CC Original Travel-Inspired Designs
All of our current fashion collections can trace their origins to a specific destination somewhere in the world. Even as I continue to work primarily in France and Italy, new areas of inspiration include Iceland, London, and Barcelona. Being open to the possibilities of new locations offers opportunities to explore different styles and techniques, and so I embrace the new. What I have learned over the last two decades or so is that this is who I am as a designer, and this is what gives Christian Caine its unique identity.—Christopher
Art! From concept to finished jewelry collection… Porte d’Italia© comes to life. Click the link below to learn about the process.
Porte d’Italia—Doors of Italy
A Case Study in Travel-Inspired Design
Decorative, wrought-iron transoms are common throughout central Italy where the summers are very hot and humid. Once I started noticing them I became fascinated by the variety of styles used in their creation. I especially liked this one I discovered near the Pitti Palace, not only for its design, but for its deeply textured patina that can only come from long exposure to the elements.—Christopher
The Inspiration
Central and southern Italy are very hot in the summer. In the days before air conditioning, transom windows were commonly installed above street-level doors which allowed cooling breezes in, but kept intruders out. The variation of designs seems endless and there may be a few new “Porte” designs yet to come.
The Design
Although the basic form is a direct translation of the transom’s original lines into a smaller size, I wanted to convey as much of the original texture as possible. I also needed to provide a means for attaching the new design to a chain, earring wires, and a ring shank. I started working on the details during an afternoon break at a café.
Production
With my design already established, the new piece went into production almost immediately upon my return to the Shepherdstown Showroom. Because I created the Model using Computed Aided Design, my Design Team could begin actual production while I was still in Italy. The combination of technology with old world jewelry fabrication techniques & artistry has unlocked Christian Caine’s breadth of design.
The Details
All Porte d’Italia pendants are highly detailed and textured. The bail is made of hand-twisted 14k rose gold. Each gemstone version of the pendant measures approximately one inch across.
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Our Porte d’Italia comes in diamond and colored gemstone versions. Diamond pendants are offered in the standard 1″ size and a smaller, 3/4″ size, and are available in an all 14k rose gold option.
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The ring versions of Porte d’Italia features a unique by-pass shank design, and each features the same level of detail and texture as the larger pendants.
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The 18-inch chain’s simple toggle closure is ornamented by a 14k rose gold quatrefoil element, our signature touch on this exclusive item.
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Our Travel-Inspired Designs
Barcelona Modernisme©—Our Newest One-of-a-Kind Creation
The pendant was inspired by Antoni Gaudí, a Spanish architect regarded as the greatest proponent of Catalan Modernism. This unique design incorporates colors and motifs found in the famous Park Güell, which boasts a breathtaking hillside view of the whole city. The pendant is 14-karat rose gold randomly set with 1.55ctw fine round color-enhanced aqua blue, teal blue, apple green, and ideal-cut colorless diamonds, and .18ctw fine AA diamond cut blue sapphires.
The lower portion of the pendant features cut outs inspired by the unique facade of Gaudi’s Casa Batlló. The back of the pendant features a hand-engraved swirl motif on the lower portion.
The pendant hangs from two hand-pulled, 14-karat rose gold wires attached to a 14-karat adjustable chain with a 14-karat rose gold “CC” tag.
Adding a unique birthstone or combination of birthstones is the most common way to customize a jewelry item, and is something we do all the time. A simple email or phone call is all it takes to get your project started.
