His sense of mixing metals is a trend that has cropped up ever more since his rise to prominence; to him it’s a puzzle. He has sacrificed valuable anqtiues to his art, and keeps every bit that crosses his table, for it could be the part that completes the next piece. We caught up with Justin about his craft and what he’s digging now, when he’s not busy with his new gig as Director of Jewelry Design for Tory Burch.

What is your favorite stone to work with at the moment?  

Pale Quartz, pink, yellow, smoke, blue, I am really into pastel colors at the moment, but not in a flat lacquered way.  I want the feeling of citrus without the fruit!

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever found materials?  

Hunting store.  It was in the backwoods and when I told the shop keep that I wanted the taxidermy bunny masks for fashion not fly fishing, I know I herd some rifles click.

What’s the longest you’ve worked on one piece and why? 

About about 150 hours. I wanted it to be REALLY BIG.

Tell me about your most thrilling sale.

First, as an artist, it is always thrilling to make a sale.  Celebrities and Real People are equal in my eyes.  Royalty however, one can always get excited about.  I sold some earrings once, then a year later I got a call that Her MajestyQueen Noor of Jordan lost one of her favorite earrings and could it be replaced.  I was happy to remake the earring, and she sent me several images of her wearing them on her Diplomatic tours.  It felt good!

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and New York City Economic Development Corporation have tapped 12 designers (Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Rachel Dooley with Gemma Redux, Grant Krajecki of Grey Ant, Waris Ahluwalia of House of Waris, Joel Diaz with Jolibe, Alison Lewis of Lewis, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School, Yuvi Alpert and Danna Kobo of Ruby Kobo, Justin Giunta of Subversive Jewelry) as the first tenants of the CFDA Fashion Incubator.

LINK LOVE: Fashionista

Last nights CFDA Awards results are in and they aren’t surprising at all. Alexander Wang, Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Tim Hamilton all won top honors. Here’s the final rundown.

• Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler
• Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren
• Menswear Designer of the Year: Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders (tie)
• Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
• Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
• Swarovski Award for Accessories: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
• Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte

SOURCE: CFDA Winners