T he cover of a new book about the British jewellery designer Solange Azagury-Partridge is a zingy green. “I am obsessed with the colour green, I literally have to force myself not to use green in everything I do,” Azagury-Partridge says over the phone from her studio. There are no swanky dust jackets here, just the designer’s 18-carat blackened white gold Chlorophyll necklace draped across the cover, luring you into the eclectic and colourful world of her jewellery.
Published by Rizzoli, Solange: Jewellery for Chromantics pays homage to Azagury-Partridge’s 35-year career and details some of the designer’s most whimsical pieces, such as her ruby and gold blood-dripping earrings and her Smartie-covered ring (inspired by her son’s favourite sweet). Born in London, Azagury-Partridge studied French and Spanish at Central London Polytechnic. A stint working as a PA to the 20th-century antiques dealer Gordon Watson developed Azagury-Partridge’s eye for vintage jewellery.
It was her husband Murray who sparked her journey into the jewellery world, when he presented her with a large uncut diamond to design for her own engagement ring. Azagury-Partridge knew instantly what she wanted to do with it: she created a vast yellow-gold dome ring with the diamond set off-centre. Encouraged by her friends, she began making one-off pieces from her kitchen table and soon her jewellery brand was born.
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