Jewelry Hunter

Emily Rothschild

2011-03-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Concealment clothing, long-favored by expert travelers, has more recently been adopted over the years by practical technophiles. Dedicated cell phone pockets have given birth to dresses with iPad compartments, jackets with built-in computer sleeves, and slap bracelets for iPods that mirror watchbands.

Along this trend, comes Emily Rothschild who understands that design solutions can be visually beautiful while still sufficiently serving the intended purpose. Medical IDs are transformed from dog tags into modernist nameplate jewelry, while pills leave their pharmacy plastic bottles to live within visible bubbles at the bottom of drinking glasses.

Our favorite is the USB drive necklace which houses a flash drive within a replica of a turn-of-a-century mourning locket. Lovely, functional and smart, it blends the best of yesterday and today.

Visit Emily Rothschild’s Web site to view pieces and browse a store list.

Peaking Trend: Minimalism

2011-02-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

Some say the current minimalism trend translates to wearing no jewelry at all, favoring instead a straightforward apparel piece and a pair of everyday black shoes. And what a missed opportunity really, because the right adornment can eliminate the boring whiff of a stark ensemble, and still remain true to the overall strategy.

Eve Singer’s cuff bracelet dispels the idea that minimalist jewelry is communicated with a simple pair of cone ear studs. The lines are precise and complex, but not overpowering. Adorn your wrist, leaving the ears and neck bare, and you are good to go.

Available online at Castor & Pollux

Astali by Shannon De Jong

2009-05-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

Rebels may come in all shapes and sizes, but generally there are a few commonalities...a passion for hard liquor consumption, an appreciation for music that’s both loud and aggressive, and a live-by-your-own rules mentality forged straight from the Old West. Designer Shannon De Jong straddles all of these areas with her Astali line, presenting the maverick personality in distinct collections.

Inspired by Jack Daniels, the Jack Astali grouping flaunts snake vertebrae sourced from rural Africa and memorably mingles it with brass and snake-glass beads. The rocker-influenced set (Rock Astali) pairs weapon charms with repurposed guitar strings in brass, copper and silver, and the Tex Astali pieces incorporates apropos elements such as Fool's Gold nuggets, wheat pennies, and bullet casings (even an antique faucet handle makes an appearance).

We love the stack of snake vertebrae bracelets interspersed with Afghani silver beads strung on brown leather (above right).

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web store.

Store Spotlight: FarFetch.com

2009-05-05T14:21:00.001-07:00

Despite best intentions, there truly is no substitute for a well-curated boutique. Because vision is a gift, and being able to translate that laser focus to a merchandise selection is never as easy as it looks.

Which is why FarFetch.com hits the perfect sweet spot, serving up the collective viewpoint of Europe’s best boutiques. Farfetch isn’t the first online store to offer collections from multiple retailers, but where it succeeds is in its ability to play the role of an able matchmaker…everything just kind of fits together and makes sense.

The site (based in London) features many of our favorite jewelry designers -- Maria Francesca Pepe, Noemi Klein, Pamela Love, J. Dauphin, Aris Geldis, Mawi, and Daydream Nation – as well as a host of less publicized talents such Daniel Nagels, Boris Bidjan Saberi , and My Little Drama. Of course, not everyone is enamored with edgy, avant-garde pieces, but if you are (as we are), Farfetch.com is a visual treat.

www.farfetch.com

Turn Me on Design (TMOD)

2009-04-20T08:28:00.001-07:00

Sometimes communication needs to be taken to a different level, somewhere deeper and internal, where it can resonate and bypass the typical “in one ear and out the other” method.

Sydney-based designers Georgie Swift and Milenka Osen of Turn Me on Design (TMOD), whose previous Smoke & Mirrors collection featured puzzle-solving jewelry, such as three-dimensional maze cubes and interlocking keys, recently collaborated with artist Andy Uprock for a new interactive series entitled /\poetry in braille/\.

Uprock, known for large floating cup street installations, imparts his Cuprocking vision to this range of sterling silver pieces, with TMOD evolving them into smaller, dearer, more intimate elements. Necklaces and rings flaunting cascading miniature cups and industrial cones are textured with Braille phrases serenely promoting community and integration. Tiered signpost pendants twist to reveal thoughts in English and Braille, melding the two languages into one. And Pagoda-shaped rings, dangled upside-down on chains, conceal poetic streams along the interior.

To view styles and browse purchase links, visit the TMOD Web site.

