Solange Azagury-Partridge

Although she never had any formal training, Solange Azagury-Partridge, armed with a love of diamonds and a great eye, designed her own engagement ring in 1987. Two decades later, she has worked with costume jewelers and art dealers and now owns her own company and two gorgeous shops—one in London and this newest one, which opened in April 2009 on high-end Madison Avenue. And with its vibrant, rainbow-striped rug, its crystal-laid ceiling and its rich red walls, the store itself is a work of art.