Art Deco may be a century old, but its appeal has never faded. To mark 100 years since the design style’s global debut, Brazilian-born jeweler Fernando Jorge has launched a new fine jewelry collection called Vertex. The release honors the centennial of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, where the Art Deco movement first gained fame.
The collection features 16 pieces and showcases the movement’s signature clean lines and geometric shapes. Jorge uses diamonds—especially baguette cuts—to reflect the era’s elegance and glamour.
“This is a turning point for me,” Jorge said. “My designs usually celebrate nature. But this collection is different.” Known for jewelry inspired by natural elements like water and air, Jorge has created designs worn by Beyoncé, Naomi Watts, and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
He explained that opening his first by-appointment salon in New York in February helped him explore the beauty of man-made symmetry. “The cherry on top came when I realized that Art Deco was formalized in 1925. That tied all my ideas together,” he said. “This collection reflects that era, but I wanted to connect it with the rhythm of modern, fast-paced city life.”
The designs are not based on any single building. Still, the graduated diamonds and stepped patterns subtly nod to iconic Art Deco skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. The name Vertex itself carries multiple meanings. It can refer to a mathematical point where two lines meet, or to the highest point of a structure. But Jorge also noticed another connection.
“If you listen to the word ‘vertex,’ it sounds like ‘vertebrae,’” he said. “And if you look closely at the collection, there’s a spine-like movement in the way the pieces are built.”
That structure is clear in pieces like cuffs and collar necklaces. Made from 18-karat yellow gold, the designs resemble a golden skeleton. Hinges run through the middle of each piece, allowing them to bend and twist. They move with the grace of flappers dancing the Charleston, reflecting the energy of the 1920s.
Jorge also included fringe, another popular style from that decade. It appears in dramatic earrings that sparkle and sway with movement.
“The final result is a mix of retro and futuristic,” Jorge said. “It’s all about repetition. The structure and the diamond cut create something that feels new and modern.”
Vertex launches Thursday and will be available through Fernando Jorge’s retail channels and selected partners.
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