Lisa Levine

2009-03-26T11:02:00.001-07:00

There’s no higher endorsement of one’s work than that of a fellow colleague who inserts your designs into their personal wardrobe rotation, wearing the piece again, and again, and again. And truth be known that Lisa Levine is one those rare talents whose jewelry is consistently worn by New York’s fashion populi.

Her signature pieces are typically ethereal, with mixed metal draped arrangements, but her latest collection serves up bold color, holding fast onto the beat of summer. Vintage brass and copper chains in slinky, chunky widths are adorned with a mixture of beads and stones, some along one side, others broken into color-blocked segments.

To browse styles and purchase visit Creatures of Comfort.

Rising Trend: Seed Bead Jewelry

2009-03-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Weaving small beads into intricate patterns has been around for ages, literally, harking back to ancient Egypt, eighth century Japan, and ninth century India. Of course, we still see glass seed beads adorned on dresses, sweaters and other elegant apparel, and now they are making a comeback in jewelry as well.

Fallon’s fringe necklaces were the first to make a splash, and now you can find beaded collar creations at stores like Urban Outfitters. But we love the inspired pieces lovingly produced by artisans such as Patrizia Tager (necklace above) and Carol Deane Sharpe…elaborate and interesting, these jewelry selections are the real deal.

To browse styles and purchase visit:

Triz Designs - Beadwork by Patrizia Tager
Beaded and Fiber Gifts by Carol Dean Sharpe

Finch Metal

2009-03-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Oh, to be a kid again…whipping paper airplanes into shape, exploring the wind with a flying kite, getting colored chalk under your fingernails as you draw hopscotch patterns on the sidewalk.

Metalsmith Jill Antonishak’s designs are sweet emblems of treasured playthings, from tire swings to the helix-shaped slinky. Necklace pendants take form as three-dimensional pinwheels, flat paper dolls, dainty toy boats and intricate ferris wheels. Perfect, perfect little reminders that childhood pleasures need not reside in the past as a closed chapter. Rejoice, wear rompers, live like a kid again, and make sure to get your feet dirty.

To view styles and shop, visit the designer’s Web site.

Concrete Fruit Jewelry

2009-03-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Fruit and concrete probably sit at opposite ends of the contextual spectrum, which is why pairing them together makes so much sense. Take the sweet, soft and colorful and marry it with something durable, creating a vibrant new form filled with depth and longevity, rather than spoiling under the weight of time. If only all perishable goods could be rid of their pesky expiration dates, staying fresh and tasty forever and ever.

Designer Sue Urquhart’s fruit collection flaunts brushed silver pendants inlaid with tinted concrete, and dangled from 16” inch sterling drawn chains. Red strawberries, green pears, orange slices, lemon wedges, a pair of dangling cherries…no matter what your taste buds crave, each selection is juicy good and perfect for summer picnic days.

Visit the designer’s blog for recent work and purchasing information.

Digby & Iona

2009-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Sequels, if done right, generally happen because a continuum was necessary to unfurl the remainder of an idea. More to the story, a layered vision, or just simply additional ideas sprouted from the same plane of thought.

Designer Aaron Ruff wasn't done with his Wanderer in a Sea of Fog theme, paving the way for a Volume 2 collection. The recently introduced pieces build on the maritime theme, adding captain’s signet rings to the mix of spyglasses, compasses, and old-world weaponry. We love the antique feel of this black spot ring, with intricate scrolling and fashioned for a two-finger fit.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s newly launched Web site.

Best of Etsy: Painted Metal

2009-02-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

This series highlights noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

To some, texture is the soul of every jewelry piece, separating the artistic from the mass-produced, the inspired from those that have nothing new to communicate, the layered from the mundane. And for Tammy Antoinette, texture is everything, dictating the design and color process.

Utilizing a multi-layered patina course that produces a watercolor finish, the designer creates pieces that are both rustic and beautiful. Stacked brass rings, colored mocha and turquoise, have a weather-beaten appearance, as does her shackle earrings (above). Leaf-shaped cuffs are treated with an external terra cotta patina, with a red tone gracing the interior. New color palettes are introduced frequently, but the prevalence of texture remains…gritty grooves, hammered pockmarks and meandering ripples.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Etsy store.

