RIIVERA CHARM, JEWELS BY THE SEA
In November 2024, MAZE joined forces with JOYA for its groundbreaking inaugural edition at One Monte-Carlo in Monaco. Founded by Vanessa Margowski and Delphine Pastor-Reiss, the visionary duo behind Monaco's celebrated 11 Columbia gallery, JOYA reimagines the jewellery fair as a cultural destination where craftsmanship, history and artistic vision converge.
This collaboration brought together ten exceptional international specialists under one roof: Ciaudano, Dorothée Potocka, Eliane Fattal, Elie Top, Gabrielle Greiss, Galerie Zink, Gioielleria Pennisi, Karry Berreby, Tatiana Verstraeten and Venyxworld. Each was selected for a singular voice, from untreated gemstones that honour geological authenticity to limited-edition creations that defy serial production. Historical treasures from the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco added another layer of depth, framing jewellery as a living archive of human creativity.
The spatial experience was shaped by Basel-based architects Christ & Gantenbein, working with Milanese studio NM3. Inspired by the very structure of jewellery, their design introduced interlocking circular modules clad in galvanised steel. These demountable "écrins" created a fluid rhythm of open and intimate spaces, guiding visitors through a journey that prioritises connection over convention. The project's conceptual clarity and sustainable approach earned it a German Design Award in 2025, confirming its status as a benchmark in exhibition design.
Cultural programming amplified the curatorial narrative. Conferences with L'École Van Cleef & Arpels, a curated bookstore, and photographic works by Julien Carreyn invited visitors to explore jewellery through the lenses of history, mythology, craft and contemporary art. This thoughtful context transformed the fair from a commercial event into an immersive cultural experience.
Through this partnership, MAZE helped shape an inaugural moment defined by selectivity, spatial intelligence and narrative power. JOYA's format mirrors MAZE's philosophy: intimacy over scale, curation over saturation, meaningful encounter over transaction. The result was a carefully crafted environment where each piece could be experienced not just as a luxury object, but as a cultural artifact worthy of connoisseurship and emotional resonance.
MAZE and JOYA share a conviction that context elevates perception. By positioning jewellery within a framework of artistic rigour and historical depth, this collaboration opened a space for dialogue between heritage and innovation, craft and concept, object and story. In Monaco's golden square, luxury found a new language: one where meaning endures.
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Photo cover: One JOYA's morning in Monaco, Baptiste Janin