Our first-ever sample collection for SERGIO STUDIO was inspired by water in all its forms. Many pieces carried the names of water deities, and to recreate the fantasy I was dreaming of, I splurged on the shoot: five models, four assistants and the renowned Parisian photographer Valentin Fabre, all travelling together by tour bus to the waterfalls of Tolantongo.
I wanted the men to appear among water, rock, steam and vegetation with the allure and mystery of mermen, naiads and water spirits. It was our first attempt to photograph the world SERGIO STUDIO was beginning to imagine.
Mid-shoot, a model lost a ring in the water. It was the only sample: a one-of-a-kind piece set with a raw sapphire.
After hours of searching, I had to make the executive decision to move the team to the next location. The model asked to remain behind. I told him not to worry about it, but he insisted. Later, he returned with the ring.
He told me that while alone, he had spoken to the water and the mountains. After using their beauty for the photographs, he felt he should leave a token in return—an offering in exchange for finding our ring. He took off his heirloom ring and dropped it into the water. It disappeared. Almost immediately afterwards, he reached down and found the SERGIO STUDIO ring.
His ring remains submerged somewhere in Tolantongo, and the model will forever have my respect and gratitude. What made our ring suddenly appear after hours of searching? Did the water ask for something in return? Was it pure luck, or the model’s perseverance?
We will never know.
