New boutiques in Bahrain are wooing fashionistas with an array of creations, including ones from celebrity designer Nina Runsdorf

American jewellery designer Nina Runsdorf’s stunning stones and gorgeous gem rings, necklaces and bracelets have adorned and been adored by global stars such as TV’s Oprah Winfrey and chart-topper Beyonce. 

Her exclusive creations are now star attractions at Rhodium, a new luxury boutique in Four Seasons Bahrain Bay.

Rhodium, along with the ‘Pavia’ boutique, was launched by the US-based Maris Collective, which operates stores in luxury hotels and resorts around the world.

Both stores were launched in January. They are said to be the ideal destination for the sophisticated jetsetter, offering a dynamic mix of global fashion brands to create the perfect wardrobe to transition from lounging poolside to glamorous evenings. 

Nina, a stylish mother-of-two, flew into the kingdom to help launch Rhodium, and showed off her signature sliced diamonds to the press ahead of the store’s launch.

 “I truly hope that the women here love my designs. They are all hand-made and one-of-a-kind. Not one piece is ever the same. I buy all the stones first – my jewellery is very ‘stone driven’. It’s as though the stone speaks to me and has its own energy, so each piece comes out in its own special way.”

The jewellery features gold, silver, opals and emeralds, diamonds, rubies, tourmaline, conch pearls and more and the collections feature an array of sets from antique to rose-cut creations.

She says: “I love working with old mine-cut diamonds and blackening the metal silver on the top with gold on the back for that antique look. I am also adding opals and emeralds in different colours to the ‘flip ring’ which I first started in 2005. 

“I basically created a line that I thought women could wear with say a T-shirt and jeans as well as a ball gown.”

The Runsdorf family boasts seven generations of jewellers and diamond merchants, a lineage that can be traced back to the founders of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse in Europe. In the US, the Runsdorfs have been doing business in the New York City diamond district for over 60 years, all the way back to the very first on Maiden Lane. 

Nina first became passionate about designing jewellery when she was 11, making accessories at her family’s farm in upstate New York. She used to make her jewellery on a workbench in the kitchen every night. 

Later on in life, she worked in the fashion industry with celebrated designers such as Ralph Lauren and GAP CEO Mickey Drexler. However, she continued making jewellery for her friends and in 2005 left the fashion world to start her own line of accessories.

Her collection places an emphasis on diamonds and other precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, ultimately highlighting their splendour and versatility. She pioneered the jewellery industry by using rose-cut, rough, and sliced diamonds and precious gems and setting the valuables in platinum and 18-karat gold. 

Since her launch, Nina has attracted global attention. The brand has dressed some of the world’s most glamorous women, many of whom line the social pages from New York City to Istanbul and red carpets of Hollywood.

The Manhattan-based designer says: “I feel like these days, everything around us is art related and that’s how I live my life. I create ‘wearable art’ and my motto is ‘jewellery is never too precious to wear, so enjoy it!’ 

“I also believe that when you wear a particular piece of jewellery that it should mean something to you whether there is a story behind it or a great memory. Just have fun with it because it’s an accessory.”

Nina’s jewellery ranges in prices starting from $4,200 and include diamond-encrusted headbands for $50,000. She is one of the many exclusive designers to be featured at the contemporary store.


AMERICAN FASHION

Heather Severs, who is the Style and Editorial Director for Maris Collective, says: “We have about 24 boutiques around the world and about 14 properties, mostly in luxury resorts in Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean, so this is our first foot into the Middle East. 

“For Bahrain, we really wanted to bring in some new designers in jewellery and in American fashion. We wanted to offer a West Coast sensibility in a new way that people will love. A lot of these designers aren’t even available in other stores in the region.

“I feel like Bahrain is a place where men and women really understand fashion. They are worldly and they travel, so I feel like we are providing them a little taste of what they see in the magazines and on their journeys. 

“Bahrain is the perfect starting point for Rhodium.”

Rhodium features a stunning custom art deco-inspired design with marble flooring, lush wall coverings, as well as furnishings and exclusive jewellery pieces by iconic designer Kimberly McDonald. Kimberly’s geode touches can be seen throughout including a cool lighting fixture and wall paper. She also has a clothing line exclusive to Rhodium.

The luxury boutique offers high-end, sought-after fashion brands such as Missoni, Aquazzura, Tods, Tom Ford and Jewellery Arabia favourite Suzanne Kalan as well as emerging US brands that will be sold in the Middle East for the first time.

Pavia, located on the ground floor of the hotel right next to the spa, offers a sophisticated mix of men’s and women’s beach and active wear, stylish totes and sunglasses, spa products and more.

Both stores were opened by Sheikh Khaled Humood Al Khalifa, the Acting CEO of Bahrain Authority for Tourism and Exhibitions, in the presence of Dana Al Khalifa, curator of the Overdressed jewellery house, Runsdorf, and other guests.