Rough&Polished asked Pierre Roth, a Brussels-based jeweler with 30 years in the trade under his belt, to share the secrets of jewelry making and he kindly agreed to answer our questions.
Where did you study jewelry making?
I studied at the School of Professional Art in Brussels. However, the motivation to create jewelry came to me from my family. My father was a musician and my mother was a painter. It was them who piqued my interest in art and my desire to self-actualize in creative work.
What do you consider the main criterion for a jewelry piece?
The main criterion for a genuine piece of jewelry is the availability of high-quality gems and precious metals. But behind this there is art: every ornament is a plot embodied by the artist, which reflects his mood. In this regard, I am particularly inspired by the works of the great Carl Faberge.
Do you have regular customers? Who are they?
People come to me because they know me. They know that my jewelry pieces I make myself. They know that I will do my best to satisfy their desires. For me, there is no difference to make jewelry worth 500 euros or 10 euros. In both cases, I put my soul in what I make. My clients know that taking into account what they want I will continuously improve the design of a jewelry piece until they will be satisfied.
How do you create jewelry?
I have very few finished products. I work mainly on orders. Customers often come to me with their stones and precious metals. Depending on their requests, I make sketches. Once a customer makes his or her choice, I proceed to manufacture the jewelry piece. However, even when it is ready, the customer may change his or her requests. Therefore, I always have to model a product in such a way as to be able to introduce some changes – according to customers’ tastes.
How long does it take to make a jewelry piece?
I cannot answer this question because I do not pay attention to the time. Customers pay me for the work of art, not for speed.
What qualities should a good jeweler have?
One has to distinguish creators from craftsmen. The first create new forms, while the latter reproduce already established models. Therefore, having an idea is more important than having technical skills. Despite the fact that all forms have already been invented, the room for maneuver should be used to find a more beautiful combination of stones and metals. I create jewelry that I enjoy myself in the first place. I never repeat myself in my jewelry, and I believe that this is a priority for a jeweler.
What useful tips can you give to women?
If you are decorating yourself going to your work, do not put on too many jewels. It will be quite enough to wear earrings, a necklace and a ring. For a party, you can afford extravagance, while visiting official events it is better to wear diamond jewelry.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
