Livia Primo Lack
1. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
I am Managing Editor at katerinaperez.com and a freelance watches and jewelry journalist.
2. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY INDUSTRY?
I got into the jewelry industry by the most wonderful happenstance. I had always loved jewelry and accessorizing and when I graduated university, I knew I wanted to do something creative. Most of my friends were creative in terms of designing, fine art and photography, but that wasn’t my creativity. Then, one day, an Instagram influencer I was following (Beanie Major), posted a photo of a post-it note that read “Looking for jewellery lover.” I slid into her DMs saying, “Pick me!”. She interviewed me for an internship role and after three months of interning for her, I became her content coordinator. That was the beginning of how I fell down the rabbit hole that is the jewelry world and I couldn’t be happier.
3. WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
I’m in between Paris and London.
4. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m basically like a dog you adopt at the pound, a little bit of everything! I am Swiss, American and British with Italian and Israeli heritage. I was born in the U.S., my mom is Italian-American, my dad is English-Israeli and I grew up in Switzerland.
5. WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH?
That would be my mom’s engagement ring. It’s a piece that I find very comforting as it was always on her hand and it was something I would play with. It was a constant, something I always associated with my mom. And now that I am engaged, I get to have one myself! My fiancé knew how much I loved my mom’s engagement ring so when he proposed, he based the design off of her ring so now when my mom and I speak, we call each other ring buddies!
6. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT JEWELRY?
What I love is there is often a very interesting story behind the piece and it’s the only form of wearable art that exists, which I think is amazing. You also get to know someone better by asking about the jewelry they are wearing.
7. DESCRIBE YOUR JEWELRY STYLE.
Very mix and match. I wear my pieces based on how they make me feel, not necessarily their aesthetic. If I’m feeling edgy, cool and powerful, I’ll wear my Bea Bongiasca earrings that are really far out and attention grabbing. If I’m seeking a little bit of comfort and protection, I’ll wear my Locket LONDON with the birthstones of everyone in my family.
8. WHERE DO YOU GET MOST OF JEWELRY FROM?
A lot of my jewelry is a mix of pieces by independent contemporary jewelry designers and antique pieces. I love the antique section in Liberty London - you can always find something unexpected. In fact, I used my first ever paycheck at said antique section and bought a beautiful pair of opal diamond studs and it’s one of my favorite memories. You see, my mom had told that when I receive my first paycheck I should go and spend it all on something and that’s exactly what I did and now when I wear my studs, I can’t help but smile.
9. WHO IS YOUR JEWELRY ICON/ROLE MODEL?
Elsa Peretti.
10. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STONE?
Alexandrite – I don’t own anything with it but there is something so magical about it.
11. DO YOU HAVE A PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY YOU WEAR EVERY DAY AND IF SO, WHY?
There are three pieces:
A pendant my grandmother gave me when I turned 18.
I am Jewish and when you turn 18, it’s tradition to receive a pendant by a family member with the word “Chai” which is the word for “life” in Hebrew. The letters together make the number 18 and it’s a good luck charm in Judaism. My grandma gave me an 18k yellow gold Chai pendant and I have never taken it off since my 18th birthday – it’s been through the best and the worst moments with me. It’s not a piece of jewelry, it’s a part of me.
A Cartier Love ring my mom gave me for my 22nd birthday.
Inside the ring she engraved a sentence from Winnie the Pooh, “If there ever comes a day, when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.
My engagement ring.
I wear my grandma on my neck, the love of my life on my left hand and my mom on the right hand – it feels like the circle of life is complete and that I have everything I need.
Jewelry is something that you protect yourself with, not necessarily in a talismanic way but it keeps the energy and love of the people I love and that energizes me.
12. HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR YOUR JEWELRY?
Protected and energized. I want it to make me feel beautiful but not necessarily in an aesthetic way but more so in bringing out the warmth in me. I want to feel like I am shining.
13. LAST PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU BOUGHT AND LOVED?
A pair of bunny rabbit earrings from Yvonne Léon. I was at her shop for the first time about seven months ago and there were these adorable pink sapphire and diamond pavé earrings. They were so cute, funny and beautiful and gave me the biggest grin on my face. I knew that something that made me laugh and smile this much, needed to be a part of my jewelry box.
14. THE BEST JEWELRY GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED?
The holy trinity I mentioned previously: my engagement ring, the Cartier Love ring from my mom and the Chai pendant from my grandmother.
15. THE THING YOU ARE COVETING NEXT?
A pair of Fernando Jorge, chalcedony earrings - no one works chalcedony like him.
16. WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
A firefly – they light up and make everyone smile and that is what I want to do.
17. FAVORITE FOOD?
Italian.
18. LEAST FAVORITE FOOD?
Ginger.
19. WINE OR CHEESE?
Cheese…hello! I’m Swiss! They would revoke my passport!
20. COFFEE OR TEA?
Coffee.
21. YOGA OR BOXING?
Boxing.
22. FAVORITE SEASON?
Winter.
23. FAVORITE CITY?
Florence.
24. SUPERPOWER OF CHOICE?
I would love to heal – to be able to put my hands on someone and heal whatever is ailing them.
25. SECRET SKILL?
I am a trained opera singer.
26. WHEN DO YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
When I am with my family.
27. YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Being out of control.
28. HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP FROM A LOW DAY?
I call my sister.
29. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPIEST?
The holy trinity I previously mentioned.
30. WHAT PIECE(S) OF JEWELRY MAKES YOU FEEL STRONGEST?
My engagement ring – knowing that I found that partner, that gives me a huge amount of stability and strength.
31. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would tell my younger self, that it’s ok. It applies to any situation. Everything is temporary. Even when you feel your worst, don’t worry it will go away. Nothing lasts forever and that is sometimes a very good thing
32. WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
When I was 12, I was a little reporter on a kids’ daytime show in the U.S. called Teen Kids News. My grandpa was the producer of the show, so he put me on the show!
33. WHAT DOES ‘JOY’ MEAN TO YOU?
Joy and being grateful go hand in hand. If you are truly grateful and appreciate the good and the bad, you have joy in your life.