Lord Jewelry: A Family and Design-Forward Atelier

With an extensive knowledge of craftsmanship and an exceptional eye for design, Sinork Agdere tells the story of his jewelry journey, sharing how the natural world around him inspires creativity. Agdere speaks further about his daughter, Lena, his inspiring business partner,  and their process. 

What sparked your interest in wanting to work with a goldsmith at 14 years old?

To be honest, I was never very good at school, but my interest in creative arts, such as sculpting and painting, was apparent starting from a young age.  My father recognized this creative flame burning bright in my heart and suggested that I give goldsmithing a chance. And the rest is history…

Snake Ring, by Lord Jewelry. Featuring diamonds and translucent blue enamel, set in 18K yellow gold.

What prompted you to see that jewelry enameling was crucial on your journey as a jewelry designer? What about this technique draws you in?

Color provokes a psychic vibration. It has the power to soothe, energize, empower, also to create excitement, bring healing and so much more. Working with enamel gives me the opportunity to create unique experiences with the use of color. I love the endless possibilities when it comes to enamel colors, shades, and combinations. I find a lot of inspiration in nature and from the natural world. Being able to translate what I see and feel through color is what makes enameling a crucial part of my process.

Can you tell our readers about your 2002 experience launching Lord Jewelry?

Being an entrepreneur and launching a brand is not for the faint of heart. Needless to say, launching Lord Jewelry required a lot of determination, learning, and patience. The first few years were not easy, but I know better than to give up when the road gets rough. When you are first starting off, there will always be people who will tell you what you should be doing. For me, I’ve always known what I wanted to do, and most importantly who I wanted to be! My brand is a reflection of that. Over the years, I listened to my heart and stayed true to my vision of the Lord brand. That has made every rough road along the way worth traveling!

Sapphire Ring, by Lord Jewelry. Featuring blue sapphires, diamonds, and translucent orange enamel, set in 18K yellow gold.

You work with your fabulous daughter, Lena. What is your favorite part about your business partnership?

Without a doubt, my favorite part is that we have a tremendous amount of love and respect for one other. Our strengths and gifts complement each other so well! As her father, of course, I am extremely proud Lena. She is a powerful and creative woman, and I am so happy to be on this bejeweled journey with her.

Can you tell our readers about your design process—how does each Lord Jewelry piece become a reality?

It all starts with an idea for me… When I get a creative hit, it usually tends to be a big picture kind of idea. So, the process starts with taking that big idea and scaling it down to a small piece and eventually imagining how I can translate that into a piece of jewelry- a wearable piece of art to be more specific. The next step is all about sourcing the perfect components to bring my vision to reality followed by the technical elements like metalsmithing, setting, and enameling.

We would love to know about the most memorable and meaningful pieces—to you—that you have made. What is the story behind them?

All my pieces are very special and meaningful to me. Just to name off a few I would say my Carousel ring, the Queen Bee pendant, the Ballerina ring, and the Crown ring are all very dear to my heart. I especially love them because they are one-of-a-kind statement pieces with extensive technical complexity. Their stories are unique, as they each take me back to a childhood memory.

You have an eye for seeing animals in a new way and translating them into miniature, masterful works of art. What draws you to them? How have your most recent collections been inspired by them?

Spider Necklace, by Lord Jewelry. Featuring diamonds, rubies, and translucent enamel.

I love being in nature and observing wildlife.  I have always been fascinated by all types of animals such as butterflies, dragonflies, birds, horses, elephants just to name a few. I am drawn to their unique designs, their freedom and “wildness.” My most recent collection continues to expand on the animal theme while incorporating different insects.

What does this new year ahead look like for Lord Jewelry? Are there any collections you would like our readers to be on the lookout for?

I have something very exciting in the works for 2020. [This is a] project I have been working on for the last few years, and without a question, this is the biggest one of my jewelry career– believe me, I don’t say that lightly. I can’t share much more for now, but I promise that Pietra Communications will be one of the first ones to find out.

What inspired you to pursue the technique of working with enamel and precious materials? When did you start creating pieces in this style? Can you tell us about your first work?

When I was 14 years old, I became an apprentice to a renowned artisan and goldsmith in a small workshop in Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. Some of the first technical skills I learned from my mentor included enameling, along with basics of goldsmithing. I sat next to him and watched him work for nearly six months before I had my first chance to touch a piece of precious metal and start working on it myself. The first piece of jewelry I made at that time was a silver ring with colored stones and enameled details, which I ended up gifting to my mother for Mother’s Day that year. So, working with enameling and precious stones has been my style from day one and since then a crucial part of my process.

Crown Ring, by Lord Jewelry. Featuring diamonds, rubies, and translucent enamel, set in 18K yellow gold and platinum.

How do feel about the concept of jewelry as an investment? How would you advise someone looking to buy your jewelry as an investment?

The way I see it is that the concept of jewelry as an investment is similar to investing in art, especially when it comes to artisan and handmade jewelry. Handmade jewelry is more of an investment than their mass-produced counterparts because of their rarity, quality, and uniqueness. It is a long-term investment that can be passed down in a family for generations as an heirloom. I would advise someone to buy my jewelry as an investment if only they love the piece, knowing that the value does not only comes from the precious metal and stones used to create it, but the artistic passion that is behind it as well.

Where does your jewelry fit in the “North American” aesthetic? What do your US and Canadian customers look to you for, design-wise?

My jewelry combines European style, old-world luxury with a touch of modern. It is for the buyer who loves bold statement pieces that are unique, artistic, and timeless. My clients are collectors who love creative statement pieces.

To learn more about Lord Jewelry, visit them online here.

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