A little bit about Paloma Picasso

In her own words in an interview with Style Studio, Paloma Picasso says that from a very early age she was "very interested in jewelry." She would often ask her mother if she could go through her jewelry and try things on, "admiring how the pieces looked."

Paloma, meaning Dove in Spanish, is the daughter of famous painter Pablo Picasso and as a child was very quiet, which she says, "enabled me to spend many hours with my father. I would sit next to him while he painted and do my own designs." When she was young both her parents advised her that "I need to be my own judge about whether my drawings and designs we good or not."

In 1968 when she was working as a costume designer and living in Paris she loved shopping at flea markets to find materials for her own jewelry designs. It was that same year that some rhinestone necklaces she made from bits and pieces from those same flea markets drew some high praise from design critics. She immediately enrolled in a jewelry course.

Soon after, Yves Saint Laurent asked her to design accessories to accompany one of his collections. Paloma was officially on her way and by 1971 she was workign for the highly prestigious Greek jewelry company Zolotas. Then, in 1980 she began designing for Tiffany and Co., debuting in signature "X's" and scribbles in gold and sterling silver. Some jewelry experts say that her signature "X" pieces, "graffiti" brooches and scrawled heart shaped pendants are as recognizable as Tiffany and Co.'s diamond solitaire settings.

"I always go for the big, bold centrist look. I still do", says Paloma in an interview for Tiffany and Co. "and" She says she's "so glad that yellow gold is back" as it is one of her favorite materials to not only work with but "wear as well."

Paloma is still designing for Tiffany and Co. and has recently expanded her line into men's jewelry. Paloma Picasso has no plans of retiring anytime soon. Good news for jewelry lovers