Ilgiz was born in Kazan, graduated from Kazan’s Feshin Art School and continued to master the art of jewellery on his own. In 1994 Ilgiz discovered the art of stone enameling and in a matter of several months he mastered this technique to such an extent that his new works brought to France drew the highest praise from the experts, while the Madame Figaro magazine published an article about Ilgiz titled “The champion of enamel”. From this moment on, the stoving enamel became his trademark and favourite technique.
In 1999 Ilgiz and his jewellery workshop moved to Moscow and this marked a new phase in his work and a growing international recognition. Ilgiz began to receive clients and collectors from all over the world. In 2008 he became the first living jeweller whose work was sold at the Christie’s jewellery auctions. Several years later the venerable British auction house was joined by New York auction house Bonham’s, which also began selling Ilgiz’s work.
In 2010 Ilgiz presented his work at the Oscar ceremony reception. The collection, made with unique faceted pearls, was a collaboration with one of the world’s best gem cutters Viktor Tuzlukov. In 2011 the “Bullfinches” pendant won Ilgiz the main prize of the International Jewellery Design Excellence Award in Hong Kong. The pendant resembles a beam of a street lamp illuminating a branch with three birds that came to symbolize the Russian winter. In 2013 Ilgiz confirmed his “Champion of the Champions” title with the “Butterflies” set that conveys the state of nature at the moment of the solar eclipse. In this set the master jeweller used faceted black pearls.
