The studio
SMITH/GREY is a London and Vienna based jewellery studio with a unique point of view. Pairing traditional motifs with a modern, timeless aesthetic and just the right amount of fun, design duo SMITH/GREY is known for creating jewellery that is sophisticated and imaginative, inspired by captivating themes and rooted in innovative and traditional goldsmithing techniques.
Since the inception of the studio in 2011, started from their kitchen table in North London, SMITH/GREY has developed a signature design language with an ever expanding visual vocabulary, manifested in seasonal collections, collaborations and bespoke commissions.
With the aim to cater to both women and men, and to lend a unique perspective to jewellery design, they launched their studio with three edited collections which were critically acclaimed and soon caught the interest of local and international press and clients alike.
Since then, SMITH/GREY’s designs have been featured in various publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, I-D, Elle, Dazed and The New York Times. We are honoured to work with great international stockist such as Colette, Paris or Galeries Lafayette, Beijing.
“It’s simple: we strive to bring a captivating and modern edge to the jewellery market and ultimately, into your hands and home. Our collections and bespoke commissions are designed and made with love, dedication and care, and with one aim: to be there for you to treasure.”
“It’s simple: we strive to bring a captivating and modern edge to the jewellery market and ultimately, into your hands and home. Our collections and bespoke commissions are designed and made with love, dedication and care, and with one aim: to be there for you to treasure.”
Founders
Distinctly European, co-founders Sofus Graae and Birgit Marie Schmidt have created a brand as diverse as their own backgrounds:
Distinctly European, co-founders Sofus Graae and Birgit Marie Schmidt have created a brand as diverse as their own backgrounds:
Birgit Marie Schmidt,
Creative Director
Born in Vienna, Birgit attended Zaha Hadid’s prestigious Master Class at the University of Applied Arts in her hometown where she received a Master in Architecture, designing a bi-national airport at the border between the US and Mexico.
Being inspired by all sorts of design scales, she spend time in Copenhagen to study Product and Interior Design where she met Sofus whilst working at a product design agency.
Soon thereafter she decided to focus on her craft repertoire in London, studying Goldsmithing at the Royal College of Art, a place that highly shaped her design perspective.
After receiving numerous graduate awards, she founded SMITH/GREY with Sofus, where she is responsible for developing their women’s jewellery collections.
Having lived in and travelled to various countries in Europe and internationally, Birgit and Sofus seek inspiration in the fields of the visual arts, design, film and architecture.
Fans of artists such as Maurizio Cattelan and Erwin Wurm, architect Ricardo Bofill and photographer Jürgen Teller, they love to dive into conversations about art exhibitions, independent films and politics to spark new ideas for collections.
Awards
- Nominated for ‘Jewellery Designer of the Year’ at the UK Jewellery Awards 2015
- Nominated for ‘New Designer of the Year’ at the UK Jewellery Awards 2013
- Selected as NexGem at Professional Jeweller Hot 100 2012
- Winner Wolf&Badger; Design Award in Jewellery 2011
- Winner ‘Best in Jewellery’ RCA Theo Fennell Award 2011
- Winner Matthews Wrightson Business Award 2011
- Nominated for the RCA Conran Award 2011
