Me&Ro: Spirited Away

Weaving elements of the natural world and Eastern spirituality into its covetable jewelry, Me&Ro proves that all that glitters can also have soul. We talked to Me&Ro’s founder, Robin Renzi, about her personal style and why diamonds (conflict-free ones, that is) are a girl’s best friend.
When did you know that jewelry design was your calling?
I think I was born loving jewelry. I have been making it since high school, but I remember being very small and sitting in the middle of my grandmother’s living room playing with her diamond rings.
What are your favorite materials to work with?
Lately I’ve been carving ivory again. The first piece of jewelry I ever made for myself was a carved ivory moon and stars. Now they’re finding fossilized ivory that’s from the tusks of woolly mammoths that have been extinct for over 10,000 years. Since it does not endanger any creatures, I’m working with it again.
What kind of ethical practices does Me&Ro adhere to?
We source only conflict-free diamonds. All of our 18-karat and approximately 60 percent of our 10-karat castings and chains are made with recycled gold. And we don’t use coral because the earth is running out of it.
How would you describe your own style?
Feminine, fun and a little gypsy. I always wear color on my wrists, and I usually wear a few big rings, like my 18-karat step-cut cognac diamond ring, and then stack a lot of little ones.
What’s your favorite piece of jewelry you’ve designed?
Oh, I can’t answer that! That’s like choosing amongst your children! I have many favorites for different reasons, but I do love the new paisley collection’s unusual earth-toned diamond pieces. I also adore pieces made with opaque diamonds, flat diamonds and rough diamonds … yes, I love diamonds. I learned that from my mother and grandmother. I need sparkle — I think we all do.
All that glitters is Me&Ro, on sale Tuesday, November 11, at noon ET.