Hitting the sweet spot between today’s must-have accessories and tomorrow’s heirlooms, Briony Raymond’s eponymous jewelry brand has amassed admirers from supermodels to stylish moms. We caught up with the woman behind the business—and found that she’s just as brilliant as her dazzling creations.
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“My mother used to call me ‘Magpie’ because I was so drawn to shiny, sparkly things,” recalls jeweler Briony Raymond. “I have such vivid memories of sitting on the floor in her dressing room, playing with her jewelry. I was so enamored with the colors and brilliance and the happy feelings the pieces evoked.” For New York– based Raymond, it’s apparent that starting her own line of twinkling baubles has always been written in the stars.
Following a brief foray into the world of finance, the Connecticut-born-and-raised Raymond took a career detour to follow her first love, spending nearly a decade training with the maestros at Van Cleef & Arpels. In 2015, she opened Briony Raymond New York. From classic gold chains and delicately sculpted bangles to diamond-studded sunburst pendants and earrings with plumes of turquoise beads, the plethora of pieces Raymond dreams up at her sumptuous Upper East Side atelier feel timeless yet wonderfully modern and always a bit playful—not unlike her own spirited personality (you can often find her jamming away to the lively beats of retro Latin jazz during a design session). “The substantial, splashy jewelry of the 1960s and ’70s with those juicy, colorful stones has always appealed to me,” she explains.
Her keen eye for design, however, goes beyond merely good looks. “Rings should feel deliciously soft and smooth inside, earrings should face forward and necklaces should fall at the right length,” she says. “Every last detail matters tremendously to me.” As such, Raymond oversees each step from conception and creation—she employs a team of master jewelers at her workshop—to final delivery. “I thank my lucky stars every day that I’m fortunate enough to do what I truly love,” she adds. “The high I get from designing jewelry is intoxicating!”
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Briony's Favorites
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Bal D’Afrique Eau de Parfum
By Byredo, from $190, netaporter.com.
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Bel Tempo Sheets
By Matouk, from $198. matouk.com
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Double-Breasted Wool-Twill Blazer
By Balmain, $2,295. netaporter.com.
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Extra Lip Tint
By Bobbi Brown, $32. saksfifthavenue.com.
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Marine Toile
By Schumacher, available through a designer. fschumacher.com
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Day-Date 40 in 18k yellow gold
By Rolex, $36,550. rolex.com.
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Antique Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Ginger Jar
Late 19th century, $395. chairish.com
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Buena Vista Social Club
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Étoile Sapphire & Diamond Eternity Ring in 18K Yellow Gold
By Briony Raymond, $9,200. brionyraymond.com.
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Hangisi Blue Satin Jewel Buckle Pumps
By Manolo Blahnik, $995. manoloblahnik.com.
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Small Silver Hairpin
By Deborah Pagani, $70. deborahpagani.com.
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Tsar Imperial Beluga Hybrid Caviar
By Petrossian, from $312. petrossian.com.
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Oriente Italiano Dinner Plate
By Ginori 1735, $210 for two. ginori1735.com.
