We’re all living our lives in the fast lane in accordance with the fleeting changes taking place in our overall lifestyle. Perhaps, this is the reason why doing whatever is required to succeed in life is given the topmost priority. In fact, it’s quite natural considering the high level of rush people are living with either to make it big or if not, then at least reach where they deserve to be since the option of failure is undoubtedly out of the question here. And for the best talents working in the jewelry sector, it’s no different at all as each one of them seems to be busy finding a way of their own to stay ahead of the curve by designing unique creations that are different, and most importantly transcendent.
Needless to say, creating such exquisite pieces of jewelry is a time-consuming exercise in the context of the cliché we follow that good things take time and effort plus a lot of creative energy. And who can understand it better than Barcelona-born US-based fine jewelry designer Susana Grau Batlle (founder of her eponymous jewelry line) who has lived and worked closely as an aid-worker along with her colleagues to assist people in war-ridden countries where the humanitarian issues have been nothing but extremely alarming by definition!
And to do something that really captures the unyielding spirits of these people even while living under such egregious circumstances is what she has been able to successfully achieve by designing mindful pieces of jewelry that are embedded with elements of absolute audacity and reverberating beauty in terms of both design and materials used by her.
All in all, it has proved to be a highly transformative journey for her heart & soul keeping in mind what she used to do earlier before engaging herself whole-heartedly with this creative field to make a career out of it.
In fact, Susana has made the most out of her robust creative approach when it comes to developing pieces that, by and large, seem to boast intrinsic quality with a powerful message of hope and resilience, thus easily striking a chord among jewelry lovers belonging to the elite club or even outside of it. In other words, merging her long experience of observing closely in person how things can get utterly bleak for some population on the planet into creating something substantive such as exceptional pieces of jewelry, is proof that she has set higher goals for herself to attain in the world of jewelry making. Not to mention, her jewelry pieces are flawlessly designed to make the wearers tune in to their craving for inner enrichment.
“Nothing can be far greater than being able to experience such an emotionally rewarding feeling for any creative individual working in the art world,” she said. “It’s all about knowing precisely what subject you want your coveted brand to touch upon but in a more immersive way. That’s how your well-designed products will go on to garner attention globally and thus be loved immensely by consumers who are knowingly obsessed with the idea of what it means to buy something extra-special as part of their wardrobe collection.”
From then on, the real journey of crafting surpassing pieces begins to take shape step by step, which primarily sheds light upon the artistic ingenuity of the creative individuals involved. “Today jewelry is being made at the highest level using a myriad of precious old and new techniques where one complements the other in an incredible way,” Susana explained. “More so, buying jewelry is a great way to ensure the creation of a roadmap to bring happiness into one’s life. It brightens the very essence of our existence at the end of the day. We’re metaphysically just here to showcase a canvas of shining humanity marked by the unbeatable grandeur of gemstones.”
Thinking outside the box is how Susana manages to keep her flow of avant-garde innovations alive. This way, she is on the road to emerging as an artist whose work is greatly emblematic of how tellingly creativity can be nurtured even when things around are bizarrely unsettling or otherwise albeit in dark terms.
Background as extraordinary as it can be
Her exquisitely developed taste and knowledge in designing one-of-a-kind jewelry has always been an art-oriented affair. Susana’s artistic instincts have sprouted thanks to her profound love for closely monitoring the beauty of the human race and what marvelous wonders it’s blessed with that one can only feel good about and try to explore further with a genuine heart.
“I’ve so much admiration for the sheer idea of connecting with something deeper through the medium of beautiful art, and I truly believe jewelry making purely fits in here with its greater merit and is for sure that big universe of artistic creativity, which opens the door for me to do precisely that with a more unique and intimate touch of my own,” she said. “Wearing jewelry, for the most part, is an intimate thing for both men and women and as such designed to bring about feelings of joy and pride they’ve been brought up (with a sense of sophistication) to cherish deeply.”
Susana always finds herself intrigued by the tactile nature of gemstones and metals, which is what enables these materials to eventually be turned into exemplary pieces of jewelry when they go into the hands of highly skilled artisans standing ready to show their mastery. As she said, “The ultimate magic begins to become fully manifest when the process of shaping each piece starts rolling. I just can’t help saying that it’s visually very exciting as each gemstone is measured, checked upon, and then fitted into its exact place.”
