In 2013, Brooklyn-based impartial high-quality jewellery designer Angie Marei debuted her label, Diaboli Kill. Quick-forward to 2023 and he or she’s celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her model, now known as Marei New York, with a brand new Dumbo design studio and showroom house, and an expanded providing of intricate designs.
For the reason that inception of her high-quality jewellery label, the Egyptian Dominican, native New Yorker has been designing into a distinct segment, fearless but seductive élan. She launched Diaboli Kill with edgy unisex designs (the model identify was impressed by ‘60s film posters of “The Third Voice,” in addition to a childhood nickname) with principally sterling silver and onyx items. Throughout this time, Marei was working as a artistic director in promoting; right this moment, the founder and jewellery designer continues her position as a contract artistic director.
As time went on, Marei expanded her providing with gold and gems, in addition to bridal jewellery, which influenced her to relaunch her jewellery model as Marei New York (and add Megan Magliozzi as director of operations and consumer companies) in 2021.
Marei New York’s Damian horn talisman pearl necklace with pavé-set good diamonds in 18-karat yellow gold.
Courtesy of Marei New York.
“As I began to develop my abilities extra as a jeweler and designer, the designs grew to become extra refined. My model grew to become extra female and extra impressed by historical Egypt and my heritage — it was far more refined than earlier than. I didn’t wish to use the identify Diaboli Kill anymore, as a result of it wasn’t diabolical, however fairly actually stunning. So now I take advantage of my final identify, which is Egyptian,” she mentioned. “Once I first began making jewellery, I used to be extra impressed by medieval jewellery, however the extra I discovered about jewellery making, my inspiration began turning into historical Egypt, which is smart as a result of it’s going again to my roots.”
The rebrand wasn’t a refresh in design, however fairly an extension, as seen by means of her authentic Diaboli Kill Damian horn talisman ring, earring and necklace designs, which play into her ongoing inspirations of royal historical Egyptian jewellery, the Egyptian revival interval, Artwork Deco, structure, non secular mythology and “New York-y cool.”
Angie Marei contained in the Marei New York’s Brooklyn design studio and showroom.
Courtesy of Marei New York.
“I take a number of inspiration from previous designers similar to Lalique or classic Cartier. By learning how they crafted jewellery is how I discovered completely different methods — studying from the previous masters whereas infusing my very own taste from rising up in New York Metropolis,” she mentioned. “I needed to include the sting of New York — you’ll see a number of pointed edges, items that may form of appear to be weapons. The entire thought of lovely weapons happened from going out clubbing [in New York] at a younger age — my mother would inform me to ‘carry one thing, simply in case.’ I like that concept of the femme fatale — one thing very female and seductive, however don’t mess together with her thought.”
Right now, Marei’s expanded providing blends previous world magnificence with city-minded edginess by means of her customized and signature assortment works, which can be found direct-to-consumer by way of her web site and showroom. The road was additionally featured, and nonetheless out there for buy, by means of Sotheby’s “Sensible & Black” promoting exhibition.
Marei New York’s Palmyra ring with good marquise-cut white diamond in 18-karat yellow gold.
Courtesy of Marei New York.
Her newest Palmyra assortment infuses the concepts by means of designs that play to the “destructive areas of palm leaves discovered alongside the Nile, the grandeur of historical temples and mystique of Luxor [Egypt],” such because the Palmyra diamond engagement ring with marquise-cut diamond surrounded by pavé-set diamonds and mounted in 18-karat yellow gold; Palmyra eternity bands, and glossy Palmyra choker necklace, every with brilliant-cut white diamonds and provided in 18-karat white, yellow and rose gold. Elsewhere, Marei performs into structure and Artwork Deco together with her Amanti, Invidia Column and Marei Marquis collections whereas infusing non secular mythology by means of her serpent-inspired Ayla Arabesque providing.
Chatting with her customized work, mentioned to make up about 50 p.c of her enterprise, Marei famous that she likes to spend time with every buyer to “channel their power and essence into the items” she’s making for them; she additionally blesses items to imbue them with constructive power. Customized work ranges from one-of-a-kind, bespoke items to giving purchasers’ present jewellery new life by means of reworked designs and customizing assortment kinds.
Contained in the Marei New York’s Brooklyn design studio and showroom.
Courtesy of Marei New York.
Shifting into her new Dumbo, Brooklyn design studio and showroom this yr served as an extension of her purchasers’ customized work expertise.
“In the course of the pandemic, my condominium became my studio [prior to then, Marei was working in a smaller Dumbo studio]. In April, we moved into this house, which overlooks the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges and is by the water. I just like the power of water and discover it very calming; it helps me reset and really feel grounded,” Marei mentioned.
The intense, open and alluring multipurpose house is used for design work, events and future workshops, day-to-day operations and consumer conferences. Throughout appointments, most of that are for engagement and wedding ceremony rings, Marei sketches out designs with the client and presents them with pre-sourced gems to personalize every expertise.
Marei mentioned jewellery costs on her web site begin at $250 (for Exquis beveled edge infinity rings in silver); bigger, high-value gemstone items can go as much as round $85,000 and past (for her standout black opium Hayya Serpentine earrings with black enamel, blue sapphire and brilliant-cut white diamond earrings). Most designs’ pricing is purposely not listed on the web site because of customization choices for every stone’s worth.
Marei New York’s NYX Tahitian black circle pearl necklace with pave-set good diamonds in 18-karat rose gold.
Courtesy of Marei New York.
Her objectives for Marei New York’s future embody increasing her distinctive bridal suite whereas including “therapeutic” jewels, as in protecting amulets and talismans, to her luxurious aesthetic.
Talking about her 10-year milestone, Marei mentioned, “I really like what I do and I really like the problem as a result of I like to study. It’s been an enormous studying curve coming from the company promoting world whereas being an artist — studying the enterprise, translating from silver to tremendous excessive and high-quality jewellery and constructing relationships with suppliers and purchasers have all been necessary. I really like preserving the custom of expertise.”