Claudio Pino‘s sculptural and kinetic jewellery creations are unique in the world. The Canadian Montreal based jewellery designer and goldsmith is the sole designer of rings. Each ring is a work of art and each ring is only available once. Since he received his diploma at the École des métiers du Sud-Ouest de Montréal, Canada in 1995, he has been fascinated by the deep relationship between rings and their owners as well as the symbolism and history of rings.

Claudio Pino has long been  known  in jewellery circles as his jewellery became famous in films such as "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and the "The Dark Tower by Stephen King", where his rings were worn by actors namely, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Abbey Lee Kershaw. Claudio Pino was inspired by his father, whom he watched hours carving miniature ships.

His ring are called futuristic. The world of Jules Verne, and his writings were definitely a major part of the Pino’s souvenirs from his childhood. Films like Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as depicted by Michael Anderson are still a source of inspiration to him. However, it is the mysterious worlds created by Japanese film director Hayao Miyazaki that brought him into the Steampunk movement in the early 90s. Animated films, such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and Laputa ~Castle in the Sky~ (1986), are definitely what rooted him in the scene. He creates his rings himself in his studio. There he also cuts the stones to fit his complex creations. Every ring creation begins for him with the inspiration of the right gemstone.

June 11, 2022

Interview Directory 

ART

Name: Claudio Pino

Residence: Montreal

Occupation: Jeweller, artist

Status: His creations are truly unique

Known: You probably know his ring creation for Stanley Tucci in "Hunger Games: Catching Fire".

"Rings endure as objects that have direct connections to our body language and serve as a reflection of one’s appearance and style while recalling memories of our loved ones, telling stories, representing victories."

Rings as symbols of love, loyalty and infinity. Can you perhaps say that love is the inspiration of your work?

Yes, love is a real source of motivation! In fact, my main inspiration is humans: humans with their dreams, their desires, and sensitivity. Women and men who are passionate about unique pieces of fine jewelry. It is for them that I do this work, and they are the ones that inspire me the most. 

A diamond ring was first worn in 1475 at the wedding of Costanzo Sforza and Camilla D'Aragona in Italy. Is the history of the diamond ring as a placeholder for the wedding ring an inspiration for you?

Of course! With my jewelry designs, I seek to pay homage to the historical grandeur of jewelry making. From ancient Egypt to the 21st century, its rich history of thousands of years is intricate and fascinating. Rings endure as objects that have direct connections to our body language and serve as a reflection of one’s appearance and style while recalling memories of our loved ones, telling stories, representing victories... and their vintage surface projects its unmistakable power. 

©Claudio Pino

Which other historical ring has inspired you.

To deepen my knowledge on the history of engagement rings, I went to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which contains the largest collection of ancient Egyptian Jewelry in the world. This collection includes one of the first engagement rings, which was owned by Queen Aah-Hotep, the mother of Ahmose. Seeing the Pharaohs’ jewelry and meeting with well-known specialists allowed me to better understand the ancestral techniques and customs as well as to learn more about the symbolic importance and origin of the engagement ring. 

"In a world of mass production and mass consumption my rings embody the desire to be unique, to be distinct and to be original. The role of my work is to make this desire come true."

Your "Vena Amoris Collection" was inspired by your visit in Egypt. What are the thoughts behind your Vena Amoris collection. 

This research in Egypt had a real impact on my artistic career, and it is from this rich experience that I designed the Vena Amoris Collection.
The theory of Vena Amoris is that the vein from the 4th finger of the left hand flows directly into the heart. I created an collection about love. These Rings can be given to our beloved, to someone we care, or for ourself, a gift that we all deserve. In a world of mass production and mass consumption my rings embody the desire to be unique, to be distinct and to be original. The role of my work is to make this desire come true. 

Which ring from your collection would you recommend as an engagement ring and which would be the wedding ring.

Well, I do prefer to believe that no standard is found in today’s jewelry. I want to offer to my clients, Engagement ring or Wedding rings of their dreams. I always discuss with my clients, ask them about their favorite colours, symbols, stories, lucky numbers, details, or any other information that they would like to include in the design. Rings are so symbolic, they tell stories. Everything is possible! From the minimalist classical beauty to extremely complex kinetic and sculptptural rings, the most important is that the piece brings happiness and represent their personality. Everyone is unique and it’s important to me to represent that in my design. 

Is there an artist that has inspired you?

I am fascinated by the creativity of the masterpieces made by the pioneer of modern jewelry, René Lalique (1860-1945) and intrigued by the innovation in each free-blown functional and sculptural glass work by the artist Dale Chihuly (1941-). I am mesmerized by the way they both explore colours, shapes, and assemblage, always bringing a magical, fairylike aspect to their artwork. Although living in different historical periods and creating in different fields and media, they both incorporated new techniques while always pushing forward with their inventiveness. I would say also the drawings of mechanisms made by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Are you interested in poetry?

Yes! Definitly! I see each of my jewelry as short poems when I created them. For the book entitled Claudio Pino: The Power of the Rings, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the wonderful poetess, Genevieve Filion, who wrote a series of Haiku inspired by my rings . This collaboration was very inspiring and it bring an other dimension to the perception of my art.

 ( Below an exemple)

"Humans beings are my main source of inspiration – I make jewelry for them, inspired by them."

Which women do you have in mind when you design.

Well, I don’t have one particular woman or man in mind when I do my design. In fact, I mainly do personalized piece inspired by the person who will wear the ring. Still today, after over 25 years of full-time jeweler designer of one-of-a-kind pieces, humans beings are my main source of inspiration – I make jewelry for them, inspired by them. Of course, my collections are also shown in Galleries, Museums, international biennales, and trade shows in North America, Asia, and Europe. In this case, I explored various thematic. Each of my designs represents a mirror of multiple metaphors from metamorphosis to urban pace…, likes small tableau that become alive only once they find their owner. 

Is there a woman who you would like to meet and for whom you would like to design a ring? 

No. As for me, everyone is unique and it is always such an honour and privilege to create personalized rings for someone. 

"It is such a privilege to create a real piece of art to immortalize their love."

How can someone buy rings from you, and are customers allowed to come to your Atelier?

People will contact me first by email and talk about the one they love, or themselves so I can make a jewelry specially for them related to their personality, and filled of symbols, details, stories that demonstrates their love, their passion, their personality—to create something that will be part of their history and will be handed down through future generations. I will discuss with them the different options such as the metal (Gold, Platinum, Sterling Silver, Palladium, Argentium…), the choice of gemstones/colours… Then, I send them photos… Once we are ready, I let the magic operate. Of course, people are welcome to my atelier but I have to say, 80% of my clients are from oversea. I really love to have this kind of exchange with the customers; it is always an honour to have that chance. You know, I am often contacted to create sensational engagement rings and sculptural wedding rings. It is such a privilege to create a real piece of art to immortalize their love. Many people are looking for something really unique and symbolic! For me, it is always so inspiring to have the chance to exchange directly with the client. 

Can your rings also be bought in Germany?

Yes! I do have many clients in Germany. In 2012, I had a solo show in Frankfurt, where 40 one-of-kind rings were exhibited. Since then, I received numerous special requests from real Fine Art Jewelery Collectors. It’s always an honour to design a piece for someone that really appreciate my art. 

©All fotos by Claudio Pino

and Portraits by Arkan Zakharov