Jil Sander designs jewelry

Milan-based design brand Jil Sander has worked with Italian jeweler Damiani to create a simple yet luxurious line of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Watches will follow next year.

Current head designer at Jil Sander, Raf Simons, who also collaborated with Damiani on a limited edition of earrings for this year's spring/summer collection, explained his decision of designing jewelry that many think might clash with the label's puristic esthetic.

"After the great response on our first collection of earrings for this summer I am convinced that Jil Sander, even being considered as the brand of pureness, can create a product category such as jewelry which is not typically seen as Jil Sander," he said in a statement.

The pieces are expected to hit international Jil Sander and Rocca (owned by Damiani) boutiques as well as selected department and jewelry stores this month, with prices starting at €890. A collection of watches is scheduled for early 2010.

While her former label is increasingly heading towards luxury, German designer Jil Sander herself (who sold and left the company several years ago) has been taking a different approach creating an affordable collection for Japanese high street retailer Uniqlo.

Site: jilsander.com