Melanie Bilenker Jewelry

2009-02-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

Just like the popular children’s book Everyone Poops correctly preaches, we are indeed all creatures of commonplace routines and activities. But there is something extraordinary that resides in the mundane, and it is the clear connection that these everyday rituals bring…each and every one of us eating dinner, opening our mail, fixing our hair, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

It is this premise that Melanie Bilenker explores with her work, sketching ordinary moments with wispy hair (her own) and preserving them within resin. The illustrated blocks are framed with gold and ebony wood, and presented as brooches, rings and pendants. We love the lockets, with a wood slipcover, allowing the image to be revealed at the wearer’s discretion (shown above is Sunday Night, a dip into the bath).

To view designs and browse gallery links, visit the Melanie Bilenker’s Web site.

Reverie Jewelry by Alison Woodward

2009-01-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

If the arts and crafts movement is indeed in revivalist mode as many predict, putting vintage Koos van den Akker jackets, mixed print and quilted, front and center along with Mary McFadden braided belts, then surely chunky jewelry is going to stick around for a while. Good news for Alison Woodward, who skillfully crafts large-scale pieces that are highly ornate and rich in tone.

Woodward’s forte is re-thinking the contextual nature of vintage elements, changing their lifeline through reconfiguration. Shells, color-drenched with paint, are arranged in a flower formation and dressed up with vintage ribbon…a brass mechanic’s shop plaque is given new life with 1950s rhinestone adornments. Some of the pieces are more straightforward, but all will have you daydreaming, just as the designer predicts with the jewelry line’s chosen name – Reverie.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Blue Bayer

2009-01-26T12:14:00.000-08:00

Long time East Village resident Blue Bayer spent many, many years crafting smoking pipes and selling them to locals until he meet a young kid entranced with Steam Punk and everything kind of fell in to place. As if destiny itself was calling, the encounter lead Bayer to become re-inspired with his youthful obsessions like turn-of-the-century science fiction, and he started translating the gruesome design aesthetic he used in his pipe-crafting into wearable jewelry assembled from found objects.

Bayer’s line, called Assemblagio, flaunts pieces that marry clock parts with hand-blown glass eyes, and dangle hummingbird skulls cast in 18k gold. Many designs have been enhanced with modeling clays and aging solvents to impart an antique appearance. But here’s the best part – Blue writes like Bukowski, on full display in his Etsy store listings. From Pat (a battle scarred old guy from Queens) to Stone Gnome (a lady who sells him gemstones and adopts a lot cats) Bayer has stories, lots of them, and he tells them in such a real-deal manner that you can become distracted and forget how frickin’ amazing his jewelry is…almost, but not quite.

To browse styles visit the designer’s Web site. It’s connected to his Etsy store.

Yasmin Kuhn Design

2009-01-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it's winter doldrums nipping at our psyche that has us turning our thoughts, ever so early, to the coming of spring (the dance of bright colors, the wispy feminine fabrics, the sprightly footwear). So, yes, perking up is in order, and Yasmin Kuhn's cheery jewelry pieces are a flawless tonic for battling the blues.

Emulating flower lei silhouettes, Kuhn, a RISD graduate, bundles clear and frosted acrylic beads in chunky arrangements, some monochromatic, others with scattered colors. Most selections are available as a single 20" or in a longer 36" length that can artfully be wrapped around the neck several times.

To view styles and store listings, visit the designer's Web site.

The Metamorphosis of Gauged Jewelry

2009-01-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

Will the mainstream fashion industry forever turn a blind eye to the mounting popularity of gauged jewelry? Maybe, maybe not, but the reality is that more and more designers are artistically moving beyond industrial ear plugs, and producing more palatable pieces.

One of our favorite stores Robot, nestled in Portland, has amassed a worthy online collection of ear adornments from local designers such as Lobey Wan, who produces pretty elements in shapes of frogs and angel wings, and Cheryl Lisowski, whose line Heart of Metal flaunts hoops intricately woven with brightly colored thread (above right).

To browse styles and purchase, visit Robot’s online store.

Specimen Jewelry

2009-01-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

Designer Carrie Yee is an ardent enthusiast of anthropology infusing her Specimen jewelry line with elements such as coyote teeth (paired with Indian glass beads) and shark vertebrae (nestled with skulls carved from nuts).

Of course, lots of on-trend feathers make an appearance in her pieces, as well as shells and semi-precious stones, but it’s her arrangements that are bewitching, such as the Hawaiian Fish Hook necklace, flaunting an off-center bone pendant on chain braided into cord.

Until recently, one had to visit Yee’s booth at the Brooklyn Flea to snap up one of her creations, but no more…a just launched Etsy shop offers a chunk of the Specimen collection online.

