About Sylvie

Jewellery with a story, designed for a lifetime

I was born in Belgium and have since lived in the United States, Australia and Hong Kong, before making New Zealand home with my husband and our three children.

Living in different parts of the world has shaped my eye, my style and the way I connect with people. For the past 17 years, I have worked in bespoke diamond jewellery, founding Sylvie Kirton Design 10 years ago and building lasting relationships with clients across New Zealand and around the world.

My love of jewellery began long before it became my profession.

As a child, I remember watching my mother get ready and noticing every piece of jewellery she wore. I would wonder which pieces might one day be passed down to me and which would go to my younger sister. Jewellery held meaning beyond its beauty. Each piece carried a memory, a person and a part of our family story.

There is something incredibly special about wearing jewellery that once belonged to a mother, grandmother or another generation before us. It creates a connection to the people and stories that came before — while allowing each new wearer to make the piece her own.

That emotional connection remains at the heart of my work today.

Personal style, not simply the biggest stone

I have always believed that jewellery completes the way we dress and express ourselves.

When I see an elegantly dressed woman, it is often her jewellery that reveals her individual flair. Someone can wear jeans and a simple white T-shirt, but with a beautiful watch and thoughtfully chosen jewellery, she immediately stands out.

For me, true luxury is not about wearing the largest stone. It is about choosing timeless, elegant pieces that feel completely natural on the person wearing them.

I love layering earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, but I believe there is an art to doing it well. Each piece should support and elevate the others without competing with or overshadowing them. The overall effect should feel effortless, refined and personal.

Your personal jewellery designer

I think of myself as my clients’ personal jewellery designer.

Many of my relationships continue over years. We may begin with one important piece, then gradually add, adapt, reset or upgrade jewellery as life and personal style evolve.

Sometimes a piece needs more presence. Sometimes it needs less. Sometimes an inherited jewel deserves a new setting that makes it wearable again. My role is to listen, understand how you live and create jewellery that feels entirely right for you.

Alongside my bespoke work, I have developed a collection over the past 10 years of pieces that can be worn alone or layered together. Each design reflects my obsession with jewellery that is both beautiful and genuinely wearable.

A necklace should offer different length options so it works with different necklines and layers. A ring should sit comfortably, feel practical and allow you to enjoy wearing it every day. A setting should enhance the stone while also protecting it.

Every detail matters. I do not believe in cutting corners, and I genuinely enjoy the challenge of finding an elegant solution to a complex design.

Exceptional stones and specialist craftsmanship

I am fortunate to work closely with my dear friend and business partner, Cedric Barsamian, a third-generation diamond dealer based in Hong Kong.

Cedric comes from a long-established diamond family with offices in Belgium, India and Hong Kong. His honesty, knowledge and exceptional global network give us access to beautiful diamonds and gemstones from trusted sources around the world.

He has an extraordinary ability to find the “cherry on the cake” — the stone with the right quality, character and value to bring a design to life.

My pieces are designed in New Zealand and handmade in Hong Kong. I work primarily with three specialist workshops, each chosen for its particular area of expertise. Their craftsmanship and standards are exceptionally high, and I select the workshop best suited to the technical demands and character of each design.

This combination of personal design, trusted sourcing and specialised craftsmanship allows me to create jewellery without compromise.

Made to become part of your story

Whether we are creating a new bespoke piece, redesigning inherited jewellery or selecting something from my collection, my aim is always the same: to create jewellery that feels personal, beautifully considered and effortless to wear.

Jewellery should not be kept hidden away for special occasions. It should become part of your life — worn, loved, remembered and, one day, passed on with its stories.