The founder and creative director of the British jewelry brand, Stephen Webster, traveled in person to the Azerbaijani capital to unveil his latest collection defined by an uncompromising spirit and a departure from convention.
The world premiere of the Full Bleed collection took place in London in September, and Baku became the first international destination offering the brand's clients an opportunity to view and acquire the pieces. The event's prestige was further elevated by the presence of Stephen Webster and his wife, Assia Webster. Together, they presented the new collection to clients and guests, underscoring the vital importance of the Azerbaijani market for the brand.
The presentation of the collection took place at the Zaman Gallery in Icherisheher. The cocktail soirée centered around the exquisite jewelry and, of course, the founder of the iconic jewelry brand, accompanied by his wife. Selections from the Full Bleed line were displayed in showcases, and guests could try them firsthand. The atmosphere was curated through a DJ set by Maya Aziz, a Mirror Room photo installation, signature cocktails from a mixologist, and an arcade crane machine dispensing gifts for the guests.
The collection's name, "Full Bleed", refers to a printing term, which is used when an image goes beyond the edges of a page, unconstrained by borders and margins. This concept of breaking the mold, pushing boundaries, and reaching new heights – the boldness, eccentricity, and creative audacity inherent in the British jewelry House's DNA resonate loudly in the new collection. Here, color appears to burst beyond the confines of the gemstone: precision-matched enamel flows outward from the central mineral into the surrounding gold, fading in a gradient that ultimately dissolves the boundary between stone and metal.
The collection encompasses cocktail rings, statement signets, pendants, and padlock earrings of various shapes – including convertible designs, as well as padlock bracelets, ranging from beaded leather styles to a signature butterfly motif. Each piece is is intended for an everyday jewelry wardrobe.
The color palette of Full Bleed is anchored by the hues of two stones hand-selected by Webster at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. The narrative revolves around green tourmaline and pinkish-copper natural zircon – a gem the designer considers one of the most underrated in the world of high jewelry.
“Initially, my goal was to source vivid green tourmalines, though hunting for gemstones with highly specific characteristics that inherently narrows the field,” explains Stephen Webster. “For the palette’s second element, I selected a warm, pinkish-copper zircon. I believe this stone is profoundly undervalued: there has never been a jeweler behind it who truly understood it – until now”.
The collection's expressive aesthetic vividly captures Webster’s artistic credo, his design signature, and his trademark rebellious spirit. A defining feature of these pieces is their captivating inner glow, an effect achieved through a proprietary technique: the gold is first meticulously hand-engraved, then overlaid with layers of cold enamel. All jewelry is made of 18-carat yellow gold, using colored and colorless diamonds of various sizes, further enhancing the effect of fluidity created by the enamel.
The gradient enamel showcased in Full Bleed serves as a contemporary reimagining of a time-honored jewelry practice. Applied by hand, the enamel is carefully layered to achieve precise tonal shifts. The color is at its most saturated by the gemstone, gradually fading into as it stretches toward the fine engraved lines. Because every central stone is naturally unique, each piece boasts a distinct interplay of color, making every creation genuinely one-of-a-kind.
Stephen Webster creations, including the Full Bleed collection, are available at Royal Collection boutiques located at 4, 28 May Street and 3, Aziz Aliyev Street in Baku, Azerbaijan. Contact phones: +994 (51) 201-92-94, +994 10 256 9779.
The official distributor for Stephen Webster in Azerbaijan is Italdizain. More information about the brand and its collections is available online at: https://italdizain.az/ru/brands/stephen-webster