The Team

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Fun is the Name of the Game FOR JEWELRY-DESIGN COMPANY ESCULON

A name isn’t just a name. It’s a reflection of a personality, an idea, a moment or a passion. It tells a story, and quite often, it’s a personal one. To Esculon founder and creative director Alexandra Mihaescu and her partner Londy Ramirez, the tale of this creative force’s vision and down-to-earth business approach is mirrored in everything they do, from the brand’s moniker—a combination of her surname and his first—to the naming of the company’s striking jewelry collections.

Designed and handcrafted by Mihaescu, necklaces, earrings, cuffs, pendants and rings call to professional women around the globe seeking accessories that scream individuality, giving them the chance to strut their personal style right into the workplace, to a cocktail party or onto the golf course. “Esculon is more than just jewelry,” elaborates Mihaescu. “It’s a way of life, encouraging career-minded women to have a little fun.”

Drawing upon her New York City surroundings for inspiration and working with the highest-quality materials, Mihaescu designs jewelry that attracts the fashion-savvy woman who can be both demure and daring. From sophisticated pieces with classic sensibility and alluring surprises, to bold, vibrant, eye-catching creations, Esculon jewelry is for every woman—especially for the woman who wants it all and knows she will get it. And, she’ll have a great time along the way.

With this in mind, Mihaescu and Ramirez pull out all stops and look to their daily experiences and adventures when labeling these little luxuries. “I think we do it backwards, but nonetheless, it’s a ball,” says Mihaescu. “I design the piece first and once it’s completed, we both go into a crazy brainstorming session to see what it reminds us of. This is when we get to really relax and enjoy ourselves. We spend quite some time blurting out whatever comes to our minds, whether it’s a Hawaiian waterfall or favorite restaurant or dish, and we’ll end up reminiscing and laughing about places we’ve visited, people we’ve met and things we’ve seen.”

Case in point is a pair of beloved chandelier earrings dubbed Swizzle. The movement of dozens of tiny pearls and labradorite gemstones swept the couple back to a special place—one that involved tiny pitchers filled with icy, authentic Bermuda rum swizzles served alongside lots of laughter. Another example is Black Oyster, a necklace modeled with irregular-shaped links and black pearls clustered in the middle of each. And with other whimsical titles like Calypso Collage, Lana Bonana, Pearl Cocktail, Green Tonic, Madeline and Flutter, it’s no wonder Esculon’s distinctive lines capture the attention of spirited female executives who are starting out, beginning anew or simply sitting back and savoring decades of success.

Like the Esculon woman who does it her way, Mihaescu and Ramirez shy away from the typical designer mysteriousness in return for approachability. “Since inception, we’ve tried to become involved with our customers and engage them in a way we haven’t seen other companies do,” adds the duo. “This strategy, along with our modest size, has helped us retain a loyal following. Our goal is to connect with our customers, make this a recognizable brand and keep things fun.” It’s something Mihaescu has been doing since 2007, when she first founded Esculon (formerly ByMe Jewels)—the result of her quest to find a creative outlet after many long days at the office as a financial analyst.

Embracing her entrepreneurial instincts, Mihaescu brought Ramirez into the mix full time this year in order to take the company to the next level. “Simply stated, it was time to make this partnership commitment,” elaborates Mihaescu. “Running a design business feels like a constant tug of war between being creative and being practical. Designing the jewelry is only a small part of the business; the rest is strategy and hard work. I tend to be more organized, steady and logical whereas my partner brings spontaneity and amazing energy to the table. Our ‘right brain/left brain’ combination makes for never-ending ideas, great balance and interesting days.”

Armed with a client list comprised of women of power and prestige, the team continues to reach out to this niche market, further developing the Esculon brand as a name to be recognized, trusted and adored by women throughout the world.

“We enjoy seeing something we’ve built blossom and grow, but most of all, we love to hear how many compliments our customers have gotten from wearing Esculon jewelry and how great it made them feel,” says the enterprising pair. “We guess the only way we can go is up!”