Dragon Jewel – Paola Mounia’s Stunning Fantasy Jewellery
Dragon Jewel: Where Paola Mounia’s Jewellery Meets Stunning Fantasy
Atelier Mythique
Lebanese jewellery designer Paola Mounia, now based in New York, captured international attention at last year’s Milan Jewellery Week with her award-winning creation presented at the prestigious Artistar Jewels exhibition. Her remarkable achievement firmly established her as one of the contemporary designers to watch, thanks to a distinctive artistic vision that seamlessly blends fine craftsmanship with storytelling.
Inside Paola Mounia’s Fantastical Jewellery World
- From Graphic Design to Gemology: Paola Mounia’s Journey
- Playfully Chic: The Philosophy Behind Her Designs
- The Double Dragon Jewel Ring: A Milan Jewellery Week Winner
- Three Dimensional Jewellery as Wearable Sculpture
- From Florence to Milan: The Road to Artistar Jewels
- Expanding the Dragon Jewel Collection and Beyond
- Awards and Recognition Beyond Milan
- New York: Where Individuality Fuels Creativity
- Build Your Own Dragon Jewel Ring: A Personalised Approach
- Ethically Sourced Gemstones and Craftsmanship
A striking sculpture designed to adorn your finger or stand as a captivating display piece, La Licorne is crafted from silver. She features playful blue eyes and elegant pink marquise ears. A captivating rainbow necklace spins around her neck. Her horn and necklace are hand-plated in yellow gold, while her body remains silver, creating an elegant and charming duotone color. When worn, she harmoniously integrates, adding a touch of sophisticated softness to your every movement.
From Graphic Design to Gemology: Paola Mounia’s Journey
Paola’s fascination with jewellery and art began at an early age. Although her academic and professional journey initially centred on graphic design, her passion eventually led her to pursue jewellery design and gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). While her education provided a strong technical foundation, it was always the creative process that remained at the heart of her work.
“I believe what is really missing in the world of jewellery is truly unique and unconventional design. There are countless beautiful jewellery collections, but there is still so much room for designs inspired by art, history and mythology. That has always fascinated me.”
Paola Mounia explains.
Playfully Chic: The Philosophy Behind Her Designs
Driven by this philosophy, Paola set out to create jewellery that reflects the spirit of her generation: playful yet exquisitely crafted, precious yet accessible to a younger audience. Every piece is designed to tell a story, transforming jewellery into miniature works of art.
“My jewellery is inspired by stories like Harry Potter and mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns. I wanted my creations not only to be worn but also to stand alone as micro-sculptures.”
she says.
A Signature Focus on Three Dimensional Design
Her emphasis on three-dimensional design has become one of the defining characteristics of her collections. Rather than simply adorning the body, her jewels possess a sculptural presence, inviting admiration from every angle. For Mounia, jewellery should continue to tell its story even when it is not being worn.
A defining characteristic of her work is precisely this emphasis on three-dimensional creativity. She believes jewellery should be appreciated not only as a personal adornment but also as an artistic object in its own right. This philosophy has shaped a collection of sculptural creations that blur the line between fine jewellery and miniature art.
Designed as both a striking single hoop earring and an exquisite sculpture, La Licorne is crafted from silver. She features playful blue eyes, elegant pink marquise ears, and sophisticated round hooves. A captivating rainbow hair tie spins around her tail. Her body is hand-plated in yellow gold, while her horn and hair tie remain silver, creating an elegant, elongated, and charming duotone color. When worn, her outward-facing visage acts as a beacon, effortlessly drawing the eyes of admirers.
The Double Dragon Ring: A Milan Jewellery Week Winner
Her celebrated Double Dragon Ring, crafted in gold, became the winning piece at last year’s Milan Jewellery Week. The extraordinary attention to detail, from the intricately sculpted scales to the dragon’s strikingly lifelike eyes, has made it one of her most sought-after designs.
“Most people place their rings in a drawer when they’re not wearing them,” Paola says. “I wanted my rings to be self-standing, like a micro-sculpture or a miniature artwork that can be displayed and admired even when it’s not being worn.”
Sculpted to fit elegantly as a three-finger ring, it also stands independently on any flat surface, making it a striking decor accent. With piercing eyes and a spinning collar, La Dragonne exudes a dynamic elegance. Its substantial silver weight speaks to its solid craftsmanship. When worn, her head gracefully rests on your index finger, transforming the piece into an extension of your own artistic expression.