Hot Pick: Hayden-Harnett Joey Cuff

2008-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

Come on, we dare you to name one thing that Toni Hacker can’t design really, really well. Because while some emerging artists stick solely to their chosen specialty, she just can’t stop expanding her Hayden-Harnett line (in collaboration with husband Ben) into all corners of the industry. In addition to dresses, separates, outerwear, wallets, belts, and every type of bag under the sun, the Brooklyn-based designer recently rolled out a stellar line of boots.

From day one though, Hacker loved leather cuffs, presenting them with heavy hardware and belt-style closures. Her newest creation, the Joey, is more traditional, but no less stunning, pairing metal studs with textured leather (above is the tonal brown whipsnake).

Available at the Hayden-Harnett Web site.

t.kahres jewelry by Teresa Kahres

2008-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

There are some people who pride themselves on cultivating a mammoth Facebook friend list, and then there is you…the fiercely loyal pal, who’d rather have five amazing comrades, then hundreds of meaningless acquaintances. But you’re steadfast about everything, unequivocally committed to the things that really count, and letting the rest roll right off your shoulders with no regrets. And with jewelry, you’re the exact same way, opting for special pieces, instead of dabbling with passels of frivolous throwaways.

Silversmith Teresa Kahres veered towards enameling to widen her color palette, enabling her to dance more deeply with her botanical and oceanic inspirations. Ruffled flower earrings, dotted with pearls, are streaked with rich hues, as are lengthy crumbled leaves forming an asymmetrical necklace centerpiece. Enamel shells, glistening white and cupping grey pearls, are a perfect winter resort adornment. For the fall season, we covet the flower drop earrings (above), drenched with blue tones and dressed up with gothic pearls.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Kimberly Baker Indian Chief Ring

2008-10-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

Much like the estimable clothing designer Wendy Mullin, silversmith Kimberly Baker has always drummed to her own authentic beat regardless of what’s happening in the marketplace. Her jewelry line certainly has its loyalists, who recognize that her pieces can be worn for years and years and never veer out of fashion.

Yet – there is something definitely instep with her latest designs which are drenched with Native American inspiration, from the layered feather cuff bracelet to the gathered arrow locket necklace. We especially adore the Chief Joseph ring, a chunky sterling silver adornment that makes a hearty statement, and can be worn with love each and every day.

Available at the designer's Web site.

Lingua Nigra

2008-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Most of us say one thing, but really mean another, but that's just because we all tightly scrutinize things through our own personal microscope. Which explains why some see beauty in small imperfections, and others cite them as unequivocal flaws. But perhaps everything is a dual-sided entity, with interpretation not determined by which side the wind is kicking, but on the threshold of forgiveness in our hearts, and how far our minds will let curiosity wander.

Take for instance the reticulation of brass, a melting process that elevates the copper, imprinting the metal with intervals. What was once smooth is now imperfectly rippled, yet far more complex. This texture evolution is the blueprint for Alicia Goodwin’s jewelry line Lingua Nigra. Some circular elements are heavily manipulated to reveal repetitive patterns (disc necklace above), while others are given a lighter hand to encourage free-form results, such as a drop pendant earring with a curved end resembling a worn book page corner.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site, which currently forwards to her Etsy shop.

Hot Pick: Lark and Lotus Damballah Necklace

2008-10-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a Voodoo Child baby, I don't take no for an answer.
(Jimi Hendrix)

Because snakes know how to shed skins, and redirect their cause, slithering covertly to strike when the moment is just right. And so one must tread carefully and not believe every skillful twist of the tongue.

The Damballah necklace from designer Suzannah Murray's Lark and Lotus line is a spirited homage to the mighty serpent, flaunting an uncoiled 14k gold pendant, textured and set with a deep garnet stone.

To purchase, visit the Lark and Lotus Web site.

Brilliant Everyday: Unearthen Necklaces

2008-10-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Brilliant Everyday series spotlights jewelry pieces perfect for everyday wear.

If ever there were two groups historically on opposing sides, despite sharing outsider status, it’s the punks and the hippies. After all, one faction encourages harmony and friendship, and the other just wants to live fast and die young.

And yet, as much as peace and love doesn’t usually mix well with anarchy and destruction, designer Gia Bahm has found a moderating voice, enabling both sides to shake hands in agreement that optimism and pessimism can indeed reside on the same page.

Bahm’s Unearthen necklaces are perfectly emblematic of the dichotomy existing within all of us, flaunting rough-cut, sparkling quartz crystals stuffed into .38 and .22 bullet casings. The pendants, available with a wide range of colorful stones (ruby crystal is featured above), are hung from 14k gold chains at a 22” length.

