An article in the Swedish magazine AURUM FORUM - Precious Talent of the Year
Sharon Lets the Baroque Pearl Guide the Way
In Sharon Layani's unforgettable jewelry, no element overshadows the natural beauty. Gold is shaped around the pearl in an amorphous, almost fluid form, and for Sharon, the process is like a marriage between precious metal and gemstone.
Text: Eleonor Björch Lowe
Jerusalem – the holy city – 1972. Sharon Layani was born as the youngest of ten siblings. The family shared a two-room apartment, and conditions were modest. As a child, Sharon was shy and quiet, loving to wander the mountains and explore the desert. He could lose himself for hours in books and music. His father, David Layani, was a skilled shoemaker who worked hard to support all the children. David had a great love for craftsmanship and authentic materials, a passion he passed on to Sharon, who knew early on that he wanted to work with jewelry.
After completing his goldsmith training, Sharon traveled the world, discovering many different styles and exciting goldsmithing techniques. However, visiting Jaipur in India was a complete turning point.
Sharon Layani loves the freedom of working for himself, even though it involves long working days.
- Company: Layani Fine Jewelry.
- Staff: Six employees, including three goldsmiths, a setter, a marketing manager/content creator, and a designer/photographer.
- Location: Jerusalem, Israel.
- Founder: Sharon Layani, 46 years old.
- Family: Wife Lital and their four children.
- Specialty: Organic, amorphous jewelry where natural stones and pearls dictate the design.
Pearls of Process
When Sharon designs, he thinks of the pearl inside the shell, how it develops and changes over time, and how it might look if never removed. He describes his design process as complete when he unites the pearl and gold in a marriage of two different yet equally beautiful elements.
"I fell in love with this unique style and have continued pushing the boundaries of my creativity. The company is a tribute to life, freedom, my family heritage, and inherited knowledge."
Sharon founded Layani Fine Jewelry in 2014 after 11 years of working for major goldsmith companies. Today, he has six employees, but the journey hasn't always been easy.
"For me, it was important to work towards realizing my own dreams rather than someone else's. I also wanted credit for my work. It often happened that my bosses took credit for my creations. We won several international jewelry competitions because of my work, and I never got any recognition."
Eventually, Sharon grew tired of it and quit to start his own business, a decision that was not well received by his superiors.
Developing Expertise
Sharon’s best advice for anyone aiming to succeed in the jewelry industry is to dare to lead. You must persist until you eventually become an expert in your field. Strong organizational skills, allowing the business to grow gradually, and managing finances properly are other vital elements. High on the list is also a clearly defined and well-allocated marketing budget.
“It’s difficult to succeed without quality marketing today, especially in an industry where so many others are working hard to succeed, just like you. But the money will come if you stubbornly fight and refuse to give up,” Sharon says with a laugh.
One of Sharon’s biggest challenges as an entrepreneur was when he decided to exhibit at an international jewelry fair for the first time.
“I chose the world’s largest – in Hong Kong, 2017. My budget was minimal, and the entire project was a steep learning curve. But in March, we will exhibit in Hong Kong for the third time, something I’m very proud of.”
Growing up has taught Sharon never to take anything for granted. Achieving success was far from a given. That’s why he’s happy to take on apprentices and do what he can to help young, talented goldsmiths succeed.
“For example, I trained a deaf-mute boy from the U.S. who worked in the factory where I was employed. When he came, no one dared to communicate with him, but we found a language through art, and in the end, I taught him everything I know. Today, he is a successful goldsmith here in Jerusalem.”
Central Quotes
From a young age, Sharon has been inspired by music and books, and every piece of jewelry he creates is connected to a quote or song lyric. Sharon says the quotes create a bond between the material and the spiritual, helping him focus better on his art. Sometimes he finds quotes after a piece is completed, while other times, the lines inspire him to create something new.
“My favorite quote is: ‘Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody,’ by Mark Twain. He’s one of my favorite authors who can instantly take me back to my childhood. This quote is connected to my ring Namaka, with raw diamonds and pearls. Namaka is the smaller, inner moon of the dwarf planet Haumea.”
A visit to layanijewelry.com is recommended for anyone enchanted by Sharon’s poetic craftsmanship. We’ll end with a few lines from the poem Barter by Sara Teasdale, which Sharon paired with his ring Air:
“Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost.”
