In an illuminating conversation with WWD’s Style Director, Alex Badia, the acclaimed jewelry designer, Roberto Coin, delves deep into his philosophical and practical thoughts on the essence of jewelry and its broader connection to life’s creativity. From the impactful role of creativity in shaping personal and collective styles to democratizing luxury for the younger generation, Coin’s reflections offer a unique perspective on the industry’s ever-evolving landscape.
Alex Badia: What role does creativity play in your work?
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Roberto Coin: In my life, creativity was the most important thing because creativity to me is freedom. Creativity is a beautiful way of living life because you can create your own style of life in a different manner. It is not only about jewelry, it is about life, about people, about everything. Creativity is endless.
Creativity allows me to meet different people, different cultures, different hearts. And it allows me to have a great knowledge for my own work. And that’s where my jewelry comes from.
A.B.: How do you define luxury?
R.C.: Luxury for different people means different things. Fortunately, beauty and elegance are not based on price. Since the beginning I didn’t want to create jewelry for the kings and queens of the world. To me, to create for the young generation was more important than anybody else, always aiming to enhance the uniqueness and self-expression of every woman. We want to evoke wonder through innovation and mastery.
A.B.: Do you have any words of advice for the next generation of jewelry designers?
R.C.: Personally, I think they have a great future. It’s just that you have to dedicate yourself to what you truly like. And if you don’t have that answer, then you have a problem. You have to start with understanding how to dream. Follow that dream and try to achieve it.
A.B.: What in your point of view is the future of the jewelry industry?
R.C.: Well, when you think of the jewelry industry, you are speaking to an industry which is 2000 to 3000 years old. It always existed. Today the industry is challenging and the competition is much greater. The price of gold and diamonds dictates a lot of the future too because it could become too expensive and less accessible to a lot of clients.
But I feel positive, as I think that credible and grounded companies, which provide good service, ethical prices and strong design will have a future.