The celebrity favorite picks three of his jewels that have made an impact.
Stephen Webster is known for his edgy jewelry designs and deep knowledge of his craft, but is perhaps most celebrated for his connections to rock stars such as Madonna. Jewelry Connoisseur asked Webster to choose three of his jewels that he’s most excited about.
“Last year [2019] marked my 45th as a jeweler, coinciding with my 60th birthday. Over the years I have been lucky to have made so many pieces where I have needed to draw on my creativity as a designer and craftsperson,” he related. “Identifying three that I have been most excited about is a bit like picking my top three favorite music tracks — almost impossible. Anyway, I have picked three for entirely different reasons.”
1. Crystal Haze classic cocktail ring
“The lines of the ring are very simple but the effect and impact on my career have been huge. When I first introduced the extreme, faceted doublet ring, the reception was at best lukewarm and remained so until out of the blue Madonna bought one and wore it on her index finger, all the time. Overnight I had reinvented the cocktail ring and produced a ring that women bought for themselves to match their wardrobe. This was not just a ring as much as a jewelry revolution.”
2. The Wrath ring
“One of seven rings we made depicting the seven deadly sins. A large almandine garnet was being literally throttled by a pair of beautifully manicured, bejeweled hands. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the message more than a hint at what a woman might like to do to her partner, all in a very camp, ‘tongue-in-cheek’ way, of course!”
3. A blue-titanium Japanese fighting fish bracelet
“Set with black and blue sapphires and colorless diamonds, the bracelet represented the first piece we had ever attempted to make [using titanium]. Like much of our work, the piece was planned to be sculptural. If we had known then what we knew about a month into the making process we may never have started! Unlike precious metals, which are very obliging, titanium is not. The finished piece was extremely dramatic and such an accomplishment that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London acquired it for their permanent collection, as a unique example of a piece made in titanium.”
Main image: Stephen Webster photographed by Rankin.
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