning taste who doesn’t want to fit in, but rather show a sense of personal style that is the foundation of great style.
All of our work stems from materials, fabrication and design – rainbows of natural colored sapphires (orange, green, yellow, blue, purples, etc), diamonds, rubies and other stones – and high-karat gold.
All of our jewelry is made in-house, in our Manhattan workshops. None of the goldsmithing techniques that we practice were invented after the Romans. The combination of these ancient techniques, gorgeous and exotic precious gems, and contemporary design is the magic formula for our work.”
Did you catch that last bit?? Goldsmithing techniques that date to the Roman empire. So freakin’ cool.