Nobuko Ishikawa's eponymous jewelry brand is very much a global success story. The designer's excruciatingly detailed work, inspired by fine art, has won high-profile exhibitions and gained fans the world over. However, despite this success on the international stage, the brand is still very much a local one. With "aesthetics and dignity" as the central philosophy, every piece of Nobuko Ishikawa's jewelry comes from the same atelier in Ichikawa, Chiba, with the designer herself overseeing every stage of the construction process. The jewelry that results from this uniquely intimate style simply cannot be replicated by anyone at any price. The value goes far beyond the precious metals, diamonds, and museum-quality stones to become an art form in its own right.
International observers occasionally make the mistake of assuming that Japan doesn't have a history of making jewelry, since pre-Meiji there was little work produced in the mediums popular in the West such as rings, bracelets, and necklaces. But if you look to the likes of kanzashi (hair pins) or obidome (obi belt closures), there is a wealth of adornment that uses techniques you would associate with jewelry. Nobuko Ishikawa builds on this fine history by employing not only traditional carving and inlaying techniques, but also precious metals unique to Japanese craft and kogei. These include shakudō, a gold and copper alloy used to achieve a beautiful range of patinas and colors that cannot be found in common jewelry. The precise mixture of the alloy is adjusted to achieve just the right shade for each piece. Add to this a wealth of traditional Japanese techniques such as sakura (cherry blossoms), and you have Nobuko Ishikawa's jewelry collections--a perfect balance between Japanese craftsmanship and Western jewelry mediums that is unique.
Many of Nobuko Ishikawa's works also take on motifs from the Western art world, while using techniques honed in Japanese craft to execute a remarkable range of themes. So no matter what your taste, an heirloom of tomorrow can be yours.
Location
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Main Building 6F, Jewelry Salon