A new look, a new face, a new design is born, far away from
the crowd, this is MaeVona. Lovingly created, exquisitely
crafted, MaeVona jewels stand out, bring joy and show love.
Jewels to celebrate great sentiment and great occasion: for
engagement and marriage, for individuals with character.
MaeVona is the ultimate vision of Scottish jeweler and designer
Maeve Gillies, an incredible young woman who has worked, designed,
taught and exhibited her way around the world, winning awards,
artistic and commercial acclaim along the way.
Pick your own MaeVona piece to match the unique beauty of
your face, tell the world your story.
About Maeve GIllies
MAEVONA is Maeve Gillies's creation; her life, her love, her
vision. Truly a young woman of exceptional artistic and entrepreneurial
talent, this is her story so far...
Maeve is a multi-award-winning Scottish designer and jeweler,
who grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, in a nationally acclaimed
artistic, literary and musical family. Constantly exploring,
making and drawing, Maeve demonstrated considerable artistic
and musical talent from an early age. Maeve was six times
champion at Scotland's annual music awards, The National Mod,
for her performance on the 'classic' - the Scottish harp -
one of the oldest instruments in Celtic history.
Maeve's future in jewelry began by chance at age 15. Trying
out goldsmithing with a jeweler friend, Maeve discovered an
all-consuming passion for jewelry overnight.
Maeve went on to complete a traditional training, with two
degrees in jewelry and goldsmithing - firstly from the Edinburgh
College of Art in Scotland, then a Masters degree from the
prestigious Royal College of Art in London. She is the recipient
of several national design awards, including three from the
Royal Society for the Arts in London.
At the same time as her practical training, Maeve worked in
a family-run independent retail jeweler, where diamond engagement
rings were her favorite sale.
"Working in retail had such an influence on me",
Maeve says "I learned customer language - what you ask
for, and what you really want, can be so different - I came
to understand which designs work, and which don't. To anticipate
what makes a customer feel special is so important."
Maeve's quest to combine the creative and the commercial has
taken her all around the world - designing, developing jewelry
factories and working with young artists and traditional craftsmen,
in Asia, Australia, America and Europe.
From 2001-4 Maeve was Head of Design for Domino, the largest
platinum jewelry manufacturer in Europe, selling 35,000 rings
a year, to 5000 retailers in 30 countries. Maeve directed
new product launches from conception to market, designing
four annual, as well as overseeing state-of-the-art CAD/CAM
modelmaking for up to 600 new master- patterns annually. Maeve's
significant contribution to the European market is recognized
by Patrick Fuller, owner and founder of Domino, past Chairman
of the British Jeweller's Association, who observed that "the
number of people with Maeve's skills and abilities are scarce
on an international scale."
This in-depth focus on luxury manufacturing, that appealed
to a sophisticated consumer, was the perfect preparation for
Maeve's ultimate vision - MAEVONA...
In 2004 Maeve co-founded MAEVONA in New York City, with long-time
friend and inspirational business partner- Kenneth Cowin.
MAEVONA’s launch In 2005 gained instant industry attention,
drawn to the originality, innovation and workmanship of the
designs; and the impressive lifestyle marketing material shot
by legendary New York fashion photographer Stan Shaffer. In
year one, MAEVONA was not only accepted into the industry's
elite invitation-only show circuit, but also scooped the top
industry design award - the Town & Country 'Best Bridal
Design' at the Couture Show in Las Vegas, voted above all
their established competitors, chosen by all Couture attendees.
MAEVONA now supplies high-end diamond designs to select top
retailers across America, developing MAEVONA as an aspirational
and sought-after- brand. Maeve travels all across the USA,
working with store staff, meeting her customers and enthusing
everyone she meets with her passion for incredible design
that will last a lifetime.
"Every piece of MAEVONA jewelry should feel exquisite
when you pick it up; like a beautiful watch or a piece of
antique jewelry, you Just know it is special. The details
are everything - the curves, the softness, the weight, the
finish - it must make you feel unique, and must give you confidence
that the piece will last a lifetime. Often this is the most
important piece of jewelry my customers will own, so I take
such pleasure in knowing they are happy. What I have created
has so much love in it, and means everything to them It doesn't
get much better than this"
