JCK Asks…Guy Bedarida

The John Hardy creative director is taking the Indonesia-based company to new Bali highs

Guy Bedarida spent his childhood moving with his family through a variety of cultural hot spots: Paris, Rome, Florence, Vienna, Tunisia. Now, he finds himself in another artistic haven: As the head designer of John Hardy—a position he’s held since 1999—Bedarida lives and works in Bali, supervising the creation of the brand’s signature ethnic-inspired, hand-hammered silver designs. We’ve heard the Hardy headquarters described as an “eco-paradise.” No surprise, then, that under Bedarida’s watch, a number of jewelry initiatives with an environmental tie-in (supermodel Angela Lindvall’s recycled metal QVC collection, Angela by John Hardy, for example) have made the company greener than ever.

Bedarida’s pet rabbit, Joelle

Age: 47

Number of years in the biz: 25

Number of employees you oversee: A team of 30 designers and carvers. There are a total of 650 employees who work in the compound.

Family/pets: A rabbit who just gave birth to four babies

Describe your personal style: French/Italian casual chic

Cinta earrings with Marble Cone Shells and gemstones

First piece you ever designed: A set of earrings and necklace for a royal family

The single piece of jewelry you’re most proud of: The Kick Cuff, which is engineered to create an ease of wear for its owner

Favorite gemstones: Spinels, because they come in so many vivid colors

John Hardy Classic Chain Kick Cuff with black sapphires

What do you like about working in silver? I like its versatility. Shiny, matte, hammered, smooth, with ruthenium. Silver almost becomes a different material each time.

What will we see from the John Hardy and the Cinta collections in 2012? Quintessential John Hardy style, but with pieces that are lighter, younger. A new take on our Bamboo motif with bright colors. In brief, expect new shapes and new colors!

Best piece of advice you ever received: Remain true to yourself!

Naga gold and silver dragon head ring with red spinel

Worst piece of advice: Be a chameleon!

First job ever: When my mother made me clean my room!

How did you get started designing jewelry? I always wanted to be a jewelry designer. I made a portfolio, got an introduction at Boucheron, and that was it.

If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing? I would love to be an architect.

Jewelry you’re wearing right now: Everything from our Naga collection: a new ring with a dragon head with red sapphire eyes. Two bracelets with dragon’s heads: one in black sapphire pavé, the other one in white sapphire pavé.

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