Claudia Hamers is an Italian jewelry designer known for her unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that combine modern technology with traditional materials like gold and precious stones. She has lived and worked in Milan for over 25 years, where she studied industrial design and philosophy. Hamers believes in letting her designs come from within and focusing on authenticity rather than trends, which clients responding to her unique creations. She lives in Milan with her husband and daughter, balancing her creative work with an adventurous lifestyle of traveling the world.

1. DE LIFE STYLE OF...
Claudia Hamers
“I look for
authenticity”
INTERVIEW: ANNETTE WIERPER / FOTOGRAFIE: DENISE KEUS
90 NOVEAU NOVEMBER 2013

2. As a young girl she already knew two things for
sure: she wanted to visit a sunny country and
she wanted to use her creativity. She made both
dreams come true. She lives and works in Milan
and in her profession - designing and creating fine
jewellery - she is definitely one of a kind.
She likes to describe her jewellery as ‘an explosion
of life and ideas’. Modern technologies allow her
freedom of design, but the materials are traditional:
gold, precious stones. Every piece is unique,
because it is the result of continually searching
for the essence and pushing the boundaries. Her
clients are people looking for something that does
not yet exist. Her collection mostly consists of
1 The grand piano
in walnut has been
given an important
place
2 The house dates
from 1500 and
has an impressive
entrance
3 Ring “Infinity” with
a Sunstone from
Oregon
4 The elegant living
room had petroleum
blue coloured walls
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2
4
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3. rings, because there is something magical about
rings. ‘Rings have meaning. The moment you put
on a ring, something happens to you, it gives you
strength and emphasises your personality.’
University
What she wanted most of all was to become an
artist. “I was fascinated by fashion, but at the
same time the fashion world itself, its people and
its artificialness, put me off. And yet I visit at least
two or three shows during the Milan Fashion Week;
it inspires me incredibly. Of course, my parents
had rather seen me studying law or something
along those lines, but they did not stop me when I
chose to study Industrial Design in Delft (NL). The
programme matched what I was looking for. You
work on the development of both your technical
and creative side there.” She did study philosophy
for one year, but found it ‘too theoretical’. Which
is remarkable as it is this theoretical philosophy
that runs as a thread through Claudia Hamers’ life
story in practically everything she does. She does
not attach much importance to that diploma. “No
one has ever asked me for my diploma and that is
fine. I am a real hippie in that respect; I hate social
conventions.”
Convent
When in the third year of her studies she was
looking for an internship, she wrote to five renowned
architect firms in Milan. “Milan is the nec plus ultra
in the field of design. I knew that was where I had
to be to realise my dream.” Looking for rooms, she
drove her small Fiat Panda onto the - traffic-free
- Piazza Duomo and parked right in front of the
Tourist Office. “I ended up in a kind of convent,
where the curfew was eleven in the evening. This
was probably based on the notion that the Italians
in those days - it was 1988 - were not ready for
the confrontation with liberated Northern European
women.” She had everything she had created
during her studies in her portfolio, ranging from a
lamp for sailing boats to a shopping trolley. At the
time there was no question yet of her becoming
a designer of beautiful, unique jewellery. Within a
week she found no less than two internships; this
meant she had work for two years. “In that one week
so much happened - from the stars to the stables,
as the Italians say - that I could not help but fall
for Milan straight away. Under police guidance to
clubs, castle parties in Bergamo, I only made the
eleven o’clock curfew once or twice.”
Adventure
She never asked herself the question whether she
would stay in Italy. “At that age you live very much
in the present,” she says. “First the internships
and then graduation, I thought. Oh, you did not
look to the future”. By now she had built up quite
the network in Milan, consisting mainly of people
from the design world and she occasionally landed
freelanceassignments,forexampleforanexhibition
on speed with the materials of the McLaren Group,
a British Formula One organisation. ‘They gave me
the freedom to use a philosophical approach: what
does speed mean in our lives? Why do people want
everything to go faster? Shortly afterwards I was
offered a job at General Electric, a manufacturer of
very good industrial products, but then I started to
have doubts: what do I really want? Will I choose
the adventurous existence of the freelancer or will
I choose security? In the end I chose adventure,
especially when I obtained a scholarship for a
study programme at the Domus Academy in Milan.
That would keep me happy for a year.”
Dynamics
It turned out to be a dream year and determined
her future. “It is a purely philosophical study
programme, where you are supervised by the best
in the whole world, like Isao Hosoe, the exceptional
industrial designer from Japan. You learn to think
in 7 dimensions, to look to the future, to recognise
the unexpected. “Everything is dynamic, he says,
nothing is for ever.” At the Domus Academy I saw
how you can optimally combine that industrial
knowledge with your own creativity.”
