THE EYE OF JEWELRY: Meeting with the designer of Marie Mas, the growing Parisian jewelry brand
"Following the success of her first collection, ‘Swinging Stones,’ designer Marie Mas turned her attention to the diamond, a gemstone she reimagines in designs with magnetic charm.
1. Following Swinging Stones and colored gemstones, your second line, Swinging Diamonds, puts the diamond in the spotlight. What does this stone inspire in you? Swinging Diamonds builds on the concept developed in the first collection: setting stones back-to-back so they can freely rotate and change color in a very sensual domino effect.
For this collection, I chose to revisit the diamond—a jewelry staple—by pairing it with tourmaline, one of my favorite stones for its color gradients. The diamond’s intense brilliance responds to the rich nuances of the tourmaline, like a play of echoes whose dynamic I particularly appreciate.
2. Among the new releases, you’re unveiling six new rings, ranging from open-style to solitaire designs. Is the ring your new jewelry obsession?
For this collection, I wanted to reinterpret classic pieces like stud earrings or the solitaire ring, infusing them with rhythm. I have a real penchant for rings, which I consider essential accessories. They also allow me to fully express my concept of “swinging stones,” because hands are always in motion!
3. You describe your jewelry as “alive,” designed to move with the body. As a designer, what do you want women to feel when they wear your pieces?
My designs are anything but static; they move with women, as if in a ballet performed in unison. I believe my pieces exude something very sensual yet playful, and I want women to feel that: the charm of surprise, but above all the freedom of owning a piece of jewelry that is constantly reinventing itself! What matters most to me is that this jewelry makes women happy. For me, the Marie Mas woman is a woman full of life, happy, and free.
4. One of the unique features of your jewelry lies in the back-to-back stone setting technique you developed. How long did it take you to develop this technique?
The development process was lengthy. I filed a patent covering the entire technique: the double settings, the double post on the back of the earring—which allows it to flip—and the various hinge structures. The challenge was to create highly technical pieces without letting that overshadow the aesthetics.
5. Your brand prides itself on using new techniques to unleash creativity and offer unique pieces. How has innovation changed the way jewelry is designed?
Innovation has contributed greatly to the still very artisanal world of jewelry; more and more houses are now incorporating these new techniques, such as 3D printing, into the jewelry-making process. For me, innovation comes into play much earlier, right from the design phase of the pieces. The secret lies in harmoniously blending innovation and craftsmanship. Neither should take precedence over the other—that’s how magical pieces are born!"
This article features Dancing Diamond Open ring and Swiveling Ear Jewel.
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