JWM - Volume 2, Issue 2 - (Page 92)

MY PASSION Fiona Druckenmiller The Eclectic Collector Style, taste and a sense of whimsy create a unique collection. S troll New York City’s tony Upper East Side, and you’ll notice something about the ultra-exclusive jewelers that dot the streets: Most of their doors are made of imposing wrought iron. But the doors at Fiona Druckenmiller’s FD boutique are made of glass. The ceilings are low and the ﬂoors are wood, not the cold, sterile marble you’ll ﬁnd at the aforementioned shops. There’s an espresso bar in the back, as well as cushy seating and inviting bookshelves. “We tried to get rid of the pretense and the formality,” says Druckenmiller. “We don’t want anyone coming through our doors to feel at all intimidated.” That may seem a herculean task, given the spectacular beauty one encounters in FD’s exquisite collection of rare and antique jewelry. Among them: a staggering 1940s Van Cleef & Arpels necklace made of gold, rubies and blue and yellow sapphires; an egg-sized 284-carat peridot and diamond necklace by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.; a colorful, gem-laden Art Deco ring by Cartier, circa 1925. “Vintage jewelry tends to be better-made because it’s not machine-made,” says Druckenmiller. “It was made in a time where there were true artisans and apprentices.” Druckenmiller, whose boutique opened last October, wants to share her passion for such exemplary craftsmanship, yet understands buyers have different price ranges. That’s why, along with the breathtaking jewels, she also offers affordable items, such as beautiful hand-painted stationery for $50. At FD, the focus is on rarity and quality, but there’s a pronounced sense of whimsy, one of the deﬁning characteristics of the collection. “I have pretty eclectic taste. I think things tend to be more interesting when they’re atypically juxtaposed,” says Druckenmiller. On the bookshelves, striking, jewel-encrusted objets d’art sit next to a ﬁrst edition of Wee Willie Winkie by Rudyard Kipling and early printings of Groucho Marx books. Animal motifs abound, from a gold David Webb leopard brooch with emerald eyes to a 1940s Lord & Taylor handbag, meticulously beaded and shaped like a toy poodle. “If I had to give one distilling [trait],” says Druckenmiller, “it would be that [the collection] is not ordinary or expected.” — J E A N N E F U R Y A passion for craftsmanship: Fiona Druckenmiller’s collection includes (from top), a Van Cleef & Arpels cultured pearl, diamond and gold ring, c. 1975; a bronze cardinal by Geoﬀrey Dashwood; a pair of multi-gem and diamond ear pendants by Marina B. Prices available upon request. FD 21 E. 65th St., New York City; 212-772-2440. “I think things tend to be more interesting when they’re atypically juxtaposed.” J WM MAGAZINE 92 J W M A R R I O T T. C O M http://www.JWMARRIOTT.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JWM - Volume 2, Issue 2

JWM - Spring 2012
Table of Contents
Contributors
JW Experts
Editor’s Letter
Distinctive Products, People, Ideas & Style
Well-Being
Food + Drink
Arts
The Portal
The Wild West
A Seat at the Table
Brand New
The Lady of Shanghai
JW Experience
My Passion

JWM - Volume 2, Issue 2