Gaby
American jeweler and luxury designer Jay Strongwater (born 1960) has been creating beauty for over forty years. He lives in a world of luxurious fetishes: jewelry, figurines, furniture, mirrors, frames, boxes, pillows, and Christmas ornaments.
The master, whose name has become a brand, is overflowing with ideas that transport humanity from the indistinct era of mass markets back to the times of elegant handmade artistry.
The Great Serendipity
In various interviews, the designer has fondly recalled his parents, who recognized their son’s talent. Growing up in New Jersey, Jay honed his artistic skills from a young age. Eventually, he found his way to the Rhode Island School of Design, where he learned to construct clothing, dreamed of working with fabrics, and aspired to become a famous couturier.
Jay’s mother was a devoted fashionista. Her love for beautiful things was passed down to her son. In 1981, they went shopping together at a department store on 57th Avenue in New York City. When his mother stopped in front of a black-and-gold necklace, the young man promised to make her a similar one. Later, he headed to a shopping center and bought a bag of wooden beads for macramé. He painted them black and adorned them with golden swirls. His mother appreciated the jewelry, as did others. The owner of a store in New Jersey even asked if the young man could create something similar for his shop.
Jay was thrilled by such an offer. He was also excited because he finally had the chance to earn money on his own. He completed his first-ever order and then showcased his beaded creations at open house events in several New York stores. Fortune smiled upon him, and new orders quickly followed.
So, during the day, he learned to create patterns, and at night, he strung beads. Soon, interested parties began asking Jay when his new collection would be ready. One of his clients displayed several of his bold, oversized pieces in windows on Fifth Avenue. At that time, Oscar de la Renta was showcasing his new models, and he took notice of the young designer’s creations. They met, and soon the couturier began featuring these pieces in his fashion shows alongside his collections.
Then the young man made a definitive choice. He already knew what he wanted to dedicate his life to. He dropped out of school and started his small business. Thus, the future empire of Jay Strongwater’s style was born.
Metal, Enamel, Crystals
Strongwater entered the realm of stunning jewelry and home accessories in the early 1990s, when large-detail jewelry began to fall out of fashion. The reboot started with a beautiful picture frame that the artist adorned with precious stones. Each new piece was increasingly unexpected and captivated with its indescribable allure. Animal and plant motifs found their way into everyday items, infusing them with a fresh vibrancy. Thanks to all these flowers, butterflies, shells, and birds, the moments of gray reality took on new colors and moods.
“I am fascinated by the idea of taking everyday items—picture frames, boxes, mirrors—and transforming them into a beautiful combination of metal, enamel, and crystals,” Jay Strongwater once said.
His creations are by no means cheap, and they often become coveted objects for collectors. Among the admirers of his work are many celebrities, including Elton John, Madonna, and Oprah Winfrey.
Today, the designer is supported by over 120 artisans who work on stylish creations in his design studio in New York and his production workshop in Rhode Island.
… And somewhere on a shelf in Jay Strongwater’s cozy home lies the wooden necklace that marked his fateful debut and that his mother loved to wear.
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