In this interview, our in-house jewelry designer Victor Benaderette talks about the process of designing custom jewelry (French article).
See our translation below ⬇️
YOU CAN CREATE THE JEWEL OF YOUR DREAMS AT RUBY RUBY
This fall I told you about a jewelry store in Little Italy that I particularly like; Ruby Mardi. In that article, I told you that in addition to offering unique styles from Canadian designer jewelry, they also sell flowers (fresh and dried), home decor and offer custom jewelry design services.
Indeed, at Ruby Mardi, you can create the jewel of your dreams, thanks to Victor Benaderette, the designer of the brand Bena Jewelry, who's work is also featured in the boutique. Graduated from the Montreal School of Gemmology, Victor specializes in gemstones, diamonds and in creating unique custom pieces of jewelry. His studio is located in the boutique.
Have you ever thought about having a piece of jewelry custom made or offering one as a gift? Whether you would like to transform an old jewel or to create something splendid from scratch, everything is possible. I asked Victor a few questions to understand a little better how it works.
VICTOR, FIRST TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND
First of all, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to talk about my art to your readers!
I grew up in Paris and moved to Montreal in my twenties. I come from a family of artists, I have a self-taught professional background and I entered the jewelry business late in life, which I have never left since.
I studied at the EGM (Montreal School of Gemmology) which was a real turning point in my career. With my certification in hand, I had the opportunity to travel to Asia to meet with gemstone and diamond suppliers, which allowed me to make relevant contacts for the future.
I then specialized in jewelry design: I model the jewel on computer and print a 3D prototype. With this prototype, the jeweller takes over with the casting of the metal, the setting and the finishing of the jewel. Everyone has his own speciality!
Today, Bena Jewelry's collections are distributed in Canada and the United States. I co-founded Ruby Mardi in Montreal, a jewelry store in Little Italy, where I showcase my jewelry as well as jewelry from other independent and Canadian designers that I find dazzling!
WHAT LED YOU TO A CAREER IN THE WORLD OF HIGH-END JEWELRY?
To tell you the truth, it was a bit of a chance meeting. After quitting a job out of the blue, I had the opportunity to work for a diamond and fine jewelry wholesaler in Montreal, which introduced me to the business.
I also think that the fine jewelry industry has changed a lot in recent years. There is more emphasis on independent jewelry designers and local manufacturing, and it seemed like the right time to start this project!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The coolest thing about creating jewelry is that the finished product is really impressive! It shines and brights, it's just beautiful! The customers are happy and everyone congratulates each other! I'm also involved in the surprises and the way the jewelry will be offered. It's really nice!
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
The hardest part about being a designer is that you don't have time to enjoy these one-of-a-kind pieces. A lot of effort is put into creating custom jewelry; it's energy and creative researches that we are proud of! But very often, the deadline is tight and as soon as the jewel is produced, it's gone! We would like to be able to enjoy it longer, but we know that our clients can't wait to leave with it!
That being said, the biggest challenge is in the manufacturing: we deliver a delicate piece of jewelry that will last for a lifetime, which implies a certain degree of requirement in the manufacturing, and therefore a good collaboration between jewellers and jewelry designers.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BRAND, BENA JEWELRY.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST WHEN YOU DESIGN JEWELRY?
I design 2 different types of jewels: jewelry with gemstones, like engagement rings, and contemporary jewelry.
For the contemporary collection, I try to create jewelry that is singular and powerful at the same time. This collection was born at a time when I was searching for myself and needed to shake things up: it took the form of jewelry!
The secret of these jewels is to add balanced volumes to simple forms, with a certain influence by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Arnaldo Pomodoro or Robert Longo.
For jewelry with gems, it's a bit simpler; the choice of the central stone usually inspires the rest of the design and the brilliance of the gemstones does the rest of the work.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF JEWELRY YOU LIKE TO MAKE?
Engagement rings are always a pleasure to design! We take the time to explore as many possibilities as possible with our clients and see how we can add a unique and elegant touch that is uniquely theirs. And we often come up with results that are great inspiration for future designs.
DO YOU TARGET A SPECIFIC CLIENTELE?
At Ruby Mardi, we are of course open to everyone, but it seems to us that our jewelry and our universe speak more to aesthetes, to people sensitive to art and culture.
WHAT SETS RUBY MARDI APART FROM OTHER JEWELRY STORES?
We opened Ruby Mardi with my partner and spouse, Karène Lefebvre, who is a graphic designer, passionate about flowers, butterflies and pop culture. It was the perfect opportunity to be a different kind of jewelry store by mixing jewelry gallery, art objects and flowers. We take you to a world where we talk about beauty, pleasure and love.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE A PIECE OF CUSTOM JEWELRY CREATED?
Not to arrive at the last minute! Ha ha! Otherwise, it's always good to have a little idea of inspiration and to have set a budget. Once you know where you want to go, we take care of the rest!
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE CUSTOM JEWELRY CREATED. HOW MUCH CAN WE EXPECT TO PAY TO WORK WITH YOU?
It varies a lot. Depending on the choice of metal and its thickness, and the size and type of gemstones. But we always manage to stay within a client's budget by "playing" with all of these factors. It is also possible to recycle gold and gems that a client may already own. The best way to find out how much a project you have in mind would cost is to come and talk to us!
So, I hope this article has made you want to stop by Victor's at Ruby Mardi! Whether you're looking for Canadian jewelry, custom jewelry, flowers or a beautiful item, this is a Little Italy address to remember!
