Sunroom Q&A: BECK Jewels
We're so excited to share a conversation with Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz, the mastermind behind Sunroom's newest jewelry collection, BECK—whose casually elegant, effortlessly chic pieces are inspired by her upbringing between the island of Curaçao and New York City. Learn more about the line, Rebecca's inspirations, and Sicilian travels below!
What first attracted you to pursuing jewelry making?
At a young age I moved abroad to study fashion design, however, upon returning to my home island I was reawakened by a new sense of appreciation for the place I grew up in.
I was reinspired by my island's colors, cultures, and infectious rhythm. I wanted to encapsulate this feeling into tangible objects that I could take with me even when I was far away from home. I fell in love with gemstones, especially the ocean-like tones of blue topaz.
The first ring I designed was the Scuba ring. As the light enters the stone, the blue topaz envelops into a dazzling array of blues. It's a piece that carries the spirit of being close to the sea.
Can you speak more to the “design tensions” you balance between your worlds in New York and your native Curaçao? How have these shifted over time?
The ease with which jewelry is worn in the Caribbean is a guiding ethos, I will forever be inspired by the casual elegance of wearing fine jewelry over a kaftan. However, living over a decade in New York has refined my aesthetic; stripping down the jewel to its most basic form.
The focus is on craftsmanship, the way a stone can make you feel, and the integrity with which the piece is made. This is a balance between both of my worlds.
You emphasize the sensuous and casual elegance of Beck's pieces. How do your choice materials and process further inform this resonance?
There is a simplicity to my designs which I love to juxtapose with vivid gemstones and juicy cabochons, I also love playing with the contrast of noble metals with raw materials, there is a laid-back elegance to pairing leather with 18k gold or diamonds with beach pebbles.
Our signature designs are distinguished by bold elevated silhouettes, which envelop and magnify the natural beauty and intensity of the gemstone they carry— which is why sourcing meaningful stones is such a large part of my design process. Every year I go to the Tucson Gemfair to personally source the stones we use.
Is there an heirloom or special piece of personal jewelry that is significant to you?
Yes, my grandmother's jewelry is precious to me. I wear her chain daily.
What's an unexpected source of inspiration and creative exploration?
I am endlessly inspired by marine hardware and boat parts, I love going to ports and admiring their equipment.
Rapid Fire!
I start my mornings with... meditation and a shake.
A book I recommend to everyone: For an easy read, A Gentleman in Moscow. I also love the magical realism of One Hundred Year of Solitude and basically anything by Eckhart Tolle.
An unexpected source of inspiration for me is... vintage menswear.
My favorite escape for a long weekend or staycation getaway: I escape to the beach every chance I get, there's a daily direct flight to Curacao from NYC or a drive to Montauk (although I avoid it in high season).
Three things always in my bag are: my journal, a fountain pen (red or purple ink), and a small bottle of my favorite perfume—TIMO, which is herbal, fresh, and super light.
The songs or playlist I'm listening to on repeat: Too many! My husband and I have a very large record collection: I love Latin Jazz, Caribbean Waltz and Afrobeat from the 1960s. When I'm in my studio in NYC I always listen to WGBO, our local jazz station.
My beverage of choice: in the summer, freshly-made iced tea
Where I'm traveling this year... I don't like to plan ahead. But I'm currently in Sicily, and no matter how many times I come I'm always amazed by how much there is to see and experience here.
