Raymond Mazza is a 6th-generation, Italian-American designer jewelry line headquartered in Long Island, NY. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mazza family became well known in Italy for its harvesting of corals and hand-carving of conch shells into cameos. In 1909, Louis Mazza left Europe to open an office in New York, where he went on to become a main supplier of fine gemstones to some of New York's largest brands including Tiffany's and Bergdorf Goodman's.
Louis' fourth son, Raymond, began designing a jewelry line of his own in the late 1960's. Since then, the formerly unknown stone supplier has become an industry leader in 14kt and 18kt fashion jewelry. Today, he along with his son and grandson, continue the family tradition of creating unique collections using bold, exotic gemstones and craftsmanship of the highest quality.
Can you share the inspiration behind your latest collection and how it reflects the brand's signature style?
My father always said he styled his designs to look as if they came from "a box of treasure." Our latest collection embodies this spirit. Bridging the gap between classic and contemporary, it showcases new-world styles with an old-world flare. Bright and exotic gemstones, like teal-blue Apatite and royal blue Kyanite from Nepal, pink and green tourmaline cabochons from Namibia, rainbow moonstones from India, and turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty mines of Arizona, are among the featured "treasure chest" elements. These stones are often paired with Florentine style gold texturing, hammered gold finishes, and hand-crafted rope borders of twisted gold - all enhancing the "treasure chest" theme as well.
What exclusive pieces or unique designs can attendees expect to see at the Trunk Show at N Fox Jewelers on August 9th and 10th?
Every piece in our line (and our entire line will be on display at the trunk show) has a unique story of its own, and was carefully designed by either myself, my father, grandfather, or one of our skilled craftsmen. One of my favorite pieces features the Biblical Widow's Mite coin. Minted in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, there is a story in the Gospel about how a poor widow gave her last mite to the church treasury - and Jesus said she gave more than anyone else, because unlike everyone else - she gave all that she had. We have other genuine ancient coin pieces that feature Roman emperors and Greek gods - each one with a unique history of its own.
We also have the exclusive rights to make gold jewelry for the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina (the largest private residence in America). Our Biltmore Collection highlights the architectural elements and grandeur that make the Biltmore so unique.
How do you balance timeless elegance with contemporary trends in your designs?
As mentioned in response to Question #1, we try hard to stay true to what has defined the Raymond Mazza brand for 6 generations across 4 different centuries - namely bold colors and unique, distinctive styling. However, we also work hard to blend these elements with contemporary trends - and doing so is a lot of fun and quite rewarding. The advent of Computer Aided Design (CAD) in the last few decades has enabled us to become much more refined and precise in our designs - which I think has really enabled the line to take on a whole new dimension. I look forward to showing everyone at the show.
What materials and techniques do you find most exciting to work with, and how do they enhance the uniqueness of your pieces?
We use bright, bold, and exotic gemstones that other brands tend to avoid. Have you ever seen the beautiful depth of Chrome Diopside's wintergreen? Or the enchanting carribean-blue of apatite and amazonite? We believe that life should be lived colorfully.
How does participating in events like the Trunk Show influence your creative process and connection with your clientele?
Trunk shows are a fantastic opportunity to share the stories that make each piece of our line so unique. It's a great way to develop relationships with the retail staff - and the admirers and customers who permit us to continue doing what we love.
Can you describe a particularly challenging or rewarding piece you've designed and what made it special to you?
My father was tasked with designing the entire Biltmore Collection - but specifically with designing one magnificent marquis piece to be the "crown jewel" of that collection. To that end he designed the "Salon Bracelet." A true work of art - the Salon Bracelet is an 18kt bracelet that showcases the carved mouldings of the Salon room in the Biltmore. Retailing at $25,000 - it is my favorite piece in the line.
How do you see the future of jewelry design evolving, and what role do you envision Raymond Mazza playing in that landscape?
I see the jewelry industry as a whole evolving towards smaller and smaller, more casual looks. Everyone is making small pieces with little diamonds. That's typically what sells. But in this race to casual modernity - most designs have begun to look boring and familiar. Staying true to our classic design style - and not being afraid to incorporate striking colors and interesting finishes makes us stand out. Instead of abandoning altogether the looks that carried us for centuries, we modified them to appeal to a 21st-century audience. That's the Raymond Mazza way.