From Florence to Milan: The Road to Artistar Jewels
The road to international recognition began years earlier during her studies in Fashion Illustration in Florence. Immersed in Italy’s rich artistic heritage, Paola found endless inspiration in the country’s craftsmanship, architecture and refined aesthetic. It was therefore a particularly meaningful moment when she received an unexpected Instagram message informing her that her work had been selected for exhibition at Milan Jewellery Week.
Her collection was showcased at the prestigious Artistar Jewels exhibition at the historic Palazzo Bovara, where she was awarded the coveted Best Contemporary Jewel prize for her remarkable Double Dragon Ring. The award marked a defining moment in her career, introducing her work to collectors, curators and jewellery enthusiasts from around the world.
Expanding the Dragon Jewel Collection and Beyond
Building on this success, Paola expanded the Dragon collection into a series of sculptural creations, including a dramatic Dragon shoulder piece, an intricate Dragon ear cuff and several statement jewels. Her fascination with mythical and symbolic creatures extends beyond dragons to include unicorns and cheetahs, each interpreted through her unmistakable artistic language and meticulous craftsmanship.
Sculpted to stand elegantly on any flat surface, it transforms into wearable art when perched on your shoulder. Its front and back feet gracefully secure to your clothing straps, whether it’s a dress, top, or bra. With piercing eyes and a spinning collar, La Dragonne exudes a dynamic elegance. Its substantial brass weight speaks to its solid craftsmanship. Best worn on your left shoulder, her head is thoughtfully tilted, gazing at you, making her an integrated part of your unique style.
Awards and Recognition Beyond Milan
Recognition continued to follow. After her success in Milan, Paola received both the CASE Award in New York and the Jeweller Award, further establishing her reputation as one of the most exciting emerging names in contemporary jewellery design.
New York: Where Individuality Fuels Creativity
Today, New York provides the creative backdrop for her work. She credits the city’s diversity, openness and vibrant cultural landscape as a constant source of inspiration.
“New York encourages individuality,” she says. “There is inspiration everywhere, and that freedom allows me to keep pushing my creativity.”
Serving as both a striking ring and an exquisite sculpture, La Cheetah Mythique is crafted from sterling silver. She boasts hand-painted spots, ethereal mythical wings, and a captivating spinning ruby bracelet on her paw. Her substantial silver weight testifies to her solid construction. Sculpted to fit elegantly over two fingers, she’s designed for a slightly relaxed fit. When worn, her paw and wing come to rest upon your index finger, transforming into a living extension of your own artistry.
Build Your Own Dragon Jewel Ring: A Personalised Approach
One of the most exciting developments in her collections is the introduction of personalisation. Through her increasingly popular Build Your Own Dragon Ring concept, clients become collaborators in the creative process. They can customise the dragon’s appearance, choose the gemstone for its eyes and personalise decorative details, with each piece available in sterling silver or gold.
Rather than simply purchasing a jewel, collectors create a unique piece that reflects their own imagination while remaining true to Paola’s artistic vision.
Sculpted to fit elegantly as a cuff or stand powerfully on any flat surface – even on her hand for a unique display. Her distinctive spotted form, ethereal mythical wings, and a spinning ruby bracelet encircling her paw create a picture of dynamic elegance. Crafted with a substantial weight of silver, she is a testament to solid construction. When worn, La Cheetah Mythique integrates seamlessly with you, creating the captivating illusion of a majestic creature almost pouncing as you pass by.
Ethically Sourced Gemstones and Craftsmanship
Her preferred gemstones include sapphires, rubies and topaz, while she has a particular affinity for cabochon-cut stones. Committed to responsible craftsmanship, Paola sources her precious materials from ethically certified American suppliers and personally sets every gemstone herself.
Asked to describe her work in just a few words, she answers without hesitation: “Playfully Chic Jewellery.”
It is a phrase that perfectly captures both the designer and her creations. In an era where luxury increasingly values individuality and storytelling, Paola Mounia has succeeded in creating jewellery that goes beyond ornamentation. Her fantastical creations are wearable sculptures that continue to enchant whether adorning the body or displayed as miniature works of art.