Yasuko Azuma

Childhood memories of growing up in Japan, prior training and careers as a fashion designer in her native country and as a dancer in New York all provide Yasuko Azuma with inspiration for her elegantly feminine and intricately detailed 18k gold precious jewelry collection.

“I’m very nostalgic about my childhood, growing up in Japan and playing in my grandmother’s garden,” explains Yasuko. “I can recreate in my mind, the botanicals, the rocks, the hanging lanterns and the way in which the branches seemed to billow and flow.” Today Yasuko interprets these images into highly wearable and ultimately pretty pieces of jewelry. “I prefer not to follow trends but to create styles that are enduring, versatile and collectible. I also believe in jewelry that is more subdued with unexpected surprises and details rather than bold diamond statement looks.” Yasuko’s collection focuses on earthly delights, each of which is hand carved and hand finished with her pierced work. The changing of seasons is also a driving force in her collection. She describes her “diamond dust” texture as “trying to capture the moment on an icy cold day in winter when the motion in the air sparkles when it freezes.” Yasuko replicates this feeling with light hammering which creates a glimmer of matte and shine. The essence of her designs shows through in their subtly. The Yasuko Azuma collection attracts a broad range of women without ever being overly designed. “The pieces never outshine my customers but rather enhance their diverse and inherent beauty.”