Sevan Bicakci -=- The Lord of the Rings -=-

[MosJan]

Sevan Bicakci -=- The Lord of the Rings -=-

 

 

SEVAN BICAKCI: "Lord of the Rings"

Exotic spice bazaars, majestic mosques, fairy tale like minarets and imposing Sultans. Istanbul, the only city in the world which has reigned as capital of three different empires, is without a doubt the greatest muse for the man known in the fine jewelry industry as “Lord of the Rings.”

 

Born and raised in Turkey, one of a kind jewelry designer Sevan has been a bench jeweler for the last twenty years—and at the age of 36, Sevan’s creations are profound and unique. Each one is handcrafted from 24K, 18K yellow and rose gold, sterling silver with uniquely cut gemstones and antique cut diamonds that are inspired by the Blue Mosque from 17th century, the 6th century Hagia Sophia Church, the Topkapi Palace from 15th century and many childhood memories.

 

Sevan Bicakci is the recipient of a string of prestigious awards, including the Tanzanite Foundation Award for Best Independent Designer of 2007. Sevan has also won the

Town & Country Couture Awards over the last three years including the 2008 Town & Country Couture Gemstone Award.

Some of Sevan’s well-known wearers and collectors include Brooke Shields, Catherine Zeta Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Liv Tyler, Kim Raver, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Angie Harmon, Michelle Monaghan, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Tory Burch. To learn more about Sevan Bicakci, please visit www.sevanbicakci.com

 

 

 

 

[MosJan]

Bicakci recently launched the collection at his Sevan Boutique at Wafi City By Pauline M. Forte

 

If you're thinking about giving your significant other a unique piece of jewellery on Valentine's Day and have a great deal of money to spend, consider the new Mythology Collection by Turkish-Armenian jewellery maker Sevan Bicakci.

 

 

 

http://www.secondcitystyle.com/images/images/2008/12/23/sevan_ring_2_2.jpg

Seven years ago, Bicakci, 37, now known as the King of Rings, introduced his distinctive creations to the world. Today, his intricate and heavy-looking pieces of art are in the hands of prominent collectors and worn by such celebrities as Celine Dion, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Halle Berry and Brooke Shields.

 

Bicakci recently launched the collection at his Sevan Boutique at Wafi City. The collection, comprising 70 one-of-a-kind rings, bracelets, earrings and cuff links, is based on the story of his mother's Ottoman-Byzantine culture. "My work is also based on stories that come from the culture of Anatolia, including two sacred mountains called Mount Ida in Greek mythology [also named Mount of the Goddess], now in northwest Turkey."

 

Inspiration

 

Indeed, his jewels resemble miniature Greek monuments such as temples, and incorporate designs and elements of Byzantine and Ottoman palaces, churches, mosques, fountains and mausoleums, all found in Istanbul where he grew up.

 

"Old places inspire me," said the talented goldsmith, who integrates words from the Ottoman, Arabic and Farsi languages in many of his rings and cuff links. The pieces from his latest collection, ranging from Dh38,000 to "no maximum", are named after mythological figures and places such as Dionysos, Asil and Hector, Senato, Herkul, Agamemnon and Priamos.

 

"I don't put any limits on the materials I use," he said. "I use what matches with my character, including platinum, 18K and 24K gold, silver, rose gold, ivory, mother-of-pearl, rose-cut diamonds, rubies, amber and coloured gemstones."

 

He often collaborates with talented miniature painters, calligraphers, sculptors and engraving masters for his inlays of tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl and stained glass. When he was 12, it became clear that Bicakci wasn't a successful student. After finishing the fifth grade, his father (a theatre actor), helped him find a job as an apprentice to master goldsmith Hovsep Chatak in the Grand Bazaar district of Istanbul.

 

Early start

 

Four years later, his master died and, having learned a great deal about jewellery design and craftsmanship, the young talent opened a workshop serving bigger manufacturers as a freelance model maker. But he wasn't pushing his creative limits in terms of design. "That's when I decided to follow my dream to make something historical," Bicakci said.

 

He began teaching the various aspects of the trade to about 40 apprentices and worked on his first collection for one year before unveiling it in the Turkish market in 2002. The fact that most of his work is uniquely crafted and the production is time-consuming prevents Bicakci from mass production.

 

Now, the Turkish-Armenian ring master is famous from Anatolia to the New World. His wearable works of the past are distributed and sold worldwide.

 

His love for jewellery making is linked to his second passion – motorcycles. "I like to be alone and free. When I produce jewellery, I don't follow any rules. They're heavy. They don't fit," he said.

 

Fast facts

 

Bicakci's jewels cost between Dh38,000 and Dh500,000 ("no maximum really").

 

The Mythology Collection is touring the world: from Istanbul, Turkey, to Dubai, the US and Italy.

 

The fact that most of his work is uniquely crafted and the production is time-consuming prevents Bicakci from mass production.

 

Photo: Sevan Bicakci displaying items from his new Mythological Collection. Photos by Abdel-Krime Kallouche

 

Source: "XPRESS", Dubai, 12 February 2009 (adjusted)

http://www.xpress4me...n/20011862.html

[MosJan]