Authenticity and
spirituality
Pragmatism and creativity:
how do you bring these
together in a product that
also sells? “I believe in
authenticity. If you create
something yourself, it is
always interesting. I am not
bothered much with trends.
Of course, I keep an eye on
the influence of fashion, the
prevailing techniques, but
it is not my primary goal.
“If something comes from within, it will always be interesting”
1 Black and white
kitchen island
2 Ring “Fluid”
with champagne
diamond
3 View through to
the bathroom
4 Sketches for a
new design project
5 Family’s pictures
and Murano Glass
candle houlders
designed by herself
6 preparing her
exhibition
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5. Everyone wants to be successful, but the extent
to which this clashes with your creativity depends
on what you consider important. So when does it
clash? When you can no longer earn a living? Or if
it no longer makes you happy? I especially want to
make beautiful things that come from within myself
and that also make me happy. I prefer to opt for
art. But I would of course not say no to a business
partner who wants to invest in me. Provided that I
can stay authentic and creative. That is my spiritual
basis. Success will automatically follow.
Mother and daughter
Her first marriage to an Italian man broke up after
five years. With her daughter Grace, who was born
from this relationship, she led a relatively carefree
life for six years. Living alone with your daughter,
what was that like? “Do you know that I still ask
myself the same thing? We did quite well. I did
not receive alimony, but by then I was designing
jewellery in my own design studio and we managed
fine together. I had bought a large apartment and
I always made sure that I was there for her during
her holidays. I really love hanging around in the
world, being somewhere, so we travelled a lot. Six
weeks on Bali, then Brazil. It actually was a very
relaxed life, I did not have to take anyone into
account, only my daughter. Of course there were
some exceptions: boyfriends, very adventurous
romances, but not to build a relationship with. Go
back to the Netherlands because my marriage had
broken up? No, the stress in the Netherlands is the
same as it is here. We were like a hippie couple;
me as an adventurous mother and she like Pippi
Longstocking. We made a good mix: she has a
Latino appearance and is a physical person. It
really was a super cool time, I so enjoyed my little
1 The house is full of art
objects
2 Antique Chinese vase
in contrast with the
contemporary home
3 Bedroom: Ralph
Lauren’s style
4 Claudia’s favorite
composer is Schubert
5 Ring “Pharaon” with
natural coral
6 Miniature of the famous
sculpture ‘Human in
Movement’ of Boccioni
girl and the freedom of choice
I had in everything. What time
you go to sleep, where you eat,
where you go. I was only 32
when she was born, hardly an
adult myself.”
The Italian man
At an exhibition of the work
of the Italian artist Umberto
Boccioni in the Palazzo Real
she was introduced to Marco Mutti at the sculpture
of ‘Man of the Future’. This sculpture became the
romantic symbol of their love. They came across it
again in the MoMa in New York. Claudia had the
sculpture made in miniature, as cufflinks, for Marco
with a note that she hoped he would be her man of
the future. They got married in 2008. “If you marry
a Latin man, you have the feeling you live life to the
fullest. The image the outside world has of the Italian
man is incorrect. They also give you something
very special. You are overpowered by emotions.
They are masters in this. They are exceptionally
creative in love, which is after all really what Italy is,
where not all revolves around rationality.
I am a typical product of Northern and Southern
Europe. I still have the Dutch taste and the sound
approach, but I have been strongly influenced by
the imagination of Italy. I see myself as someone
with one foot in the past and one foot in the future.
I admire the customs of the Italian craftsmen
and the sharpening of stones, but I do try to
make something they have never made with their
technologies. Even if they do sometimes say: but
Claudia, that is impossible! But then I say: let us try
another way until it is possible. And then you have
created a new concept.”
Food. The Italian kitchen is so pure. The trick is to create a heavenly taste with only a minimum of
ingredients. “I adore spaghetti alle vongole.” Reading. “In the House of the Poet, by Jan Brokken. About
pianist Youri Egorov, an artist who never made concessions to his work or his private life. Elizabeth
Gilbert: Eat, Pray, Love. I totally see myself in this book.” Perfume. “Kilian from Penhaligon’s, so the more
natural French and English scents.They are gentle and unusual, and have more dimensions.”
Travelling. “When my daughter leaves home, I plan to travel again, stay somewhere for a while. India,
perhaps teach. Big Sur in California is also on my wish list.” Music. “Techno in the summer and Beethoven’s
piano concertos in the winter.” Shopping. “It is lovely to live in the centre of Milan, but I prefer to shop
when there are clearance sales in the Milanese showrooms...” Clothing. “The style of Ralph Lauren.”
Holiday. “Ibiza, because it appeals to my feeling of individual freedom, the total absence of prejudices.”
Beautiful things in life ...
“Someone who remains true to himself
can be way more successful”
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