The Radar: MBJ Maria Black Jewellery Maria Black, the Danish-born jewellery designer to the stars, talks us through her inspirations and style icons. What links Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson, Helena Christensen and HRH Queen Margrethe II of Denmark? They are all fans of cool new jeweller Maria Black. Over recent years, the Skandi nations have been renowned for producing a long and distinguished list of desirable fashion brands. And Danish-born jeweller Maria Black is not one to buck that trend. Having initially trained in Copenhagen, Black graduated from Goldsmiths in 2009 and launched her eponymous line Maria Black Jewellery just a year later. Taking inspiration from her travels to Brazil, India and Ibiza her jewellery focuses on clean simple lines, geometric formations, subtle textures and repeated patterns. Brilliantly, each piece of jewellery is designed to be interchangeable; stackable rings can be worn on fingers or toes, and earrings are designed to be mixed and matched. We caught up with Maria, who talked us through her autumn/winter 2013 offerings. What sort of woman are your pieces aimed at? I've been trying to narrow this down for a while now, but I constantly get amazed at the diversity in style and age. I would say that it comes down to a design ethos. My pieces appeal to women who still have a playfulness about them, and have an innate love of clean aesthetics. A rock 'n' roll, chic young woman is who I have in mind when I design. The Radar: SEA How would you sum up your general aesthetic? My aesthetic was born as the lovechild of gritty London and cool Scandinavia. Which womens' style do you admire? Kate Moss and Coco Sumner. Coco has a very individual style and I see her sport trends years before they've happened. What was the inspiration for the AW13 collection? I was researching Africa, both in pictures and in feeling. I wanted to translate African imagery and juxtapose it with a stark Scandinavian winter. How would African imagery look like if it was created in Scandinavia? Clockwise from top left: Wing reverse earrings, Monocle earrings & Son earrings in gold. All Maria Black What are your favourite pieces from the collection? I love the Son earrings in gold, they go with everything and the wing reverse earrings are so classy yet with an edge (pictured above). Also the spinning Monocle necklace and the miniature N'usti ring for the top part of the finger. What will we never see in a Maria Black collection? Ohhh this is the kind of answer you can wave in my face years from now, but I would say flowers and bright stones. Which designers are you influenced by? A wide range of people from the fashion world; from Yohji Yamamoto to Hannah McGibbon and Hedi Slimane who designed a whole collection for Saint Laurent that seems to work perfectly with my style so I'll keep my eye on him in the future. In the jewellery world I adore Georg Jensen, Paloma Picasso, René Lalique and Solange Azagury-Partridge. Shop: Jewellery What is your most treasured piece of jewellery? The first monocle earring I ever made (pictured above). I loved that piece so much; it was simple and genius at the same time. At the time no one was making pull through earrings. Who are the great jewellery wearers from history? I've always had a thing for Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon and there is no way I can't answer Elizabeth Taylor to this question! I think Alice Dellal rocks a mean jewel. Jewellery designer Maria Black If you weren't in fashion, what job would you be doing? I have this fantasy about working in the National Gallery restoring artwork - everything from paintings to antique chairs or statues. I would wear really nerdy glasses, drink copious amounts of tea and have a ridiculous knowledge of art and different crafts Where would you like to see the brand in five years time? I have big ambitions for my brand. I would like to branch out in other areas of accessories as well as developing my high end jewellery line and launching a men's jewellery line. Fun times. Available at maria-black.com and net-a-porter.com