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Stefano Canturi is the Founding Director of Australian fine jewellery company, CANTURI. Regarded as an attentive interpreter of the spirit of our time, Canturi has been creating distinct pieces for his personal clients and Hollywood films since 1986.

HISTORY

Stefano Canturi is a fine jewellery designer of Italian heritage who lives in Sydney, Australia. Canturi’s fascination with design and sculpture began at a young age when he travelled to Florence with his parents. He fell in love with sculpture and the splendour of the Renaissance  and as a result would spend many hours carving miniature sculptures out of chalk at the back of the classroom. Canturi pursued his irrepressible childhood passion for miniature sculpture by classically training under an Italian Master at the age of 17. Canturi devoted four years to intensive training before striking out on his own at just 21 years of age.

In 1995, Canturi opened his flagship store on Sydney’s prestigious Castlereagh Street, where his first store can still be seen.

In 2013 Canturi celebrated his 25 year creative journey and created Odyssey, a collection of jewelry inspired by the mystery and endurance of the journey of the Monarch butterfly.

JEWELLERY SALONS

Jewels by Stefano Canturi is available exclusively from Canturi jewellery salons. There are three Canturi jewelry salons located in Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane’s newest luxury precinct Queens Street and one in the United States, found in New York.

DESIGN TRADEMARKS

Setting his imagination free, he conjured a revolutionary composition of diamonds that forms the basis of his sought after and highly recognised Cubism collection which is unlike anything referenced by jewellery historians before. Cubism cradles the essence of Canturi Jewels – the exquisite balance between concept and form – and is a trademarked design. Inspired by the innovative mood of the Cubism art movement that saw artists break with convention to explore abstract and non-traditional styles, Canturi's signature Cubism design pioneered an arrangement of baguette and carré cut diamonds in a geometric pattern never before seen in luxury jewels. The geometric lines, delicately arranged in curved patterns work in concert to deliver perfectly proportioned jewels that are incredibly romantic and timeless yet reflect innovation and avant garde design at its best.

DESIGN PROCESS

One way Canturi realises ideas from the image in his mind onto paper is a process he calls blind drawing. The simple abstract sketch forms the creative foundation. Once content with several sketches, the idea is realised in three dimensional forms using modelling clay to create the object and give it volume and weight. The next step is to create working drawings for technical engineering and creation that produces the velocity of a ring or necklace. The jewellery is handcrafted by a team of talented craftsman and diamond setters in the Canturi Creation department in Sydney Australia.

CINEMA AND RED CARPET

Satine

In 1999 Canturi collaborated with Film director Baz Lurhmann and Academy Award winning Costume Designer Catherine Martin to design and craft the history-making necklace, ‘Satine’ for actress Nicole Kidman for the film, Moulin Rouge! (2001). Canturi delved into the late 19th Century to recapture the essence of jewellery at this time and of his age old craft using traditional crafting techniques from the period to create the Garland-style necklace. This spectacular diamond necklace was created with a total of 1308 diamonds, weighing approximately 134 carats, and is regarded as one of the most famous pieces of diamond jewellery in history. ‘Satine’ is featured in The Guinness Book of Records as the most valuable piece of jewellery made for a film.

In 2008, the Diamond Museum Province of Antwerp, Belgium exhibited jewelry Canturi created for feature films in the international exhibition, Diamond Divas. A bracelet and earrings from the Canturi Metropolis collection made for Kate Bosworth’s character in Superman Returns (2006) was displayed, alongside diamond rings from the Canturi Cubism collection created for Monica Bellucci’s role in The Matrix.

Canturi designs have also attracted the attention of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Linda Evangelista.

JOURNEY, ART EXHIBITION

Possibly a first for an Australian jewellery designer, the exhibition by Stefano Canturi provides a rare insight into his world and mind through the artistic journey of ten jewellery concepts selected from his body of works spanning 25 years. Artworks include pencil or ink drawings, watercolour painting and sculptural clay moulds. Journey showed in art galleries in Sydney and Melbourne  and there are plans to take it to New York.

FRAGRANCE, THE NEXT EXPRESSION

Over two years in creation, the process of creating a fragrance challenged Stefano as an artist and creator to express his inspiration through scent. Once again recalling the spirit of Cubism, Stefano was inspired to develop an experience for women who embrace their strength and sophistication, as well as a taste for luxury on their own terms. As homage to such captivating vitality and raw sensuality, Stefano created a bold, distinctive fragrance with perfumer Kevin Verspoor of niche fragrance house, drom, which harkens to that iconic time in our history. The bottle design is based on his signature Cubism concept.

The Canturi fragrance is a modern fusion of the classic Oriental and Chypre perfumes of the Cubist epoch, yet with distinct originality and warmth. Available exclusively at Canturi salons.

‘BARBIE BY STEFANO CANTURI’, SPECIAL COMMISSIONS

IN 2010 Canturi worked together with Mattel to create a world first - the rarest and most valuable Barbie ever created. “Barbie by Stefano Canturi” features a Cubism design necklace with a rare 2.00ct Argyle Pink diamond. From her uber-chic up-do and extra long lashes to her edgy nail polish and pink peep toe stilettos, Canturi designed every detail of her look. After a global tour, “Barbie by Stefano Canturi”, the worlds most valuable Barbie, was auctioned by Christies in New York on October 24 with 100% of the profits donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Stefano Canturi spends his time between Sydney, Australia and New York City along with his business partner and wife Patricia.

Category:Fashion accessory brandsCategory:Luxury brandsCategory:Living peopleCategory:JewelleryCategory:Jellery manufacture