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American Jewellery designer Nina Runsdorf’s stunning stones and gorgeous gem rings, necklaces and bracelets have been adored and adorned by global stars such as TV’s Oprah Winfrey and chart-topper Beyonce.
Her exclusive creations are now star attractions at a new luxury, multi-brand boutique located at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
The stylish mother-of-two flew into the kingdom to help launch Rhodium boutique which is run by the US-based Maris Collective that operates stores in hotels and resorts around the world.
Nina met VIPS and members of the media to showcase her signature sliced diamonds last Wednesday, staged the day before the official opening event which she also attended.
She said: “I truly hope that the women here love my designs. They are all hand-made and one-of-a-kind. Not one piece is ever the same. I buy all the stones first - my jewellery is very ‘stone driven’. It’s as though the stone speaks to me and has its own energy, so each piece comes out in its own special way.”
The jewellery features gold, silver, opals and emeralds, diamonds, rubies, tourmaline, conch pearls and more and the collections feature an array of sets from antique to rose-cut creations.
She said: “I love working with old mine-cut diamonds and blackening the metal silver on the top with gold on the back for that antique look. I am also adding opals and emeralds in different colours to the ‘flip ring’ which I first started in 2005.
“I basically created a line that I thought women could wear with say a T-shirt and jeans as well as a ball gown.”
Nina first became passionate about designing jewellery when she was 11, making accessories at her family’s farm in upstate New York. She used to make her jewellery on a work bench in the kitchen every night.
Later on in life, Nina worked in the fashion industry with celebrated designers such as Ralph Lauren and former GAPCEO, Mickey Drexler. However, she continued making jewellery for her friends and in 2005 left the fashion world to start her own line of accessories.
The now Manhattan-based designer said: “I feel like these days, everything around us is art related and that’s how I live my life. I create ‘wearable art’ and my motto is ‘jewellery is never too precious to wear, so enjoy it!’
“I also believe that when you wear aparticular piece of jewellery that it should mean something to you whether there is a story behind it or a great memory. Just have fun with it because it’s an accessory.”
Nina’s gems, which range in price starting from $4,200. She is one of the many exclusive designers to be featured at the contemporary store.
Heather Severs, who is the style and editorial director for Maris Collective, said: “We have about 24 boutiques around the world and about 14 properties, mostly in luxury resorts in Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean so this is our first foot into the Middle East.
“For Bahrain, we really wanted to bring in some new designers in jewellery and in American fashion. We wanted to offer a west coast sensibility in a new way that people will love. A lot of these designers aren’t even available in other stores in the region.
“I feel like Bahrain is a place where men and women really understand fashion. They are worldly and they travel, so I feel like we are providing them a little taste of what they see in the magazines and on their journeys.
“Bahrain is the perfect starting point for Rhodium.”
Rhodium’s interior features a custom art deco inspired design with marble flooring, lush wall coverings, as well as original furnishings and exclusive pieces created by jewellery designer Kimberly McDonald. Kimberly’s geode touches can be seen throughout including a cool lighting fixture and wall paper. She also has a clothing line exclusive to Rhodium.
The boutique also offers fashion lovers sought after brands such as Missoni, Aquazzura, Tods, Tom Ford and Jewellery Arabia favourite Suzanne Kalan.
Maris Collective also unveiled its Paviastore on the ground floor of the hotel, next to the spa, which offers men’s and women’s beach and active wear, totes and sunglasses, spa products and more.
