Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This piece highlights the artistry and sustainability behind Nanni Jewelry, a Lanzarote-based label where artisans Nacho Nanni and Yaiza Sepúlveda craft enduring, high-quality pieces from carefully selected materials and gems.
Author Jewelry in a Corner of Lanzarote
Under the Nanni Jewelry label, artisans Nacho Nanni and Yaiza Sepúlveda present creations made with high-quality, durable materials and gems.
“Committed to a durable, sustainable, and artistic jewelry model. The care in selecting raw materials combined with artisanal work, with the precision that characterizes this artist’s hand, results in a unique piece of great value that will undoubtedly endure over time.”
This is the introduction of the tandem composed of Nacho Nanni, jeweler and designer, and Yaiza Sepúlveda, photographer, artisan, and commercial manager, promoters of Nanni Jewelry, an artisanal jewelry workshop that advocates for “a return to origins” through pieces described as “with character,” forged over a slow fire.
Nacho is of Argentine origin, while Yaiza is from Madrid. The artisan explains that her name comes from one of Alberto Vázquez Figueroa’s works that her mother read during pregnancy. They say they landed “by chance” in Lanzarote after meeting in 2017, and since then they complement each other in their workshop in Caleta de Famara to spread the Nanni Jewelry brand.
With a mother who is a painter and ceramist and a grandfather who was a jeweler by profession, Nacho grew up in a family linked to art. He began in sculpture and drawing in 1993, and in 2005 he started exploring the world of goldsmithing, where he learned all the intricacies self-taught. “I managed to make art after twenty years,” he says.
They work with increasingly valuable materials and stones, a challenge for this author jeweler who opts for the highest standards, both in his daily work and in the raw materials with which he creates his works of art. Perhaps that is why it is surprising that his work can be found at the markets of Teguise and Haría. “A jewel must be made of materials that do not oxidize; it is for life.” Not in vain, they seek to create “balanced pieces that endure over time.”
“There is an audience for our jewelry. People who value noble materials and that the pieces are well-made.” They defend that their works are imbued with feeling, which is reflected in the final finish, something their clients especially value. “If we are stressed, we cannot create; we must achieve serenity,” they explain. Therefore, they do not hesitate to take all the necessary time to do their work, especially when working with such valuable materials. Once that artistic inspiration arrives, you cannot measure the minutes or hours dedicated to artistic creation. “It captivates you,” says Nacho.
“The beauty of the stone” is what inspires Nanni Jewelry’s creations. Gems that already reach a value of over 500 euros. “We started buying stones for 2.5 euros, later we jumped to those for 20 euros, then to those costing 100 euros. Pieces that became a cemetery of stones worth 5,000 euros. Although we finally managed to sell them to a supplier. Betting on increasingly valuable gems is necessary to grow.”
Nacho says he is now particularly attracted to salt-and-pepper diamonds, with black inclusions inside, which allow for a large cut for 6,000 euros, otherwise it would cost much more. “A diamond is eternal; it does not scratch.” In contrast, an opal or ammonite are “very delicate” gems as they are natural stones that transform, something they must warn future clients about so they avoid certain activities while wearing the jewelry that could damage the piece.
“Any stone that can achieve excellent quality in nature is also an excellent gem to work with,” they assure. Unsurprisingly, obtaining the best gems is also a challenge for these jewelers. They acquire them through very selective auctions. “They are collector’s stones.”
Rings, pendants, earrings, or bracelets make up a catalog that they have been able to present under the Lanzarote Moda label after a fashion show. Their goal now “is to build the brand,” for which they have also launched a website to disseminate their work philosophy and, incidentally, put their pieces up for sale, although it is usually the channel through which they do the least business. Their clients especially value contact with the creations and the relationship with their authors, as demonstrated every Saturday and Sunday at the markets of Haría and Teguise.