Her thoughts regarding jewelry not just being mere objects are quite praiseworthy. They’re much more than that. “It’s one of the finest vehicles we’ve got when it comes to understanding the exact essence of beauty that surrounds us and we’re all curious about. This undisputed power of jewelry sparked my passion for it in the first place,” she said. “Also, that’s the sole reason why I believe beauty is an obvious symbol of authentic energy creating waves of harmony all around as it better reveals the subtle dimension of divine grace through what a piece, person, or place truly is or might be.”
Born and brought up in Barcelona, a city that has always been known as an epicenter of creative revolution in many arenas, it’s no wonder that she instantly found herself drawn to the vast world of striking designs it had to offer from an early age. So, her formative years were spent primarily on taking classes in visual arts, finally taking her on a lifelong journey of exploring beauty and form in existential purity. As she intuitively envisioned herself doing an amazing job in the field of jewelry making, the first important step taken by her was to attend the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in order to deepen her expertise in gemstones. She lets her expressive mind speak out about what matters most in life. For instance, according to her, learning is an ongoing process for all individuals to follow so as to keep themselves on track of greater consistency which ensures one keeps making progress in life. “My area of interest predominantly calls for it with a greater degree of authenticity. Such is the case more often than not because there is no room for complacency whatsoever. The moment you let it enter your framework of thinking, your creativity prowess will vanish into thin air forever,” she said.
Establishing a daring jewelry brand with a conscience
When Susana launched her brand three years ago, she clearly knew what type of jewelry to create that would inherently encapsulate the beauty of our existence influenced by the wonders of it. After all, being a jewelry designer for her has been nothing short of a completely life-changing experience in both ways professionally as well as personally. “I really wanted to step up into a mesmerizing world where there is so much creative energy to experience and learn something exciting, and my love for jewelry making was fully ingrained in my mind as part of this new path I was about to embark on. I soon realized it was sort of an inner calling, ultimately leading me to launch my brand with an upbeat spirit,” she said.
Getting herself once again into the art world she had always been fascinated by gave her a great chance to weave together her deep love for art and gemstones and walk in the direction she had an eye for. “This allowed me to share my burgeoning concepts of artistic nature with the broader world. Above all, I had always dreamt about doing it the right way in a more immersive style,” Susana recalled.
Up until now, her focus was only concentrated on portraying the nuanced facets of abstract themes through her jewelry pieces which she wanted to be interpreted differently by each person in relation to revering the magnificence of Mother Nature. Not surprisingly, when asked about what her brand stands for, Susana said, “My jewelry designs are all about creating space to celebrate the refined elegance of flawless gems in tune with the raw power of Earth’s natural beauty and its legacy. All our pieces are characterized by one most important thing i.e. they have to illuminate the soul in a ravishing way. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.”
The brand of hers is committed to preserving this grace through top-notch craftsmanship combined with taking necessary measures to minimize harm and in so doing optimize the chances for greater benefits as part of the creative process. “We’re very much motivated by the notion of creating pieces of fine jewelry by sticking to ethical practices which we truly believe will be immensely helpful while serving our clientele with a holistic sense of aesthetics,” Susana said. “You need to bear in mind one thing clearly that going by ethical procedures doesn’t mean one’s founded brand will look lackluster or cheap in quality.”
Inspiration and hope are both tipping points of life as they predominantly tend to show us the light, we all need to keep moving closer to our goals. “I just love to harbor new and fresh ideas emanating directly from nature, spirituality, ancient cultures, and what goes on in our day-to-day lives. Even the gemstones I work with do seem to intrigue me a lot with their unique auras, colors, and fascinating tales,” she said. “I keep myself surrounded by poets, visual artists, gemologists, sculptors, ceramic artisans, filmmakers, and photographers from different corners of the globe since my interaction with them enhances the depth of my work.”
