Seeing Double: The Twins Creating Fine Jewellery Together

June 1, 2021

By Sarah Jordan

7 min read

The idea that twins, especially identical twins, can somehow read each other’s minds, or at least connect with each other on a wavelength more profound than other siblings, is fascinating. In the world of fine jewellery, there are a surprising number of twins leading brands together and using their complementary natures to achieve a shared goal. Here, we would like to introduce you to five pairs of twins and reveal the secrets that have allowed them to operate so closely, both in business and daily life.

As a twin myself, I am typically asked two questions when an acquaintance discovers my twinship: ‘Are you identical?’ and ‘Can you tell what the other is thinking?’ Sadly, I, Sarah Jordan, am not living proof that a type of twin telepathy exists, but there is certainly a synergy and synchronicity that develops among two individuals who grow together, which, unsurprisingly, can become a business asset to those who choose to work together. The common themes that unite the twins featured in this article are trust, honesty and a harmonious blend of talents and skills. While many of us may search high and low to find a business partner over many decades, these jewellers were born as one half of a perfect duo. Now that’s something to envy!

Hand-drawn designs for a pair of pearl earrings and a matching ring by twins Nina and Mila Pikova

href=”http://www.butani.com/en/index.aspx” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Butani 

Recognised for its high jewellery creations, Hong Kong-based brand Butani is led by Papu Butani and his sons, identical twins Manoj and Mukesh. Both are passionate about jewellery design and creation – something they inherited from their father – and they use this shared enthusiasm for diamonds and coloured gems to collaboratively create new pieces. Manoj says: “Having grown up watching our father’s devotion to design, it was a natural progression that my brother and I both developed a flair for jewellery and eventually worked together because we complement each other so well. We are both competitive by nature, so while we may have different opinions we are motivated by the same long-term goals of success.” And what is it about their relationship as twins that gives them an advantage? Mukesh adds: “Being twins, the trust we have in each other is much deeper than what normal business partners might have. My brother and I trust each other implicitly to make decisions and meet each other’s high standards.”

Mr. Papu Butani and his sons, identical twins Manoj and Mukesh Butani

Butani 18k white gold and diamond necklace with 69.29 carats of round brilliant and marquise-cut diamonds

Butani 18k white gold earrings with 16.40 carats of marquise and pear-shaped diamonds

Butani 18k white gold and diamond bangle with 28.79 carats of emerald, marquise and round-cut diamonds

href=”https://www.persta.fr/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Persta

Olivier and Guilhem Faivre d’Arcier are the twin brothers behind Parisian jewellery brand, Persta. Olivier spent 11 years working as a jeweller for Boucheron on the Place Vendôme, while Guilhem worked as an artistic director in visual communication and design. Together, they decided to combine their talents and establish their own unisex brand in 2017. Olivier says: “We are very happy to have the luck to work together. We are very complementary, and this is our strength – we do everything internally, from drawing to delivery, including the pictures, website, manufacturing, polishing etcetera. It is really easy to work with my twin, we always know what the other thinks!” Does this close relationship every lead to frayed tempers? Olivier says, “sometimes we argue,” but their bond as brothers normally allows for troubles to be smoothed over and peace to be rediscovered quickly, allowing them to return to the art of jewellery making.

Twins Olivier and Guilhem Faivre d’Arcier are the founders of jewellery brand Persta

Persta SHAMASH ring in 18k white gold with white mother-of-pearl, a one carat diamond solitaire and a further 56 round diamonds

Persta SÎN ring in 18k yellow gold with abalone mother-of-pearl, diamonds and a opal solitaire

Persta rings in gold, lacquer and diamonds from the APKALLU Collection

Persta abalone mother-of-pearl bracelet

href=”http://karpov-karpova.com/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Karpov

