Artist’s Biography
Prince Dimitri is descendant of Catherine the Great, Louis XIV, Charlemagne, the Medicis, the Greek, Danish, Italian, Belgian and Yugoslav royal families. The jewelry collections of these families remain unrivalled for their exquisite beauty, the size of their pearls and lavish Tiaras executed in the finest white diamonds and colored gems. The House of Faberge famous in Russia executed some of this jewelry as well as great French houses such as Cartier, Boucheron and Chaumet.
His paternal great-great grandfather was the Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia, patron of the avant-garde, who spurred the creation of the Ballets Russes. His great- grandmother Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia had inherited all of the diamonds belonging to her mother, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. After the Russian Revolution some of this jewelry was acquired by Queen Mary of England and today is worn by the present Queen, Elizabeth II.
Prince Dimitri founded his company in 2007 after sixteen years as Senior Vice President of Jewelry with Sotheby’s and later as head of Jewelry at Phillips de Pury & Luxembourg auction houses.
He is co-author with Lavinia Branca Snyder of “Once Upon A Diamond: A Family Tradition of Royal Jewels”.
princedimitri.com
Prince Dimitri Interview
How has living in France and Switzerland influenced you?
You are the product of your time and of your culture. Being sensitive to art and beauty I absorbed a lot of what I saw.
At what point did you realize that you wanted to be a professional jeweler? How did your career develop after working on Wall Street? How did that lead to creating your own signature brand?
Following a training program on Wall Street for educational purposes after getting a law degree, I worked at Sotheby’s in the jewelry department where I studied gemology at the GIA and became a jewelry expert and Senior Vice President of the jewelry department. In 1998 a friend of mine had returned from Brazil wearing some cufflinks made of lovely stones but badly mounted. I suggested he drill a hole in the center and put a diamond to create an invisible mounting. That led to a cufflinks collection that evolved into women’s jewelry. I left Sotheby’s to work at Phillips for a while and then I designed a pearl collection for ASSAEL the famous pearl dealer and after that on my own.
How do art and design merge in the elaboration of your work?
Most of what I design is inspired by the decorative arts of every culture in the world and in history. I am always inspired by the beautiful shapes I see here and there. Right now, for example, I am making a necklace and earrings inspired by the marvelous and mysterious ADINKRA symbols of West Africa but in the colors of Ancient Egypt objects in gold, turquoise and Lapis Lazuli.
From the beginning of an inspiration to the perfection of a masterpiece. This is the complexity of the artisanship process. How would you describe this procedure?
First comes an idea that I design and modify until I am pleased with it, then it goes to the jeweler with whom I sit down and brainstorm. There can be numerous meetings to go over every detail until the completion of the piece.
In the meantime, things can change. There can also be mistakes that I end up liking…
Which materials do you like working with the most?
I like all materials, platinum, 18k, 20k, 22k yellow or pink gold and of course I love 24k gold. I also love wood, Damascus steel, oxidized bronze and more such unusual materials as I call them.
What’s your design philosophy?
The front must be as perfect as the back, every detail must be impeccable. The jewel itself must make the wearer beautiful and be flattering. As I say in the preface of my book, I want my jewelry to give she who wears it the privilege of beauty that will place her above the rest of us common mortals.
What has been the greatest recognition of your career?
When my tiara was on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and was used by the Herald Tribune along with one of the Queen Mother’s tiaras and the Fabergé Cyclamen Tiara of the Duchess of Westminster. It was in 2002 at the most famous tiara exhibition ever in London.
What do you want women to feel when wearing your jewelry?
I want them to feel glamorous, elegant, and beautiful.
Which piece or collection to date has given you the most satisfaction?
All of them give me satisfaction. The creative process is always exciting.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your
career, what would it be?
Don’t be so trustful, make sure every detail is in writing.
Favorite quote?
For those who can listen, even stones speak.
Editor: Lisa Portscher