﻿{"id":946,"date":"2011-12-16T13:49:00","date_gmt":"2011-12-16T13:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/?guid=7c0929074bb1ab480255060255d548a4"},"modified":"2011-12-16T13:49:00","modified_gmt":"2011-12-16T13:49:00","slug":"designer-jewel-duncan-stevens-opulence-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/2011\/12\/16\/designer-jewel-duncan-stevens-opulence-men\/","title":{"rendered":"Designer Jewel: Duncan Stevens, Opulence &#8211; Men!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><i><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">We are all born originals &#8211; why is it so many of us die copies? &#8211; Edward Young<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><i><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">Duncan has again released a mouth-wateringly significant piece of jewellery. Signet is part of his extravagant one-off rarities and is Duncan\u2019s first men\u2019s ring to join the Opulence Collection, that collection of rings and necklaces which grabbed attention in the media throughout the global financial meltdown for their oversized gemstones, diamonds and weighty solid gold sculptural forms.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UvVyHyl2iCg\/TulQRgTKSkI\/AAAAAAAANAE\/f9iDKfMdMCg\/s1600\/dunSignet+web.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" border=\"0\" height=\"267\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UvVyHyl2iCg\/TulQRgTKSkI\/AAAAAAAANAE\/f9iDKfMdMCg\/s400\/dunSignet+web.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">&nbsp;<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">Handcrafted in 18k yellow gold, this polished men\u2019s ring has a gently curved top which houses the fifteen specially cut square gemstones. These stones are set into three lines, its grid broken by the solitary Diamond amongst all the Onyx. Along the inside of the band is a single small round diamond used as part of a personalised message and the recipient of this ring absolutely loved it, even commenting on how the piece was even more spectacular than the drawings.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">&nbsp;<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">The opulent Signet ring will be but the beginning of his men&#8217;s range, as well as some other women&#8217;s sumptuous pieces to join this rarefied collection. Only a handful of these pieces have been created so far, the sheer extravagance of the materials used, keeping them reserved for the most discerning and fortunate few, and with clients including an African and European royal, as well as women of means, it is no surprise that his work continues to grab the attention of loyal clients and collectors abroad.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BNQyo4ZYR_M\/TulQKERe1jI\/AAAAAAAAM_0\/cq03DAa2oiA\/s1600\/dunn83486492477_2022695_8225929.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BNQyo4ZYR_M\/TulQKERe1jI\/AAAAAAAAM_0\/cq03DAa2oiA\/s320\/dunn83486492477_2022695_8225929.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">In 2009, Duncan released what became known as the Opulence Collection. He was not afraid to buck against the prevailing trends of that time to go smaller, more commercial and cheaper. Duncan\u2019s intention with the Opulence Collection is a strong desire to develop a strand of one-off collectors pieces, a body of estate jewellery. Investment pieces of solid precious metals and gems, with his over-arching vision to develop no more than a hundred pieces a year of spectacular jewellery, each piece having it\u2019s own essence, fulfilling it\u2019s own vision, not tied into being part of a set. In a sense, the piece itself should be able to stand alone, the wearer needing no other artifice.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><i>\u201cDuncan Stevens whose pieces are rare objets d\u2019art in their own right\u2026creates pieces of high value that are infused with the energy that is present in this talented man dedicated to high end craftsmanship.\u201d<\/i> \u2013 Luxury News<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cH7lo3mRzXU\/TulQVxPuZqI\/AAAAAAAANAM\/wTZ0D-b48L8\/s1600\/dunVolcano+Ring.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cH7lo3mRzXU\/TulQVxPuZqI\/AAAAAAAANAM\/wTZ0D-b48L8\/s320\/dunVolcano+Ring.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">Duncan has never truly felt comfortable with the idea of making multiples of pieces. He has however developed ranges of jewellery, where perhaps no more than a 100 of his smaller ready-to-wear pieces have been created (in his mind this constitutes mass production). But the pieces that reside in the Opulence collection are some of his most fabulous pieces, not only for their cost, but also for the manner in which they shall never be repeated. And there-in lies the beauty in what Duncan does, part of his design and commissioning process to create these signature pieces are carefully thought out shapes and material or in-depth meetings with his clients to ascertain their needs.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\">&nbsp;<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"color: black;\">Attention to detail and careful selection of materials ensures that these pieces are special, each one a small part of the designer himself. Duncan never wants to compete in the saturated mass produced market, the hallmark of our industrial age, instead, he continues to produce a small quantity of special pieces and&nbsp;<\/span>builds a portfolio of some of the most exquisite and bold one-off pieces around.<\/span><\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"tr_bq\"><p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><i>\u201cDuncan Stevens is not only one of South Africa\u2019s leading jewellery artists in creativity and design, he is also a remarkably clever designer.  His love of innovative design can be seen in his pieces and demonstrates his commitment to unique jewellery matched with fine craftsmanship.\u201d<\/i> \u2013 Makia<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hQQ5pPGuRn0\/TulQFzPyHAI\/AAAAAAAAM_k\/K9zVDyltHxI\/s1600\/dun373848_10150354292212478_83486492477_8140719_1668788957_n.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" border=\"0\" height=\"71\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hQQ5pPGuRn0\/TulQFzPyHAI\/AAAAAAAAM_k\/K9zVDyltHxI\/s200\/dun373848_10150354292212478_83486492477_8140719_1668788957_n.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/><\/a><br \/><b>About Duncan Stevens<\/b><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: x-small;\">The formation of Duncan Stevens is born of a love for jewellery and objets d\u2019art. There is a clear aesthetic to the work designed and produced by him. The intention is to continue to create unique pieces of high value work, small batch pieces of mid-range priced jewellery and a range of affordable jewellery, all the while maintaining quality and design integrity.<\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><br \/><\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: x-small;\">The core ethos of Duncan Stevens is simple;quality over quantity. His core values are defined by a highly developed aesthetic, but matched with fine craftsmanship. &nbsp;Limited editions, one-offs and small runs means every piece is catalogued, and every piece remains special. <\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><br \/><\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: x-small;\">Every time a person purchases a piece of jewellery, they know the quantity available, and that should they own a unique piece, that it belongs only to them, and will never be repeated again.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;\">Check out&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.duncanstevens.com\/\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" >www.duncanstevens.com<\/a>&nbsp;to see images of more stunning works from Duncan Stevens or join the Duncan Stevens Jewellery Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Duncan-Stevens-Jewellery\/83486492477\" style=\"color: #1155cc;\" >http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/<wbr><\/wbr>pages\/Duncan-Stevens-<wbr><\/wbr>Jewellery\/83486492477<\/a>&nbsp;or get jewellery styling &amp; gift tips @DSJewellery on Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;\">Source: &nbsp;Press Release from Duncan Stevens<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"blogger-post-footer\"><img width='1' height='1' src='https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/4698837677539896356-2433841134484900717?l=dailyjewel.blogspot.com' alt='' \/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are all born originals &#8211; why is it so many of us die copies? &#8211; Edward YoungDuncan has again released a mouth-wateringly significant piece of jewellery. Signet is part of his extravagant one-off rarities and is Duncan\u2019s first men\u2019s ring to join t&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[61,8,480,527,411,27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/dailyjewel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}