AUGUSTIN-JULIA PLANA (1934-1979)

Augustin Julia-Plana, was born in 1934 in Mataro, near Barcelona. The Spanish jeweler gained recognition for his distinctive design approach, incorporating unconventional materials into his creations. He embraced the beauty of materials like wood, meteorite, maw sit sit, and oxidized iron, valuing their inherent aesthetic qualities rather than their monetary worth.

During his youth, he was a serious athlete, becoming, in 1954, the Spanish 4-by-400m relay champion. Following his military service, he pursued his longstanding passion for art and attended an art school. Then he went abroad.

 In 1963, he joined Simon Schlegel, a Swiss jeweler based in Bern, and eventually became a formal partner in 1968, establishing Schlegel & Plana. Julia-Plana and Schlegel formed a successful partnership, collaborating on designing and producing exquisite jewelry for renowned European firms. Notable among their clientele were established companies like Tiffany in the U.S. , Aldebert from France and Bonebakker from the Netherlands and prestigious watch firms such as Clerc and Yves Saint Blaise. They also attracted the attention of many fashionable women from high society, including Princess Soraya of Iran.

Julia-Plana received numerous awards throughout his career, including multiple German jewelry awards and four Diamonds International Awards. In 1965, Julia-Plana won his first Diamonds International Award. He achieved this prestigious prize once again in 1967 for a bracelet. The year 1969 brought him two more wins, one for a ring adorned with diamonds and lapis lazuli cubes, and another for a brooch featuring tiger's eye plates and diamonds. These achievements led to his membership in the esteemed Diamonds International Academy, joining fellow renowned designers such as Andrew Grima and Gilbert Albert.

 Tragically, at the pinnacle of his career, Julia-Plana passed away in 1979 at the early age of forty-five due to heart failure, leaving behind a legacy of artistic brilliance and innovation.