It’s amazing how much music affects every part of our lives. It even has the power to transfer the stories it tells, the people it brings together, and the connections it helps to create — all of which can be expressed through jewelry. Every genre of music sometimes gives us new ideas for designs, and sometimes it helps us think in different and exciting ways. Two US-based jewelry designers, known for their broad vision and bold designs, find inspiration in music.

SORELLINA
Founded by sisters Nicole and Kim Carosella, Sorellina (which means smaller or younger sister in Italian) is both vintage inspired and decidedly modern. The brand’s bold, statement making pieces are designed with a contemporary, urban jewelry enthusiast in mind, and the work strikes a perfect balance between both feminine and masculine aesthetic sensibilities. This inherent harmony extends to the sisters themselves. With Kim spearheading logistics and business and Nicole focused on the creative output, their distinctive personalities and skillsets are beautifully complementary, allowing this dynamic duo to continually produce imaginative and prolific collections.
For Nicole Carosella of Sorellina, music played a significant role in her life from an early age, listening to records with her grandmother: “The experience of connecting with my grandmother through music profoundly influenced my approach to jewelry design, inspiring me to create pieces that capture that same sense of connection, nostalgia, and timeless beauty,” Carosella said. The “Playlist” collection of Sorellina is completely inspired by specifically David Bowie who was a musical genius and 70s glam rock genre, featuring natural diamond encrusted lightning bolts, records, guitar picks and cassettes to name a few. The most popular piece of the collection is the ‘Cassette Tape Pendant’ in 18K gold, crowned with white sapphires reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Complementing the precious jewelry, the gold “Cassette Key Pencil” pendant with diamond and pink opal details has the ability to “rewind” and “fast forward” the golden spool, just like a real cassette tape. Winner of 2024 COUTURE “Best Innovation” award, this piece is a true reflection of the boundless creativity. Music and jewelry are powerful forms of self-expression that transcend language and culture, shares Nicole Carosella: “As a jewelry designer, I see how both can evoke emotions, tell stories, and create connections among people. Music can inspire the design of a piece, capturing its rhythm and mood in the form of shapes and materials. Similarly, jewelry often has a personal significance, much like a favorite song, and can symbolize special moments or relationships. When jewelry & music are combined, they can create a unique harmony that resonates with individuals, bringing people together through shared experiences and expressions”.

JADE RUZZO

Clean lines, classic shapes and unexpected designs… Jade Ruzzo makes fine jewelry that is devoid of trends but big on attitude. The New York-based brand always manages to strike the perfect balance between gold and precious stones in every collection. Jade explains the brand identity sharing; “To me, nothing is more beautiful than a simple design that whispers instead of yells.” Jade Ruzzo’s career in jewelry design began with a deep interest in art and related fields. Her training in art history, materials and design principles has developed her creative and technical skills while helping her to update her unique understanding of design and aesthetic vision.
Her work is mostly characterized by minimalist and elegant lines, and it also has a luxurious and subtle quality to it. Jade Ruzzo is able to create a sophisticated balance in her jewelry using natural stones, precious metals and a variety of textures. Ruzzo’s emotional connection with music, the protagonist of her inspiration, is quite sentimental. His father, once a well-known name in the music industry but recently passed away, serves as a huge inspiration for the designer’s “Percussion” collection dedicated to musical instruments: “When I was very little, Mariah Carey had a cover of “I’ll Be There” out on the radio and it was my absolute favorite song. My father’s band dedicated the song to me at one of their shows. I was maybe 5 years old and I don’t think I’ve ever felt cooler than I did in that moment, it’s a core special memory that I will always remember.”
Jade has done a great job of balancing design and functionality in her “Percussion” collection by choosing natural diamonds. Jade Ruzzo captures the essence of every detail with the emotions that music evokes.