“Soraya was my first friend in New York City,” says jewelry designer Candice Pool. “We met working at The Park restaurant in 2001—she loaned me a subway token.”
Eleven years later, Soraya Silchenstedt and Candice are still working together—but on something a little closer to their hearts: Finn, a collection of delicate, ladylike jewelry sold exclusively at Barneys New York. Featuring shapes both whimsical and striking, the pair’s necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets are a study in precision.
“What makes Finn different is its fine detail,” Candice says. “Making sure the black rhodium on pavé black diamond angel wings only covers the setting, leaving the gold to shine through on the rest of the piece. The pavé puffed heart’s diamonds vary in size to accentuate the bombe shape. Even Finn’s edgier styles have a refined feeling, like the shark’s tooth necklace with its delicate chain and the diamond setting. Everything is very thought out.” As for their favorite materials to work with, Candice names “18k gold, diamonds, rose cut diamonds, rubies and a rainbow of sapphires and colored stones like coral, turquoise and moonstone.”
Soraya and Candice each bring something different to the collection. Soraya began her apprenticeship at an estate jeweler, where she used to wait by the jeweler’s bench while pieces were restored. “She very much loves the craft,” says Candice. “For me, it’s more the love of wearing and collecting jewelry. I want to make things to add to my jewelry box, to play with, to show off, to keep forever.”
A recurring motif in their work is the love knot, “a classic Celtic symbol of unity,” Candice tells us. “As with anything in Finn’s collection, it’s an elegantly executed motif that stands the test of time.” Even more impressive? Soraya made her first love knot (a ring) in the third grade.
And the name? Candice explains, “When Finn started, most jewelry lines name’s were eponymous. But Finn is about the jewelry, not about a person. Say “Finn” and picture the love knot ring—not a face. Besides, Finn’s become a personality of its own—an elegant, refined, sometime sassy, and always timeless personality.”
1. Gold love knot ring; 2. Diamond love knot ring; 3. Sapphire love knot ring; 4. Pave diamond small dagger earrings
Shop the entire Finn collection on Barneys.com.
Photography by Nagi Sakai.
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