Spot the Designer - Anna Dunaevskaia/ Republic of Moldova

What did you want to be when you were a child?

My grandmother, who survived the Siberian exile several times, was a seamstress. I have been around since childhood and learned step by step. I have been sewing on my own since the age of 14. I have always wanted to be a designer. While i was living in Paris, I sewed on order. 

When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?

I always liked jewelry and accessories. Once I realized that I wanted to study natural gems. I knew that the best department of Gemmology is located in Moscow at Moscow State University and I went from Paris to study there, seven years ago.I studied a lot, diamond cutting, studied gemstones, became an expert in colored gemstones and an expert in diamonds, I studied the business of gemstones as well as jewelry design and different ways of depicting jewelry. I also studied at the Carl Faberge College and became a master jeweler.   

 What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view?

When I was studying color gemstones, I created my first ring “Temiko”. This was in 2017.I saw a designer cut garnet gem and fell in love with it at first sight. The design of the future ring was born immediately. "Temiko", that's how I call that ring. Temiko is a woman ,she softly control everyone within her influence, to shape things to her own liking. She develop high spirituality, as she has a God's protection. She is sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and creative. She is not a woman ... She is an exception. 

How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?   

I really love nature, sea, mountains, animals. My husband and I love to travel by car. I love to draw and draw a lot. And to be honest, I don’t feel burned out, because I really love what I do. I have many orders all over the world and I work even on the road. 

What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?

I stick to traditional jewelry making methods. But we actively use modern technologies to improve the quality of the product. Modern can be called the very design of my jewelry, their history, prehistory and the meaning that I put into them.    

 Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?                                 

I have not used ceramics and I think I will definitely do it in the future.            

How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?

The pandemic period was great for me, I had a lot of designs that I made to order, these were jewelry ideas in sketches drawn in gouache and watercolor.

How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?   

Modern jewelry, even when crafted using traditional technique, is not a reliable investment today, customers do not buy jewelry to save their savings and the economic component is not as important for them as before. They are inspired to buy something unusual, challenging, impressive, original. They like prehistory, history and meanings.                                                                                                                                                 

Find more about the designer Anna Dunaevskaia