To view styles and browse store listings, visit the Unearthen Web site.

Danielle Pittman

2008-10-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, a soft-spoken demeanor often does belie a tough-as-nails interior, but it's not as if being disingenuous is on the agenda. Some people just subscribe to the belief that if you want to rule the world, an iron fist in a velvet glove is a more palatable approach. Determination after all, doesn't come in just one aggressive flavor.

Designer Danielle Pittman has an appreciation for nice girls that say please and thank you, but insightfully recognizes that it doesn't mean they are relinquishing anything, not even close. Her pieces are simultaneously tough and pretty, influenced by nature's sturdier creations, such as pinecones, hickory, and sand dollars. Even delicate petals are translated into robust forms, appearing hearty and twisted. The honeycomb selections, necklace pendants and earrings mingling enamel with gold, are stalwart pieces, worthy of attention.

To browse styles, visit the designer's Web site. To purchase, shop Bird in Brooklyn.

Rediscovering the Chain Store

2008-10-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just like the local pharmacy, which has become the bargain hunter’s destination for make-up essentials, the chain store is well positioned to become a well for jewelry box refreshment, if for no other reason than the affordable price points.

But some chains have interesting offerings, including Urban Outfitters which recently launched a collection in collaboration with Bing Bang’s Anna Sheffield. The line, called Bee 23, flaunts the designer’s signature style, including this sweetheart necklace (above), but are easy on the wallet. Old Navy is currently selling cozy sweater bangles reminiscent of Elizabeth Yarborough’s hot creations from last year, but for less than ten bucks. And Forever 21 is always a treasure trove for up-to-the-minute looks for less, including a vast selection of cocktail rings that hover around five dollars.

Best of Etsy: Knee Highs & Pigtails Jewelry

2008-10-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

This series highlights noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

Camille and Sara, best friends since they were wearing knee high socks and sporting pigtails in their hair, re-work vintage findings into pieces that would be at home in grandma's jewelry box, if, of course, her life was drawn from the same cloth as Anaïs Nin’s.

And while many crafters dabble with found elements, we appreciate that these selections were created with a consistent sensibility. All too often, you see a little of this, and a little of that, but no threaded vision, especially as price points dip lower and lower. Predominately produced with raw brass treated to darken over time, the super affordable necklaces and earring sets are sprinkled with colorful Czech beading in dusty hues.

To view styles and purchase, visit the Knee Highs & Pigtails Etsy shop.

Etten Eller

2008-10-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Designer Cristina Bloom is a master at transforming watch gears into pretty, pretty jewelry. After all, most pieces flaunting mechanical parts are clunky and masculine, with their gritty appeal rooted in the Steampunk movement.

But Bloom’s Etten Eller line takes a deliciously different turn, presenting ethereal selections that are airy and refined, with a decidedly feminine twist. Vintage pocket watch hands are dangled from draped vermeil necklace chains, a single circular gear is paired with a contrasting oxidized necklace chain, and a bronze plate pendant in a crescent shape displays spacious cut-outs.

The Etten Eller collection is available at Barney’s CO-OP, but check out the designer’s Web site (launching soon) for updates.

BYLU

2008-09-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

The thing about die-hard New Yorkers is that only a handful were actually born and raised here. But home is where you feel most comfortable in your own skin, regardless of whether it was adopted deliberately or arrived at inadvertently, and solidifies a sense of belonging that no other relationship can ever adequately equal. And New York City does indeed cast a spell on people, with its unmistakable fullness, lifting energy, and historical prominence.

BYLU designers Ken Leung and Dana Chin understand the joy of discovering a place that beckons your heart and stirs your soul. Heralding from Maine (Dana) and Hong Kong (Ken), both now embrace New York City as home, and their Compass Rose collection plays homage to the complex labyrinth of its city streets, as well as the calm botanical oasis at its center.

Mixed metal pieces are imprinted with vintage city street maps, from round necklace medallions to threaded earrings that dangle embossed chips. Found quartz from Central Park is hand-cut and paired with metal map charms in refined arrangements. Dual-faced disc earrings are printed with a compass rose design and street map sections, with one flipped so that both images are represented forward and back. We especially adore the stackable rings (shown above), textured with street maps and available in a variety of metals from 18k green gold to oxidized sterling silver.

To browse styles and purchase, visit the BYLU (pronounced BLUE) Web site.

