LAS VEGAS. Coomi Bhasin of the eponymous design firm spent two weeks in Barcelona last summer, much of it marveling over the Basílica i Templo Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, designed by Antoni Gaudi. Her biggest takeaway? Memories of the stunning massive church, still under construction more than 100 years after work began.
I could have gone there every day for two months and still not seen everything, Bhasin says.
In homage to the church, she let it inspire her newest jewelry collection, dubbed Sagrada and unveiled at Couture 2017, the high-end trade-only jewelry fair, in June.
To get into a Gaudi mood, Bhasin rented an apartment that belonged to the architects familya flat located directly across from the Casa Batlló. He lived there when he was building it to better supervise it, Bhasin explains about its history. When the jewelry designer wasnt admiring its viewevery morning and every night I would sit for hours looking at it, she saysshe was at the Sagrada Família absorbing its majesty.
Multiple aspects of the Sagrada influenced the distinct looks in Coomis newest works. For starters, raised-print Latin Bible verses on interior doors inspired script-focused styles. Instead of Bible verses, however, Bhasin used famous quotes from Gaudi, such as Originality is returning to the origin, Nothing is invented, for its written in nature first, and Come early tomorrow, for we shall do very beautiful things. Stained-glass effects in plique-a-jour enamel detail the under- and insides of these pieces.
More inspiration comes from inside the basilica. Gaudis choice of columnssingular ones that branch like trees at the topare evident in airy and elegant gold silhouettes. A geometric light display plays out in small akoya pearls and pink sapphires that recreate the lovely glow of sun filtering through the church decoration, and Gaudis famous hanging chain models are evoked in multi-strand gemstone necklaces. Finally, the floral pattern on the ceiling is represented in custom flower- and star-like gemstone cuts in smoky topaz and tanzanite, stones that cast a beautiful glow in the light. All pieces are made in 20k gold.
The collection will be in Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue by mid-September. For early inquiries, reach out to the designer (contact info in captions).
