4 minute read
The Armenta Mystique
Old World oval shield drop earring on Yellow Gold huggie with diamonds.
Armenta Old World enhancers and chains.
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Emily Armenta was inspired to create jewelry when, as a little girl learning about gemstones, her imagination was sparked. Later in life, when she was in business school in 2002, she decided to turn her passion into an occupation. “I come from a family of artists so I was introduced to beautiful works of art at a very young age,” she says. “Designing jewelry is in my blood and has been my vehicle to express my creativity, thoughts and emotions.” Armenta specializes in combinations of 18k and 22k gold combined with “midnight” oxidized sterling silver with diamonds and gemstones. It is this unique, modern approach to jewelry design that defines her signature look. Armenta even mixes her own gold to acquire her own perfect color. For the fall 2012 season, the brand has introduced two new stones —
Boulder opal, a vivid blue/green stone with play of color, and sugelite with white quartz, designed as doublets.
Old World round labradorite and diamond ring on Old World eternity diamond band.
Midnight and 18k yellow gold stack ring with pear shaped blue mother of pearl and diamonds on a double cravelli band stacked with Old World diamond wide cravelli band ring with Yellow Gold Cravelli crosses.
Her striking, feminine designs combine the romantic passion of Spanish poetry with a modern approach to handcrafted jewelry. The inspiration behind many of Armenta’s designs are taken from the works of the renowned Spanish poet, Fedrico Garcia Lorca. When stumbling upon his works, she was immediately moved by his passion and understanding of the power of creativity in all its forms, especially in the way of duende, a Spanish concept that refers to the spirit of unpredictable passions that surges within us, and how it manifests itself as a creative force. “Duende is a power and not a behavior; it is a struggle and not a concept, a force that is irrational and intuitive; spiritually connected to the earth and quintessentially Spanish.”
Designs often come to Armenta at night or in dreams. “I strive to push the boundaries and attempt the unexpected,” she says. “I love working with different materials that are rarely seen in the industry. I believe in unleashing the creative force within. Like a painter, I explore working with and mixing many different metals and stones to create a beautiful work of art.”
Moonstone is used in many pieces of her jewelry. This gem is believed to bring good fortune, to enhance passion, and balance the yin and yang and is said to protect women and children. In early times, it was believed that one could see the future if the stone was held in the mouth during a full moon.
Yellow gold and blackened Armenta Old World bangle bracelets.
