Justine Quintal
Justine Quintal is an award-winning independent fine jewelry designer and jeweller from Montreal with an absolutely unique, modern yet refined & chic style everyone raves about!
Asymmetry and colors are in the center of Justine's collections because, as she likes to say,
"it's always too late to settle with boring jewellery!"
Justine started by studying at l’École de joaillerie de Montréal for three years, and then worked as a bench jeweller, and a production manager for some of the best names in the industry. In 2016, she had the honor of winning a well-known Saul Bell Design Award, in the emerging artists category, which led her to be known and recognized as an artist in Canada, and throughout the United States.
Justine recently completed a certification with the prestigious GIA Institute, in her pursuit of an official gemmologist title.
We're happy to present to you a short interview in which you'll learn about what inspires Justine, what she loves and get a glimpse of who she is.
Who are the artists you love the most, who inspire you or accompany you? Do they influence your work, and if so, in what way?
As a jewellery designer, I am in awe of a lot of jewellers from centuries ago, up until today. If I had to choose, I would have to go with David Michael Jewels. I absolutely love how every single detail of their pieces are thoroughly thought out, and how the back is as beautiful as the front. The colors of the gems used are also out of this world. I also really admire how everything in their work is 100% done by hand, without the aid of technology.
While my jewellery pieces are simpler, David Michael Jewels influence me to push my boundaries in terms of usage of color, and also how to make the pieces look great in every angle possible.
If you could be reincarnated as a flower, which one would you choose and why?
I would love to be reincarnated as a carnation.
I find the mix of their vibrant colors and textured, fringed petals are stunning.
Do you have any strategies for overcoming these obstacles?
Contrary to what people might think, coming up with new ideas isn't always easy for me. I'm always trying to find that sweet spot between creating a marketable piece and making a piece of jewelry that screams "me" as a designer—something I would be proud of down the line.
But honestly, it doesn't always come easy. When I hit a creative block, I just try to push through. Whether it’s sketching past designs or trying out new ideas, I've noticed that when I put pencil to paper, some beautiful new ideas tend to pop up, way more than if I just sat around waiting for them to magically appear.
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Good food, good wine, and gemstones! I couldn’t live without either one of them.
Is there a movie or music band you could watch on repeat and never tire of?
Absolutely! Every year, starting in fall up until Christmas, I would watch all the Harry Potter movies. I grew up with them and as a child, I was fascinated with all of the magical world.
I’m very nostalgic so I love to indulge with them every once in a while.
Finally, what is your favorite museum (worldwide)?
During this past summer, I had the opportunity to explore London, and one of the highlights of my trip was visiting the Victoria & Albert Museum. I found myself captivated by one of the exhibits showcasing jewellery spanning from some of the earliest discoveries in 1500 BC, up until today. The collection featured not only jewellery, but also beautiful hand-made boxes and jewelled swords, which was absolutely breathtaking. I would love to visit it again!
Thank you for sharing a little of yourself with us, Justine!
