Solange Azagury-Partridge: Embodying familial love in the new ‘Sentimentals’ collection

Solange Azagury-Partridge launched her new ‘Sentimentals’ collection in early October 2019 at an event held at the designer’s home with friends, family, clients and press in attendance – the last time a similar event took place in Solange’s house was 20 years ago. The fact that she gathered guests at her home once again demonstrated how much this collection personally means to the designer.

The new ‘Sentimentals’ collection is an expression of emotional attachment to sentimental values, and brings together 40 pieces of jewellery. Each of them is an embodiment of the jeweller’s meditation on her own life: rings, pendants, earrings and a necklace reflect the main milestones of the designer’s long journey called “life”. Solange Azagury-Partridge regards sentimentality as a tender feeling based on the past, manifested in the present and firmly rooted in LOVE. Love for a friend, partner, parent, child, aunt or uncle, grandparents – a place or even a moment that pulls a person and their heart into the past. But, in order not to fall irretrievably into sad melancholy, Solange brought an incredible and sparkling sense of humour to the collection! The result? Let’s have a look at an example…

The design of the lacquered 18 karat yellow gold ‘Home’ ring made with diamonds and rubies is inspired by her country house in Somerset, England, where her entire family spends the weekend. This ring also references Solange’s Jewish roots: in the 14th century, such rings were traditionally worn at Jewish weddings. 15 years ago, Solange created a blackened gold ‘Muz’ ring made with diamonds for her husband Murray. In ‘Sentimentals’, she has extended this idea with the Mardi and ‘Tot’ rings, which were made in honour of her daughter Mardi and son Otis. The first is comprised of 18 karat yellow gold with pavé set emeralds, the second – with sapphires. Her ‘Miracle’ ring – made of diamond engraved yellow gold – is also dedicated to the birth of her children; those first moments of their young lives are clearly discernible here.

In almost every piece, moments from Solange’s own life, her love for her husband and grown-up children are evident. The ‘Family’ ring is a jewellery portrait of all her family members in gold, mother of pearl, diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Depending on the number of children, the British designer is prepared to make a new version of the ring for her clients. Depicted throughout the collection is love’s most common symbol: the heart. In the ‘Love Lock’ gold pendant, an 18 karat pink gold lid is dotted with rubies and designed to hide a secret – love for your partner. The pendant is full of memory, tenderness, beauty and the warmth of the human soul. In her ‘Us’ ring, two heart-cut rubies are beating as one whole.

I especially liked the unusual engagement ring with a rose cut diamond called ‘I Love You My Beloved’ and the ‘Modern Marriage’ bracelet, which emulates handwriting in gold. On the bracelet – on the one hand – there is a declaration of love, and on the other, a less polite message, because the course of true love never did run smooth. Another declaration of love, the phrase “I love you to the Moon and back” is crafted in the necklace and earrings set of the same name, which features a moon and stars made of gold, diamonds and opal representing the moon, as well as a heart cut ruby symbolising love.

The ‘cherry on the cake’ in the ‘Sentimentals’ collection is the unique lacquered ‘Keepsake Box’ in gold vermeil. It can act as a reliable shelter not only for your jewellery, but also for your fondest memories.