About Rainer von Garlen

Rainer von Garlen was born and brought up in a family of designers and artists and after finishing his Master's in Jewelry design at the most reputed Design university in Pforzheim, Germany, he worked for Stahl Jewelry manufacturing company for 13 years, where he was in charge of the costume jewelry collection for Lanvin and later the gold jewelry collection for Nina Ricci. During his time there, he perfected not only his idea creation and designing skills, but also his model-making, technical and goldsmith skills.

In 1997, he started as a free lance designer and has mainly been designing jewelry for jewelry manufacturers ever since. He has designed:

• sophisticated, high-end fountain pens, watches and cuff-links for Montblanc, especially a fountain pen, watch and a pair of cuff-links completely set with baguette-shaped emeralds and diamonds for the Sheik of Brunei,

• fine white, yellow and rosé gold jewelry for Leo Wittwer,

• modern, extravagant silver, 18ct yellow gold and platinum jewelry for Siegfried Becker,

• silver and fine yellow gold jewelry for Stahl,

• silver and fine gold jewelry for French companies such as Lanvin and Nina Ricci.

Even though closely and intensely involved in the development of the varied collections to deliver at the required deadlines, he won the De Beers award in 1997, the design award at the Institute Mystère by the Bunz company in 1999, and an award for design at the Platinum Design Competition in 2005.

Being a one-stop manufacturer of exclusive jewelry from design, model making, silver and gold working all through to the final piece, he has been able to supply special clients looking for exclusive designs and jewels besides developing his own line.

Nature has always been a reliable source of his inspiration. He seems to wish to capture the fascinating beauty of nature and its magical phenomena in his designs, such as the pretty flowers in spring, the mysterious forests, the enticing oceans, the awe-inspiring mountains. He seems to remind the wearer of his jewelry to take time off to enjoy the wondrous natural beauty of our world, the simple pleasures of life.

Personal Statement:

Like many creative workers, I feel greatly inspired by the nature. The principle of my work is the wonder in the simplicity of the nature around us.

I start working with basic geometrical forms like circles, spheres, squares, cubes, cylinders, spindles etc. Using the diversity of nature as my muse, I love to reshape and rework these basic shapes. The result is a variety of surprising and magical objects d'art.

It fascinates me every time to transform one form into another and discover the number of interesting possibilities. For example, to capture the moment when a drop falls and scatters into a splash (just as a moment in one's life can change into a story.) The ripples on a quiet surface of water like smiles you may pass on.

Or how a simple cube can be transformed into a magnificent pyramid ring, and this again reformed into an immaculate opening bud.

My jewelry relates to women who have a strong sense of self-esteem and freedom. The clear smooth curves are deeply feminine yet unique like the style itself.

Experience:

since 2012

• Designing and supervision of model making
  for to date  

  • STAHL Germany Men's jewellery

  • SIEGRFRIED BECKER platinum, gold and silver jewellery

  • LEO WITTWER diamond jewellery

  • LANVIN men’s jewellery

2012-2017    

• NINA RICCI men's collection

2012-2015   

• BURKART+BISCHOFF

• SAINT MAURICE

2008-2010

• Head of Design at the company STAHL  

• Supervision of model making in Bangkok

• Supervision of the men's collection      

• Franchise for PORSCHE DESIGN, LANVIN and NINA RICCI

2006

• Participation at DTC/J.W. Thompson product propositions

2005     

• Award for design at the "Platinum design competition 2005"

since 2002

• Designing for LEO WITTWER

1997-2001  

• Jewellery exhibition at the Inhorgenta jewellery fair

1999     

• Design award at the Institute Mystère/Bunz  

• Designs for MONTBLANC

1991     

• Award at the De Beers "Diamonds today 97" competition

since 1991  

• Freelance designer for jewellery manufacturers   

  • SIEGERIED BECKER, LEO WITTWER, OEDING-ERDEL, ROWI

1984-1991  

• Joined Jewellery manufacturing company STAHL      

• In charge of costume jewelry for LANVIN

Education:

1984     

• Master's in jewellery design  

  • Design University of Pforzheim

1982

• Six months practical studies in Barcelona  

1979-1984    

• Bachelor’s in jewellery design  

  • Design University of Pforzheim

1977-1979    

• Technical preparatory course at the Polytechnic College in Pforzheim

1977     

• High School Diploma