by: Zeynep Sümer
To many, Portugal is synonymous with fun in the sun and an overload of seafood on the tourist-packed beaches of the Southern coast. However, at least to us, the country's Northern region has an entirely different charm; appealing for its own reasons. In the winter of 2022, seeking inspiration for our first collection, we criss-crossed the stately bridges and steep hills of Porto, the self-contained biosphere of the port wine producing Douro Valley, and discovered the municipality of Gondomar, birthplace of traditional Portuguese jewellery.
by: Maurice Pehle
For one thing, food is richer and meatier here than the more mediterranean South, something I personally appreciated, but the differences between the regions of course go alot deeper than palletes. Even on glittering sunny days, we were struck by how much more poetic, pensive, and moody the place felt, without losing any of the Southern hospitality and warmth. Landscapes are rugged and romantic, and the architecture of cities like Porto and Guimarães with their well-preserved historic centres, has a calm old-world charm that speaks to the misty nostalgia of bygone days.
by: Zeynep Sümer
Our debut collection, 'A Luz', Portuguese for 'The Light', represents the soft, melancholy light that paints the landscapes, cities, and people of the region at golden hour. It is our attempt to capture in silver, gold, and freshwater pearls the complex stew of feelings and impressions we experienced during our time there. Vintage-inspired and delicately detailed, each piece is designed to be held and looked at closely, catching the light effortlessly.
The collection is handmade in Gondomar, by Portvs. Founded by José Martins Barbosa in the 1950's,this family business has been crafting luxury silver jewellery for nearly seven decades, fusing traditional handmade techniques with modern technology. Now the company is in the hands of the third generation, brothers João and Tiago Barbosa, who we met on our 2022 trip. As João took us on a walk through the showroom and workshop, it was clear that the tradition of craftsmanship that has made Portugal a global centre for jewellery excellence since the 18th century has maintained an almost unbroken lineage to this day.
by: Portvs
Highly skilled gold and silversmiths have always come from families in the local community, many of them proudly working with techniques that their great-grandparents used themselves, expertise passed on from generation to generation. Among the few things that have changed at Portvs is the introduction of more sustainable, circular production methods. Every single piece in the collection is made from 95% recycled silver, a fact we’re all too proud to share every chance we get.
by: Alina Fedochenko
This collection is our love letter to the North of Portugal, its traditions, food, landscapes and most importantly its people. We hope that in each piece, you’ll share some of the passion and history that inspired us as we curated it.
Blogs
A Guide to Pearl Jewellery
Pearls are possibly the most fascinating gems in the world and feature heavily in our debut collection 'A Luz'. Here, we explore the history and importance of these gems and provide...
A Guide to Mother of Pearl Jewellery
Our debut collection, ‘A Luz’, features a range of pieces handcrafted with Mother of Pearl, one of our favourite jewellery materials. For centuries, this radiant and iridescent material has captured...
A Guide to Gold-Plated Jewellery
Our “A Luz” collection is handmade in Gondomar, Portugal using recycled sterling silver plated in 18-karat gold. Here we explore what gold-plated silver is, how it's made, and why it's a...
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