Layani Jewelry: A New Jewelry House

For the nine years that Soblacktie has existed—I still can’t believe it’s been that long—I’ve always nurtured a curiosity and a desire to discover new brands, new houses, and new creations. Some I discover on my own, while others are introduced to me. The young Israeli jewelry house Layani falls into the latter category, but that doesn’t diminish my interest in it at all. No, I didn’t cross the Mediterranean; instead, it was simply in Paris last week that I learned more about this very young yet already exceptional house, Layani.

Looking at the photos, you’ll immediately understand that Layani celebrates nature in its finest and most precious form. I’d even say that this is the philosophy of the house. Their precious materials come from ethical sources. For them, as for us, nothing is more precious than our environment. You’ll note that this is a strong trend in the jewelry industry. I hope it quickly becomes the norm across all luxury sectors—I’m convinced that we all stand to benefit from it, including the development of new supply chains and, consequently, new jobs. Apologies for this digression; let’s return to Layani.

Layani’s creations feature elegant, harmonious forms that are close to nature and its resources—a naturalist approach to jewelry that is delicate, modern, and in a distinct but not naïve universe. I’ve never been drawn to jewelry that is overly organic, overly naturalist, or overly fragile. Yet I know that nature, grace, and delicacy are common themes in jewelry. In my mind, delicacy pushed to the extreme becomes fragility—a piece of jewelry that’s too fragile would be unwearable for fear of breaking it. I hope you understand my reasoning.

For his creations, the Israeli designer and jeweler Sharon Layani uses a combination of 18K gold, precious and semi-precious stones, and natural freshwater pearls with incredible shapes dictated by the laws of nature. Each piece has its own story, its own vision, resulting in astonishing creations. Some of the pieces I had the chance to admire are surprising in size and form. Rarely have I seen pearls as imposing, pearls that resemble "mother-of-pearl flowers."

The language of the Layani house balances between artistic expression and sophisticated design, in a style I find quite unique. Sharon aims to push the boundaries of his creativity, always in motion, naturally and organically in his settings (as they describe it). “Organic” is a term that bothers me somewhat; it evokes viscera, which isn’t particularly poetic or romantic. I prefer to return to harmony and simplicity.

I sincerely hope you’ll be enchanted—or even fall head over heels—for Layani, whose pieces—rings, chains, earrings, bracelets, and more—are available for purchase on their website. I wager we’ll soon see Layani featured again on Soblacktie or elsewhere…