"In my creative process, I imagine descending into a deep, dark abyss in the ocean, where there is no light, and gradually coming to the surface, I look up at the sky. And let my jewelry designs emerge." -Emanuela Duca

Emanuela Duca, a jewelry designer based in New York City, was born in Rome, Italy. Her earliest memories are of staring at the Mediterranean, terrified of the water’s violence yet irresistibly drawn to its beauty. A tension that resonates throughout her designs today.

While pursuing her degree from the School of Art in Rome and the European Institute of Design, Emanuela was involved in dance, painting, and sculpture. But it was in jewelry design that she finally found the medium she had been searching for: the marriage of movement and sculpture. Under the watchful eye of reknown Italian designer Alvaro Onofri, Emanuela immersed herself in the rich heritage of Italian jewelry design.

Wishing to break out of the constraints of classical Italian forms, Emanuela embraced a more modern sensibility. Much to the chagrin of her famous mentor, who thought she should follow a more traditional career path, Emanuela moved to New York City in 1998.

Recently she was awarded finalist honors at the 2006 American Jewelry Design Council (AJDC) awards and recognized at a special ceremony held at the JANY summer show. Emanuela has also been awarded exhibit space in the prestigious design center, marking the debut of her internationally acclaimed jewelry designs at JANY.

To date, her designs are sold at 42 retailers in the Unites States and abroad.

Her work has also been featured in Modern Jeweler, Instore and JQ magazines, as well as on NBC’s Today Show and HBO’s Sex and The City.