architectural DIGEST Utah

This spring, jewelry designs journey for inspiration to medieval castles, gothic cathedrals, baroque opera houses, and neoclassical squares. Directional pieces this season draw influences from decorative architectural elements including wrought iron, scrollwork, relief patterns, and friezes. Silhouettes of stained glass windows are masterfully crafted into settings for small and large colored gemstones. Scaled down and accented by diamonds, these motifs have been translated into feminine jewelry.

Designers like Scott Colee masterfully mine centuries of architectural history for inspiration for modern pieces. "The combination of linear shapes and graceful flowing curves makes for endless possibilities in jewelry," he says.

Megan Thorne, Jamie Wolf, and Jessica Elliot are inspired by wrought iron, which each designer has interpreted in a distinctive way. "When taken out of its context of form and function, ironwork has an almost ethereal quality," Thorne says. "For me, it represents a combination of delicacy and strength in its look and feeling, to which many women can relate."

Betty Lou Moscot of Blu is influenced by a childhood visiting European castles and churches: "With my collection, my goal is to evoke the spiritualism behind the architecture, creating contemporary and collectible jewelry."

But the best designs transform ancient inspiration into modern motifs. A rose window pendant by Jessica Fields is derived from the stained glass of Paris cathedrals updated into a modern medallion.

Other designers have transformed the architecture of Asia into jewelry. Martha O'Brien's logo, adapted from a carved stone tile in southeast Asia, appears in her collection on a wide wood cuff and as varying size pendants. "The design spoke to me immediately and I knew I wanted to incorporate features of it to represent the energy of the temple."

Philip Crangi found his Rosetta stone in Islamic Spain: "I was completely transfixed by the sultans of Granada and everything about their lifestyle and culture."

Whether captivated by the West or East, these designers have developed pieces that exude the function and artistry of ancient architecture with a modern eye for luxury and wearability.