NEW YORK — Kristen Farrell has fine jewelry in the genes.
So when Farrell told her family — the Kulchinskys, owners of Mayfair, which has four jewelry stores on Long Island — that she was headed to Europe to study goldsmithing, they were naturally supportive.
“As my father says, ‘Perseverance in life will make you a king,’ or, in my case, a queen,” she said.
Farrell studied fine arts and painting before launching her own eponymous New York-based company.
“I’m inspired by medieval armor and weaponry, as well as nature,” said the designer, who transforms details from dragons, sea creatures, ornate Gothic helmets and shields into wearable jewelry.
Standouts from the inaugural collection include hand-forged shield pendants in yellow and white palladium gold with diamonds, the Mystical Talon pendant in yellow gold with green tourmaline tsavorite and yellow sapphires that cascade in color to resemble a dragon’s skin and the Sea Creature gold bracelet, which looks like a cross between a seahorse and a dragon; it took Farrell two years to create. Prices range from $1,500 up to $150,000 at retail.
The collection will be launched at a party hosted by Lorraine Bracco and Stella Keitel on Sunday at Mayfair’s East Hampton, N.Y., store.
“My jewelry is wearable art,” said Farrell. “Instead of painting with oil paints, I’m painting with stones.”