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"  Photo: Sonja Georgevich I first fell in love with Ilana Ariel fine jewelry because of the collection&amp;#039;s quiet elegance. The designer, Ilana Sarna, a native New Yorker, designs with a message in mind that resonates particularly strongly with me. She draws inspiration from the powerful women in her family: her grandmothers, her aunts, and of course, her mother. Sarna designs for a woman who, on occasion, likes to stand out, and other times, prefers a more understated look. &amp;quot;Let&amp;#039;s just say she loves to rock some fun stack rings while also rocking a big smile, and layers a bunch of dainty necklaces,&amp;quot; Sarna told ELLE.com. Related: 31 Gold Jewelry Pieces to Wear Year-Round Here, we spoke to the designer about the powerful women in her life, how she went from a law degree to a career in jewelry design, and her most favorite ring. Your jewelry is inspired by many of the women in your family. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Who are some of these women? My late grandmother, Ella, was the initial inspiration behind the Legacy Collection. She would mix costume and fine jewelry in a way that always left her looking exquisite. Watching her accessorize, I learned at a young age that jewelry is a reflection of one&amp;#039;s experiences. My great aunt Judy (by far the most traveled person I know) has reinforced that. The textiles, sculptures, trinkets, and, dare I forget to mention, jewelry that she&amp;#039;s collected from all corners of the world are both a testament to the unique woman that she is, and a container of the magical places she&amp;#039;s visited.  I learned from these women, as well as from my mom, paternal grandmother, and aunt Rebecca that as character varies so do the ways of expressing it, particularly with jewelry. You went to law school before deciding to design jewelry. How did you make that decision? My family is in the real estate business, and I grew up working with and learning from my dad. He felt strongly that I should go to law school for the invaluable education. I went and finished, albeit sometimes with a little kicking and screaming. In need of a creative outlet, I enrolled in a jewelry-making course in the city. The idea of eventually doing something I love and starting my own jewelry company definitely alleviated a lot of the stress. Related: 10 Insignia Rings We Can&amp;#039;t Wait to Put Our Names On Travel is something you reference in many of your pieces. What is one place that you find particularly inspiring? Israel is my home away from home. It&amp;#039;s almost addictive and I always need to know when I&amp;#039;m going back for my &amp;quot;fix.&amp;quot; Whenever I&amp;#039;m there, I relish the Mediterranean colors, and the juxtaposition of ancient and modern architecture, both of which prod my creativity.  Photo: Courtesy of Ilana Sarna Do you have a favorite piece from your collection? The &amp;quot;Ella&amp;quot; ring with diamonds is by far my favorite. It&amp;#039;s a real showstopper, just like the woman it&amp;#039;s named for. The scalloped design adds a hint of femininity to an otherwise bulky ring, so it makes a statement while still maintaining its elegance.  What is the best piece of advice your grandmother ever gave you? My two grandmothers taught me to be creative and kind. Whether sculpting or tying a pretty ribbon around her neck, my late maternal grandmother Ella made her world more vibrant and therefore made the world at large a more beautiful place to live in. My paternal grandmother Mania epitomizes warmth and hospitality. Even at 90, just the other week while I was prepping for a trunk show, she asked what food she should make. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/fashion/accessories/news/a24787/ilana-ariel-fine-jewelry-interview/>