Justin Giunta – No Two Alike

A happy accident not only turned trained painter Justin Giunta into a jewelery designer for such lines as Tory Burch and J. Mendel, but also helped him happen upon local boutique Upstairs on 7th, where he showcased his newest collection in store Saturday afternoon.

“I canvassed to find stores in DC, but could never seem to find any that suit what I do,” Giunta said. “Then Upstairs on 7th contacted me, and it was actually a good match.”

Giunta, now known for his ‘sunken treasure’ signature necklaces and ‘mother-in-law’ commissioned pieces, has come a long way from his first collection on a piece of foam board on the street.

“The first thing I ever made was actually a bracelet of gun charms – yes, gun charms – I made for a friend’s birthday.”

His designs for collections like Tory Burch help him to create from another point of view, and have influenced his own latest line, Deviated.

“Necklaces are always my favorite,” he said. “But earrings are the worst. It’s so hard to make two of the same!”

*A version of this post is available on Niteside.