On weekends, you‘ll find Alex Sepkus driving a tractor or handling a chain saw on his farmland bordering the Hudson River in Westchester County, N.Y. The designer relishes the chance to roll up his sleeves and get a little dirty, having recently purchased a modest 1910 farmhouse on five acres that had once been the site of a Boy Scout camp. His rugged home life is a complete contrast to his jewelry, which is so finely detailed that the painstaking work must be done under a magnifying glass.

When the designer immigrated to this country from Lithuania over a decade ago, he captivated customers with his unique designs. Sepkus‘ jewelry appears antique, with detailed carving reminiscent of the Renaissance or the Baroque era, yet the form is modern.

Viewing Sepkus‘ jewelry under magnification reveals surprises. "Under the magnifier, you see the design in a different way, and you will always discover something that is not visible to the naked eye," he explains. In his constant pursuit of the unusual, Sepkus was one of the first designers to bring the briolette diamond cut back into favor. "The briolette has its own personality, since you can‘t find two that are exactly the same," he says.

His latest work in progress highlights colored diamond beads, but Sepkus emphasizes that each design is centered on his innovative metalwork.

After days at the bench meticulously working metal to the right texture and dimension, it‘s no wonder he looks forward to his weekends on the tractor.

 

By Jill Newman

 

“Robb Report”,  May  2000.