When school drop-out Sevan Bicakci unveiled his first collection in March 2002, few could have imagined that the 36-year-old would irrevocably change the way we look at rings.
Today, Sevan's unique creations adorn not just the shelves of jewellery houses around the world, but also the fingers of celebrities like Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta Jones and Lindsay Lohan.
The Turkish designer was in town for the opening of his first boutique in the Middle East, at Wafi City, yesterday. Here's what he had to say about his eclectic jewels.
On why his jewellery is so heavily influenced by the Byzantium era
Because I always see the enchanting ambience of Istanbul in my dreams. I often dream of myself as an Ottoman Sultan — sometimes I am his concubine, sometimes a Byzantine queen. I conjure what they used to wear and try to imagine what they would wear if they were still around. My work is a reflection of the enigma that is Turkey today – an iconic East-West metropolis with a mixed identity.
On his fixation on figures and using fruits, animals and insects as design elements
I am like Alice in Wonderland. Just like her, I live in a fantasy world with nature blossoming around me. The fixation also has to do with my latest muse – my daughter, who's not even three years old. I try to see things through her eyes and, sure enough, have created cocktail rings with miniature snails, clams and butterflies; necklaces adorned with bugs and beautiful insects.
I am also trying to make clusters of octopuses, snails, starfish and stingrays that look very animated.
On why it takes him so long to make a ring
There's a huge difference between rings which are manufactured in a week or two and those which are crafted over a few months. Each ring in my collection takes up to one year to produce and all jewellery is handcrafted with only one piece being made for every design. Hence each piece is completely unique.
On the age group of his clientele
The youngest wearer is 13, the oldest 84. The majority of them, however, would be between 30 and 60 years. As a matter of fact, I have never considered my designs to be for a specific age group. It's for anyone who feels connected to the ideas behind them.
