Designer Steven Lagos has a passion for gemstones and gemstone jewelry.  He travels all over the globe searching for the most beautiful gemstones that best help tell the story of his designs.  Creating jewelry designs inspired by nature and the earth’s elements is not as easy as it might seem.  Behind each stunning stone is a method and a story.

Steven Lagos refers to himself as a ‘Treasure Hunter’ when it comes to finding the perfect gemstone.  As gemstones are made in nature they can be a very unpredictable medium to work with.  Each year Steve travels the globe to meet with local artisans who specialize in gemstones specific to that area of the world.  Discovering what is available each season takes skill and a keen eye for quality. As Steve explains, “Everything we use is real. We’re subject to what’s coming out of the mines in the quantities and sizes that we need. That creates a whole other layer and mystery to the product.”

After finding the right stones for each collection Steve gets to work on creating gemstone jewelry designs that highlight and incorporate the natural beauty of the pieces he has found.  Oftentimes the right gemstone can inspire an entire design whether it be a necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings, as Steve works to create art around the stone rather than forcing it into an existing piece. This results in the unique and truly original jewelry collections that are released each season.  The hunt never stops for Steve, which is why every year LAGOS is able curate new collections full of exciting designs.

Check out the video for more on the LAGOS philosophy on gemstones.