Exploring the Exquisite World of Sybarite Jewellery
The name Sybarite derives from the Greek word “Sybaris” Σύβαρις which refers to people who enjoy luxury and pleasure. Sybaris was an ancient rich city where people were surrounded by luxury and wealth, dating back to the 8th century BC and located in the Southern part of Italy in the Magna Grecia enclave. This ethos is reflected in the Maison’s work, which prioritizes creating luxurious and visually striking designs that cater for the desires of their clients. Sybarite is a London-based jewellery firm that specializes in creating bespoke pieces for clients who desire unique and luxurious jewellery.
Sybarite Jewellery www.sybaritejewellery.com was founded in London in 2012 by Margarita Prysiazhniuk, a visionary artist who has a background in architecture, a passion for fine art, painting and a love for pure beauty.
Margarita Prysiazhniuk, founder of Sybarite Jewellery
Since then, Sybarite Jewellery has become known for its one-of-a-kind designs and exceptional craftsmanship. One of Sybarite’s most famous creations is the Dancing Ballerina Ring, which was designed by Margarita and received a Design Award in 2020/2021. I find this cocktail ring fascinating as it arouses deep feelings in me and also because it makes me dream. It’s not simply a ring but also a miniature spinning precious sculpture inspired by the world of fairytales.
Dancing Ballerina Kinetic Cocktail Ring
The ring is made in 18k white and yellow gold alongside 4.03 carats of round-cut and pear-shaped white diamonds and features a ballerina with a tutu-like skirt of pavé-set diamonds. It was inspired by Margarita’s passion for ballet and it captures perfectly the grace and elegance of a dancer in motion. The perfection of the mechanism inside makes the Ballerina spin as if she were alive.
This ring shows an intricate and dynamic design: the series of interlocking curves and angles give us a sense of movement and fluidity almost as if it is dancing on our finger.
Fairies earrings
Sybarite has created an array of other stunning jewellery pieces, including the Fairies Earrings, which display an asymmetric design depicting an ethereal creature in two different versions: Day and Night. The symbols here represented express the contrast between the sparkling sunshine with a burst of diamond flowers and the mysterious light of the moon and stars.
Waltz of the Flowers Orchid ring
Margarita showcases her mastery in the Waltz of Flowers collection of rings, inspired by the beloved piece of classical music by Tchaikovsky. Her talent and sensitivity for harmony and melody is transposed in this sophisticated ring that so well interprets the magic of the famous Nutcracker suite. It is made in rose gold, white diamonds with rubies, fancy sapphires and rubellite. The movement of the dancer is inspired by the music: while the figurine twirls and spins an entire world appears on our finger.
Heart in the box ring with ruby
Who hasn’t dreamed of opening a magic box to discover its content?
This ring takes us back to ancient treasures and awakens our childlike souls.
By pressing a hidden button our curiosity will be satisfied: the precious box hides a secret: a heart, the love we all seek and long for.
During our interview, I asked Margarita if she plans to participate in upcoming jewellery contests: “It is possible, but any participation is time that can be devoted to other activities: family and friends, not just work. We have repeatedly won both in high and fine jewellery categories, and now I am more interested in preparing a personal exhibition for the museum. I will be happy to tell you about it next time and definitely invite everyone to this event” she stated.
How did you come up with the idea to start a jewellery company?
“I was quite happy with my career as an architect and enjoyed it immensely, but my life was divided into two since my daughter studied in London. I was married at that time and we had a family joke saying that according to the old Soviet tradition, every family gives birth to a child exactly one year after marriage. Therefore, the date of marriage and the date of birth of our daughter differed by one year and one day.
On 21.11.2011 riding in a black cab to celebrate the anniversary date, my daughter began to complain about a severe headache. I said, today we can go back home as in a day we will get together again to celebrate our daughter’s birthday. Taking the elevator to the top floor of the house in Cadagon Gardens, we saw a mess. On the stairs leading down which we never used, I saw several different earrings scattered on the steps. I went up to the second floor of the apartment where I saw a broken piece of the roof and realized that we had been robbed.
A policeman calmly drew up a protocol as we tried to assess what was missing: the jewellery box kept by us as collectors here in London, a wonderful city where you can demonstrate your beautiful jewellery at various events. It was a wonderful collection of exclusive atypical pieces, non-trivial and special, it wasn’t always expensive, but always peculiar. Of course, the mood was spoiled. Thanks to the help of neighbours and the work of the police, the criminals were punished and the jewellery is still missing. I am pleased to say that 10 years later, the police found and returned the stolen watch to my daughter. The next day my husband suggested going to Harrods to start a new collection. Nothing seemed as beautiful to us as what has been stolen and I said that I would try to do something original myself.
My career as an architect and art lecturer helped me return to my love of jewellery and dreams that were not fulfilled before. After I had redrawn thousands of sketches, I began to dive into the Internet, and it turned out that what I had drawn had been already created by other people. Something was missing. I started to philosophize, what a woman really needs? Attention. After that, I thought, what does a man need? The answer is the same – attention. Men need attention, as well as children and the elderly. I remembered how I was unconditionally happy as a child in the family circle, I received lots of attention and it seemed to me that the whole world evolved around me. The first piece of jewellery I created is similar to what my beloved grandmother gave me. I was thinking about how much time she spent on growing flowers that she sold for little money to buy me that ring, which to this day is dear to me as a memory. I realized how important it is for people to cherish the attention that their loved ones give. “
The theme of ballet often appears in your jewellery. Why?
“The theme of the ballet also comes from my childhood. Every morning I woke up at 6am to find the TV already turned on by my grandmother and I watched the ballet, dreaming of becoming a ballerina. At the age of five I changed my mind and decided to be an artist, continuing to love ballet. Now I find an explanation for that intuitive decision: both artists and dancers convey feelings and emotions without words. Millions of seconds of my life invested in the creation of each piece are worth a few of those seconds when a person, looking at the dancing rings in music boxes, as if on a time machine, returns to the irrevocable, priceless emotions of childhood. I am working for these seconds and I am happy to create jewellery that people can pass on by inheritance to their loved ones, along with precious emotions”.
Briar Rose
Briar Rose collection
Sybarite has established a reputation for creating unique and luxurious jewellery. Their bespoke pieces are in high demand, with clients coming to them from all over the world for its one-of-a-kind designs that capture their individual styles and personality. Their creations have been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and many others.
Rainbow ring
Fortune bracelet
I wish to conclude this excursus about Sybarite Jewellery with this verse:
“On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined.
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.”
Lord Byron (Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage)
Discover more @ Sybarite Jewellery
Article edit by Laura Astrologo Porché
Instagram: @journaldesbijoux
