BENEDETTA DUBINI
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY?
I was always creative as a child – I did a lot of art in school. In 2005, after graduating from high school, I went to Wimbledon to do a foundation course in arts. As part of the course, I decided to take a jewelry course and when my teachers saw I was good at working with my hands, they pushed me to pursue it further. This in turn led me to Central St. Martins to study design, the Gemology Institute of America (GIA) to get my Graduate Gemology degree and to the Gem Palace, Carolina Bucci and Pomellato for work experience. In retrospect, it was a natural progression given my artistic background. After all, jewelry pieces are wearable pieces of art. Additionally, my mother had been a jewelry designer when she was younger and my grandmother had a beautiful collection, so clearly a passion for jewelry runs in the family!
DID YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF DESIGN BACKGROUND?
I studied jewelry design at Central St. Martins and in addition to my gemology degree, I did a CAD course with the GIA.
HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS?
December will mark four years.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START YOUR COMPANY?
My time working for Pomellato in Milan was a very exciting time for me as I had previously worked for smaller brands, where everyone would work on everything. When you work for an amazingly structured company that is Pomellato, you have the ability to collaborate with the best in the field. While I learnt a lot about quality and the importance of manufacturing in Italy, I got an itch to want to do my own thing. I was 25 at the time and I would get ideas of pieces I wanted to do but didn’t fit the Pomellato aesthetic. The only way I could give these pieces a reason or an existence was to start on my own.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
London but all the production is done in Rome.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m Italian - my mother is Roman and my father is from Milan. I grew up between London and Milan.
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOUR JEWELRY
Eternal. By taking something that is from 200 B.C., such as a coin, and transforming it, you are giving it a new life.
IS THERE A UNIQUE STORY BEHIND YOUR LOGO?
Coming up with the name for the brand and designing the logo was tough but also an exciting time. I never thought I would use my surname but eventually it seemed like the most natural choice given I was the founder. Regarding the logo, I wanted something that was simple, timeless and effortless. The designer I got in touch with had previously worked on the Bottega Veneta logo. When we were discussing what I wanted my logo to represent, we went to the British Museum and found there were a lot of Roman artifacts. We noticed circles were very prominent in all the artifacts – there is something eternal in circles and given the nature of my designs it aligned perfectly. I have carried that theme throughout all my branding including my Instagram page where I crop all my images into circles.
WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH?
As a child, my mom had this ivory bracelet she would wear with a lot of other chunky pieces on her arm. As children do, I often found myself playing with it and dropping it, resulting in a few damages. She would repair it by taking it to an artisan who each time, would add a piece of silver to fuse the two pieces of horn. I broke it often which meant the bracelet acquired a lot of silver pieces – similar to Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. In my eyes, the bracelet ended up looking more beautiful and unique because of it’s newly acquired imperfections.
WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
Lion.
IF A THEME SONG PLAYED EVERY TIME YOU WALKED INTO A ROOM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Anything by Fleetwood Mac.
DO YOU HAVE A PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY YOU WEAR EVERY DAY AND IF SO, WHY?
Starting from the top: the small studs from the Empires collection. I sleep with them on.
On my hands: the Emperor Flip Ring from the Empires Collection and the Alexander the Great Ring. I take my rings off at night to go to bed.
On my wrist: my watch which I never take off. It was given to me by my mother when I graduated from university and I haven’t taken it off since.
The bigger earrings and rings I wear in the evening.
I love pieces that are every day pieces. I like the fact they don’t get in the way of me doing things.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
Classic with an edge. I don’t know if it is an Italian thing but my mom has always had a rule that you are never supposed to wear more than three colors at the same time - I always keep that in mind when I’m choosing what to wear.
LAST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU BOUGHT AND LOVED
A green sapphire I had set at The Gem Palace during my time in India. The sapphire was given to me by my mother for my birthday.
THE THING YOU ARE COVETING NEXT
Tabitha Simmons Shoes.
THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE GIVEN RECENTLY
A pair of interchangeable gem-set cufflinks by Cartier. I’m an avid vintage/antique shopper and love to spend time rummaging through small shops. Grays in London is a great place to start if you’re looking for something special.
THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED RECENTLY
A bespoke parka from enVie - you can choose everything from the fur lining to the parka tent color.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH...
...chocolate.
FAVORITE FOOD?
Pasta, the simpler the better. My go-to place in Rome is Armando Al Pantheon ask for Spaghetti alla Verde.
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?
I have yet to find something I don’t like.
WINE OR CHEESE?
Wine.
COFFEE OR TEA?
Tea.
YOGA OR BOXING?
Boxing.
FAVORITE SEASON?
Summer.
FAVORITE CITY?
London.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?
Tuscany.
THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?
'This is The Life' by Amy Macdonald.
THE LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?
Seu Jorge.
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Pulp Fiction.
SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
Teleportation.
SECRET SKILL?
I’m a great cook.
FRIENDS CHARACTER?
Monica.
INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK?
Instagram.
FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?
Evening.
LEAST FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?
Waking up.
YOU WON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...
...Serge Lutens perfume.
WHEN DO YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
When I have a new idea.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP FROM A LOW DAY?
A drink and a friend.
WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
Rings and medallions.
WHAT DOES CONFIDENCE MEAN TO YOU?
An attitude towards life and how you feel about yourself.
WHAT DOES EMPOWERED MEAN TO YOU?
Having goals and finding something you love doing.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Stress less.