The creative process is the deciding factor
For Susana, being organic in her thought process is key to unraveling the secrets behind the so-called exquisite jewelry she herself is used to bringing to life with much greater understanding. She starts by sitting down in a quiet place to get on with her contemplative ride of what she does best; where she lets her mind be flooded with artistic views or thoughts in varying degrees. “It’s purely about translating your imaginations into reality and letting the world know about the message you want to convey or the stream of joyful emotions you wish to engender,” she said. “One also needs to be proactive in building a strong relationship with the gemstones they often find themselves heavily engaged with in order to bring out their exact supreme qualities in the most precise way.”
The crucial part of it all happens to come to the fore just when the silent dialogue going on between the artist and gems is being represented visually to the delight of jewelry enthusiasts. As Susana said, “That’s how the depth of this quiet phenomenon can be fully realized as all the elements related to it are meticulously sketched onto a piece of paper to make sure things are definitely shaping up the right way. There is an unbreakable chain of perfect chemistry between the designs, the materials, the gemstones, and the craft itself all coming together in the creation of irresistible jewelry.”
While working on her jewelry designs, she feels spurred up by each vital aspect of the pieces since that comprises the delicate act of balancing the very evolving nature of dance between the artistic vision and the materials, that Susana says she follows ardently.
Shapes and colors are equally paramount
For Susana, the language of shape is central to her work. She believes its role is very helpful in terms of giving a pitch-perfect form or dimension to the vision and emotion she aims to convey through her dazzling pieces. In a way, it’s about breaking with the junkyard of conventions to embrace the norms of newness in order to ultimately create jewelry pieces that become the compact heaven of joyful memories. That’s why it makes sense for her to choose every curve, angle, and line with a great deal of focus and clarity combined since each shape carries its own energy and has an interesting story to tell in addition. As she said, “For me, shape isn’t merely a design choice but a conduit for the materials to express their unique properties. It isn’t separate from the stones or the materials, but rather a source of smooth interaction between all the elements of the design. The shape allows the pieces to transcend their physical forms, becoming something alive—something with a resonance that invites connection on a deeper level. This way, shape is regarded as an important symbol for it’s both the beginning and the culmination of the journey to create extraordinary pieces.”
Another factor that’s responsible for making Susana’s jewelry work immensely captivating is its colorful splendor. All her designs are a great messenger of colors, especially in terms of how brilliantly she uses them to generate a pool of jovial feelings across the board. “Color is a powerful tool in my designs as it can evoke emotions, create harmony and bring balance to a piece. Hence, I spend a great deal of time selecting colors that resonate perfectly with the artistic concept of the collection and accordingly enhance the beauty of each gemstone. Getting the right combination is crucial as this is what ties the entire piece together,” she said. “At the same time, the gravity of emotional vibes as evident in each piece should be really robust in sync with the technical functionalities like wearability, durability, and comfort which are equivalently important to focus on.”
Working with rare gemstones is her invaluable expertise
Susana believes in using the rarest of the rare gems in her designed creations as these tend to give them a distinctive flair where being exceptionally unique is the gateway to climbing the ladder of success. In her view, the gemstones she works with are considered extremely rare because of their natural occurrence or unique characteristics. For instance, one of them is ammolite which is a fossilized gem that appeals to the jewelry connoisseurs with its otherworldly play of colors. The intriguing part of this gem lies in its formation from ancient marine creatures resulting in its evolution into natural masterpieces over millions of years. Since ammolite is found in only a handful of deposits globally, including the celebrated Bearpaw Formation in Canada, its colors range from fiery reds and oranges to iridescent greens and blues. Besides, the finest specimens, prized as ammolite, display vibrant and richly hued color zones which often stand in equal comparison to the grandeur of opals. “The huge command enjoyed by ammolite in the world of gemology is one hundred percent worth it for its rarity and organic origins as these two factors, for the most part, lend it an undeniable mystique—each piece carrying a unique geological fingerprint,” she said.
Recognized as one of the leading voices when it comes to using natural Paraiba from Brazil in a highly exquisite way, Susana has shown her mettle as a great creative master. It’s a rare kind of tourmaline that strangely is found only in limited supply. The gem is renowned for its striking neon blue color, giving jewelry pieces made with it a resplendent touch. As she explained, “This gemstone is the hero piece of my second collection titled “Evolution through Form”. Crafted by French artisans, the collection features a ring centered on a Brazilian Paraiba in its natural state, still nestled within its marquise-shaped quartz matrix. The primal display of this vivid gemstone, surrounded by the eighty polished Paraiba and diamonds, captures a historic moment of discovery: the original “Paraiba in the rough”.
