The Story
Christopher Designs was founded in 1981 by Christopher Slowinski, a master diamond setter and designer originally from Poland. His entry into the jewelry world was unexpected—at age 24, his wife Ewa told him about an apprenticeship opportunity at the jewelry company where she worked. He took the chance, and after three years of intense training, opened a small contracting shop with a friend on Manhattan’s 47th Street. The space was just 200 square feet with one bench and a desk, but it became the birthplace of Christopher Designs. In the early years, the company focused entirely on special orders, which allowed Christopher to explore a wide range of techniques and styles. This hands-on experience fueled his creativity and deepened his love for the craft.
Special orders challenged Christopher to think differently and constantly problem-solve. The steady work—especially from clients like Borsheims—kept the business afloat and growing. One turning point came when he was sent a poorly executed invisible setting. Though he had never worked with that technique before, he disassembled it and reimagined the structure, creating a new method to cut tracks and build a more secure setting. This led to his first utility patent and marked the beginning of Christopher Designs’ reputation for innovation. His solution to a design flaw became a catalyst for growth and put the company on the map.
By the mid-1990s, as invisible settings became common in the market, Christopher sought to develop something original. During a round of experimentation, he accidentally miscut a baguette and noticed intriguing triangular facets within the stone. This mistake sparked the idea for a completely new diamond cut. After refining the concept in Israel, he patented what would become the Crisscut® diamond in 1996. The unique design quickly gained attention and laid the foundation for an entire collection of Crisscut shapes, combining brilliance with an innovative faceting pattern that set Christopher Designs apart.
Never one to settle, Christopher continued to evolve his designs. To stay ahead of trends, he later introduced the L’Amour Crisscut®, a patented cut that offers greater visual size and brilliance. Over the years, he has filed 17 patents for diamonds and jewelry, merging his classical European training with cutting-edge technology. Today, Christopher Designs is known worldwide for its bold innovation, craftsmanship, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of diamond artistry—each piece reflecting Christopher’s passion for design and his journey from a modest bench in New York to the forefront of modern high and fine jewelry.