Twins Hélène and Jeanne Karpov had an unusual mix of inspirations growing up. Their French grandfather owned a copper workshop near the Place Vendôme, while their Russian father studied fine arts in Saint Petersburg and had a passion for drawing. “We started drawing when we were very little. Jewellery, however, came later,” explains Jeanne, who now runs successful high jewellery gouache painting classes with her sister. Together, they are like two halves of one whole, with Hélène bringing the creativity and Jeanne adding her skills as a painter. “Hélène has an amazing sensitivity to volumes, curves and the harmony of a piece. She is the designer, the one who imagines the piece,” says Jeanne. Similarly, Hélène has glowing words for her sister, describing her as having “unique expertise”. She adds: “Working with your twin is the most natural thing ever. We are heading in the same direction and always pushing our goals higher. Tensions are rare, or quickly solved. There is always one to motivate the other in difficult times. This strength has allowed us to start our own business. We succeeded because we are two!”

Hélène and Jeanne Karpov of fine jewellery brand Karpov

Gouache painting of the Olympiada High Jewellery necklace with pearls and pink sapphires by Karpov

Gouache painting of the Imperatritsa High Jewellery perfume bottle by Jeanne Karpov, which features a pale pink ostrich feather, diamonds, Akoya pearls and purple sapphire

Gouache painting of the Tsaritsa High Jewellery perfume bottle by Karpov

href=”https://www.betteridge.com/david-michael-jewels-jewelry/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>David Michael

Based on the Gold Coast of Australia, David Michael Jewels draws its name from its founders, identical twin brothers David and Michael, who both shared an interest in jewellery from an early age. “We both loved making things with our hands. My brother also had a great passion for watches and all things mechanical, whilst I had a love for jewellery rendering and painting in general,” says Michael. Being an identical twin is certainly not part of the brand’s marketing strategy, but it does add an element of uniqueness to the brand. Michael adds: “The best part is that we’re not competitive with each other at all, we genuinely want each other to make the most special jewels imaginable. Because we hand-make each piece personally it is easy for our work to become very personal. Any artist would tell you that emotions can sometimes be fragile when you put your all into what you’re doing, but the sibling environment we have in our workshop gives us the security to push our craft and concepts to the limits.”

Twins David and Michael of David Michael Jewels, based in Queensland Australia

David Michael ring with a 15.56 carat spinel and a 3.01 carat spessartine garnet in oxidised silver and 18k gold

David Michael Cherry Blossom earrings with Argyle pink diamonds

David Michael Rain or Shine earrings in 18k gold, platinum and oxidised silver with sapphires, diamonds and aquamarines

href=”https://www.instagram.com/pikova.jewelry.design” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Pikova 

Lastly but by no means least, there’s Nina and Mila Pikova, a pair of Russian-born twin sisters who were raised in a family of jewellery artists. Their mother had a workbench in the family home, which allowed the twins to create their first silver jewellery pieces at the tender age of 10! After studying at their aunt and uncle’s school – the Sharonows School of Jewelry Design and Artistic Metal – the pair decided to dedicate themselves to jewellery and today they work at two different European jewellery houses (Mila lives in Rome, while Nina resides in Geneva). Mila says: “We are each other’s best advisors and critics at the same time, which allows us to develop, challenge each other and grow together. We have always been close, so in our work we understand each other without words.” Nina adds: “Even though we are twins, we have a different approach to design, which helps us to look at the same problem from different angles. When we work together and combine our knowledge and experience, we seem to unite as one super designer!”

Twins and jewellery designers Nina and Mila Pikova

Gouache painting of a pair of snake-inspired earrings with diamonds and rubellites by Nina and Mila Pikova

A ring with diamonds and black onyx designed by Nina and Mila Pikova for a British fine jewellery house

Gouache paintings of jewellery pieces from the Minotaur Collection by Nina and Mila Pikova

Hand-drawings of jewellery pieces from the Minotaur Collection by Nina and Mila Pikova

The camaraderie that comes with working alongside your twin is a jolt of confidence when doubt creeps in, a fresh set of eyes when a challenge looms, and a trusted second opinion when there’s a problem to address. Having another person always in your corner is the secret weapon that’s helping these jewellery designers and their businesses grow.

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