Ray Griffiths Featured in Vogue Living: Manhattan Atelier Profile

JEWEL PURPOSE

High above Manhattan, an Australian jeweller’s dream studio doubles as a workshop and chic entertaining space.

Although he considers himself more artisan than artist, jewellery designer Ray Griffiths always envisioned an atelier to complement his megawatt baubles. Before relocating to New York in the mid-1990s, the Australian gemologist and jeweller spent 18 years designing the impeccable bespoke pieces sold at ROX, his boutique in Sydney’s Strand Arcade. “I had always dreamt of opening a private atelier in an all-white space,” says Griffiths, who has become internationally known for his exquisitely rendered, classical pieces. The new studio appears to float above the city, occupying a 19th-floor aerie in a classic pre-war Manhattan address built in 1909.

Griffiths was in the final stages of renovating his existing office in the same building when one of his staff discovered a newly vacated space several doors down. After a glimpse into the dilapidated corner suite, “it was love at first sight,” he says. He set out to create a “super-chic dental lab” that would fulfil the requirements of a practical workshop and double as a swank venue for intimate cocktail parties.

He let the huge arched windows dominate the space, restoring them to their original glory after finding a copper treatment under the flaky paint. He also resurfaced the floors, hung a crystal chandelier and ordered a custom-designed safe finished in slick gloss white (why, he asks, should a safe be drab?). Indeed, there’s nothing mundane about Griffiths or his creations, which are known the world over: couture-like, lavish cocktail rings studded with dozens of conflict-free precious stones and flawless teardrop earrings made from exotic gems. He is known for his detailed, architecturally inspired crown work, which he learnt under a master craftsman in Australia who specialised in restoring and creating the intricate substructure of tiaras and crowns.

Little wonder his devotees include celebrities, heiresses and hedge fund wives looking for that rare supernova piece guaranteed to turn heads. Despite the price tag of some of his pieces — one-off commissions can reach six figures — Griffiths wanted the atelier to exude a sense of comfort with a little New York glamour in the mix. “Buying jewellery should be fun and educational. I want my clients to have a truly unique experience. Besides, how many jewellers have a view like this?” he asks with typical joie de vivre, gesturing to the Empire State Building and the yellow cabs streaming along Fifth Avenue.