With this sumptuous work of art, she has meticulously captured the essence of what she often says “the raw power of Earth’s natural beauty”. It’s no wonder that Susana’s use of Paraiba in such a phenomenal way has earned her an irreplaceable place among high-end brands and artists like Chanel and Wallace Chan since both are famously called the “innovative pioneers” when it comes to using this gem ethereally in the making of fine jewelry. “To be put alongside these two big names in luxury by the fashion and jewelry fraternities is, in itself, a dream come true for me. Such a recognition only motivates me to do more wonders like this,” she said. “In addition, using blue titanium and ammonite for my bracelet piece has been a big learning lesson. I view titanium as a strong vessel for connection—it captures elegance in the way all the materials resonate together.”
Shedding further light on her second collection, one thing is clearly obvious there is something metaphysical she wants to emphasize or highlight here. In her view, its sole purpose is primarily about taking a giant step forward in terms of merging both materials and artistic concepts as if they’re inseparable or made for each other. And with eight intricately crafted pieces such as four types of earrings accompanied by one utterly irreplicable, the collection subtly focuses on the sheer importance of celebrating the perfection of form in varying shapes and sizes. After all, the beauty of the collection lies in its deeply thought-out exploration by Susana through three different states of our existence: the conscious and unconscious, time and moment, and singularity, and oneness. “This collection reflects the proximity we’ve with the innate self of ours but unfortunately we’re unaware of it just because of being bogged down by the intense race of today’s life,” she said.
Besides, through sub-categories like evolution through time and evolution through light as part of the overall collection “A Trilogy of Evolution”, Susana has shown her mettle as a skilled jewelry designer fully well-versed in using a myriad of eccentric gemstones (Peruvian pink opals, pink agate, and orange sapphires) to create ultimate pieces of jewelry. Women who are well aware of their sophisticated tastes never want to compromise with respect to buying jewelry pieces that resonate on an emotional level by enhancing their personal narratives. According to Susana, pins like Time 1 went on to become hugely popular during the Diwali festival as it was seen as the perfect jewel for both men and women to wear and add more zing to their festive mood in line with the spirit of this auspicious occasion. “Similarly, a Light 1 pin piece is an ideal companion for men if they’re very much looking for a feeling of completion while dressed up in their formal attires,” she said. “Shaped like a blooming lotus flower, it brings forth the vibes of enlightenment.”
Likewise, her first collection “The Mother of Mothers” comprising only rings is no different as it too capitalizes on the strengths of rare gems such as chrysocolla azurite used in it. It’s derived from Namibia’s Tsombo deposit, recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences as one of the richest deposits globally for its variety, rarity, and aesthetics. Buried deep beneath the region’s red soil, chrysocolla azurite is infused with an ancient and complex chemistry. Over time, the interplay of climatic conditions and mineral composition has produced a stone of unparalleled complexity in quality. Its variegated mineralization and hardness go on to necessitate a hand-carved, artisanal approach to its sculpture, resulting in truly unique and fascinating pieces. “The collection is an ode to the feminine energy and prowess as the superlative theme of creationism. Each piece is steeped in symbolism, representing the origin of life and the nurturing power of the feminine force—the mother because she is the one who nurtures and embodies the creative essence guiding all terrestrial and invisible realms,” Susana said.
As she moves towards introducing new pieces that continue to push the envelope in terms of materials, concepts, and techniques, there is no denying that those creations are going to be even more daring with unmatched elegance. What matters most every time is, however, the fact that the true magic lies in the light and how the gems (be it in raw or radiant form) help reflect or emit that, adding their contribution to the creation and beauty of the piece. This is where she embraces nonlinear processes as she believes they often lead to expressions of unexpected beauty.
In a nutshell, with her deep belief in the power of art to heal, connect, and inspire, we can only expect each new collection of Susana to always be a treasure trove of fresh perspectives on resilience, strength, beauty, and transformation. “I want to weave together the so-called unseen forces that constantly shape our lives and the world around us,” she said.
