"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question we all get asked as children. Our answers are often imaginative, but rarely survive into adulthood.
For Swiss based jewellery designer Angelo de Luca, however, his childhood dream actually came true.
Before I met Angelo, I never thought much about jewellery. But being around someone with as much passion and knowledge as Angelo is just so infectious - you can't help but be inspired when you're in his presence.
Most of us aren’t fortunate enough to translate our childhood dreams into reality. But sometimes, if we’re lucky, we get to experience them through people like Angelo. And that, in itself, is enough to make the world feel full of youthful possibility again.
Thank you, Angelo, for this inspiring conversation and your insights into your work, life and process.
INTERVIEW
You often say, “The jewel chooses the person.” What do you mean by that?
Jewels possess an intense, intimate energy. A jewel should embody something deeply personal inside the wearer, such as security, sexiness or mystery. My goal is for clients to feel more connected to the best parts of themselves when they wear a piece of my jewellery. That’s when you know the jewel has found its person.
When did you first fall in love with jewellery?
It started in childhood. I was impressed by the jewellery worn by my mother and her friends. Their sparkle made me feel safe and protected. I was making jewellery out of all kinds of materials when I was a child. Even today, I can’t pass a jewellery shop without pausing. For me, jewellery is how I make sense of the world. It’s an expression of emotion, memory, and identity. It’s what I love most.
That emotional connection seems to carry into your design process.
Completely. When I design a custom piece, I ask my clients for just three words. Those words - like “courage”, “mystery” or “simplicity” - form the soul of the piece. From there, I sketch. I studied in Rome, where I learned to turn feeling into form. One of my mentors once told me, “sketch one thing a day.” I still do that. It keeps me close to the essence.
But even the most poetic idea needs structure. Design has to meet reality - thickness, cost, proportions. I start with imagination, then translate it into something that can live in the world.
How does St Moritz shape your creations?
St. Moritz brings a particular energy. People come here to enjoy life, to celebrate. That joy finds its way into my work. Come to think of it, the beauty of being a jewellery designer is that it’s all about bringing joy. My clients come to me in happiness - whether it’s a celebration, a milestone, or simply the desire for something beautiful. And that energy is contagious.
That emotional connection seems to carry into your design process.
Completely. When I design a custom piece, I ask my clients for just three words. Those words - like “courage”, “mystery” or “simplicity” - form the soul of the piece. From there, I sketch. I studied in Rome, where I learned to turn feeling into form. One of my mentors once told me, “sketch one thing a day.” I still do that. It keeps me close to the essence.
But even the most poetic idea needs structure. Design has to meet reality - thickness, cost, proportions. I start with imagination, then translate it into something that can live in the world.
That emotional connection seems to carry into your design process.
Completely. When I design a custom piece, I ask my clients for just three words. Those words - like “courage”, “mystery” or “simplicity” - form the soul of the piece. From there, I sketch. I studied in Rome, where I learned to turn feeling into form. One of my mentors once told me, “sketch one thing a day.” I still do that. It keeps me close to the essence.
But even the most poetic idea needs structure. Design has to meet reality - thickness, cost, proportions. I start with imagination, then translate it into something that can live in the world.
How does St Moritz shape your creations?
St. Moritz brings a particular energy. People come here to enjoy life, to celebrate. That joy finds its way into my work. Come to think of it, the beauty of being a jewellery designer is that it’s all about bringing joy. My clients come to me in happiness - whether it’s a celebration, a milestone, or simply the desire for something beautiful. And that energy is contagious.
