Contemporary Artisan Eden Philippa

In an industry amass with skilled jewelers, a kaleidoscope of gemstones, infinite cuts, and clarity options – choosing your engagement ring means navigating a myriad of possibilities. Often we gravitate toward what we know. We play it safe with big names. Or we dive in blindly, co-creating a bespoke engagement ring with a designer who doesn’t quite hit the mark. It’s beautiful – but it’s far from magic.

Engulfed by choice at every turning point, understanding our ‘why’ is crucial before diving into the design process. Sitting for a moment to discover what truly matters before being allured by aesthetics alone, is paramount. It’s what separates mediocre from magic.

For many of us, what we want in an engagement ring runs deeper. We want jewels that shock with beauty, but spill with soul. Aesthetics that excite us visually, created with an ethos that mirrors our own. We need to know the stone that sits on our skin holds a story that resonates within.

When we discovered Toronto-based Eden Philippa, we knew we’d stumbled across someone special. A contemporary artisan whose work captivates us visually, and connects deeply. A seeker of magical stones and an alchemist of timeless heirlooms. Created with ethically sourced gems and recycled gold, Eden Philippa jewels are for creatives who want to tread softly on this earth. Unexpected treasures for those lost in the world of repetitive design, seeking anything but trends. Rich with sentiment, they’re for lovers who want a personalized symbolism of their story, not just an engagement ring. 

We visited the Toronto workspace of Eden Philippa to see how this Goldsmith by trade and designer by heart makes her magic…

“The process of transforming raw materials into something that’s a wearable symbol of celebration and love is very special to me.”

There’s an intimacy in your designs we’re deeply drawn to, we’d love to hear how you were first pulled to jewelry, and since those initial designs where do you now seek your inspiration?

I love working with my hands and the delicate nature of jewelry spoke to me. The process of transforming raw materials into something that’s a wearable symbol of celebration and love is very special to me.

Your collections spill with inimitable gems, where do you source your stones, and what are the unique qualities you seek out? What makes a stone become an heirloom in your opinion?

One of my favorite parts of my job is sourcing stones. For colored gemstones, the two things that are most important to me are the uniqueness of the stone and if it has been sourced ethically. I work with a few family-run mines, so the hands that they pass through are far fewer than larger-scale suppliers. I also work with post-consumer recycled diamonds, which are both ethical and sustainable. I believe any stone can become an heirloom as it’s about the life of the gem and the wearer and the story that it tells future generations.

As a goldsmith and designer, what are the elements that influence your designs? What feelings are you hoping to evoke in those that wear your pieces?

When designing, I’m always considering the composition and materials and how they work best for everyday wear. I’m quite a sentimental person and jewelry has always been a way for people to mark special occasions in life. Nothing brings me more joy than hearing of my customers having intimate moments of reflection with their Eden Philippa piece.

Your studio evokes a calm meditative state for a creative mind, where it seems afternoons are lost in thought while pieces take shape before your eyes. We’d love to know what tracks you play on repeat, what scent you might burn, and the muse you have in mind while working?

Sade is my go-to for a busy, yet relaxing day in the studio. I love adding lemon essential oil to my diffuser to keep the space feeling vibrant. My studio is split over two floors; the lower where I do my bench work and the upstairs where I design and meet with clients. The upstairs space is open and airy, spilling with natural light as the afternoon sun pours in and illuminates the gemstones and gold, which creates my perfect design environment.

“I believe any stone can become an heirloom as it’s about the life of the gem and the wearer and the story that it tells future generations.”

Moving on from custom pieces to a focus on one-of-a-kind rings featuring Montana Sapphires alongside your core collection, we’re excited to know what’s next for Eden Philippa in 2021?

It’s going to be an exciting year ahead as new collections are dreamed up and new gemstones are explored.

To view the full collection and one-of-a-kind pieces, visit the Eden Philippa website.

Photography / Erin Leydon