Barry Kieselstein-Kord (b. November 6, 1943, New York, USA) is one of the most famous American jewelry designers. Three generations of Kiselsteins were jewelers. As a child, Barry was fond of woodcarving and, in his own words, avoided jewelry in every possible way. Kieselstein studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York. In the late 60s, after graduating from design school, Barry worked as an art director/producer for various New York advertising agencies, but at some point he realized that this was not the right job for him.
Here chance intervened. A friend of Barry’s saw a moon pendant that Barry had made to zip up his motorcycle jacket and suggested that he take a course in jewelry making. “By the third lesson,” says Barry, “I was already teaching the class. The principal of the school was not too pleased and told me that he did not want me to continue my education. I thought it was a kind of graduation diploma and sold my work to the firm of Georg Jensen (Georg Jensen Sølvsmedie) for a year”
In 1972, Kieselstein-Kord founded his own company in New York. The brand specializes in the creation of jewelry, belts and bags (since 1991), gloves, interior items and accessories. The image of the alligator crocodile, which can be found on cufflinks, bracelets, chains, rings, necklaces and buckles, brought recognition to the brand.
Over the years of its existence, the brand has won the hearts of such famous personalities as Bill Clinton, Julio Iglesias, Sharon Stone, Robert de Niro, members of the Bush family, as well as many Russian celebrities.
Barry Kieselstein-Kord is a recognized master of jewelry art, whose works are in the collections of the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston). His works are popular not only among people who follow fashion, but also among art lovers. Each decoration of the American designer is original and original.