Best of Etsy: Jill K Davis House Jewelry

2008-09-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

This series highlights noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

Certain obsessions are super easy to live with, like an addiction to Kiehl’s lotions, or Carmex lip balm. Other infatuations can be more complex, but no less satisfying, like the one designer Jill Davis has with diminutive houses. Her tiny homes collection boasts sterling silver charms that sit on rings, dangle from chains and French ear wires. Often she includes a tree, because every house should have a yard, and sometimes multiple dwellings are nestled close, such as the Neighborhood Ring shown above.

To view styles and purchase, visit the JDavis Studio Etsy shop.

Hot Pick: Nola Bella Brass Chain & Pearl Necklace

2008-09-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Perhaps designing jewelry is no different than mixing a potent cocktail to perfection…a little of this, a little of that, but nothing too sweet or head-shaking strong. If so, than Jill Scharmen knows exactly what she is doing, integrating chunky brass chains with oversized mother-of-pearl drops that are draped in an asymmetrical fashion. The necklace, titled Grandma’s Pearls, is visually stunning, yet lighthearted, as if elegant Nana, dressed to impress in her Chanel suit, had an impish tryst with a dirty downtown hipster.

Available at the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Bonbon Oiseau Woods & Fields Collection

2008-09-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Bonbon Oiseau's Autumn collection, entitled Woods and Fields, was inspired by Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and is overflowing with exquisite elements, such as 1920s mold-pressed, reverse-painted and foil-inlaid glass.

Flaunting antique etched glass and vintage brass leaves, the Feuilles de Rubis Rouge earrings, one of favorite pieces from the collection, sweetly marries a 24k gold pear charm and a freshwater pearl at the bottom.

Available at the designer's Web site.

Winifred Grace

2008-09-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

One wouldn't have to twist your arm twice for you to spill the beans and fess up to being a die-hard romantic. Yes, you're an old school glamour gal, addicted to sentimental movies and the occasional bodice-ripping novel. And in the corner of your mind, you fancy yourself a modern day Garbo, veiled in mystery with beauty to spare. Slipped into a fluttering silk blouse and dripping with Winifred Grace jewelry, you're armed and ready to navigate the town in vintage style.

Lovely everyday pieces have always been designer Winifred Grace Gundeck’s specialty, but her Autumn 2008 collection proves that she can equally guide women through the evening hours as well. The 1920s-inspired selections, with looped rhinestone fringe and oxidize chain, have a magical antique quality, much like treasures found in an ancestor’s jewelry box. The flowing necklaces and elongated earrings may be perfectly in step with this season’s clothes, but thankfully they are not costumey, ensuring that the adornments can be worn for years and years to come.

To browse styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Brilliant Everyday: Jacquie Aiche Evil Eye Necklace

2008-09-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Brilliant Everyday series spotlights jewelry pieces perfect for everyday wear.

Oh yeah, the Evil Eye, the ultimate good luck charm, staring back at the world to ward off pesky devilish spirits. Is there a better choice for an everyday piece than one guaranteed to keep you out of harm’s way? We think not. And this gold vermeil rendition from Jacquie Aiche is divine, encrusted with sparkling stones and dangling from a perfect 18” length.

Available at Madison Los Angeles.

In the mood to splurge? Check out the diamond and sapphire version at Kate Boutique.

wear-and-tear Jewelry

2008-09-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

If only life's biggest decisions were as black and white as a mathematical equation, with no shades of grey caught in between, and no ideological questions to ponder. Then, it might be possible, just possible, for all of us to reside on the same page, working happily in sync to accomplish greater goals for the common good. Sadly right answers are generally subjective, which forges otherwise smooth processes critically out-of-whack. But what if the solutions actually existed in the chaos? Twists and turns, after all, only remind us that nothing worth having comes so easily.

Similar to the transformation of a sheet of paper from a flat piece to a crumpled ball, Cheung Lik squeezes once harmonious chain links into erratic 3-D silhouettes. Some of the irregular shapes, presented in necklace and bracelet arrangements, have lopsided effects, others are more balanced, but all make a statement. Lik, who previously created amazing jewelry with the Daydream Nation team, has launched her own label, wear-and-tear, to showcase these pieces, along with her signature weaved fabric tape designs.

To browse styles and purchase, visit the designer's Web site.

Rachel Leigh Jewelry

2008-09-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

Rachel Bravman's playful line has always been a go-to favorite for costume jewelry, but her latest pieces raise the bar a bit, resembling authentic renditions of vintage glamour girl adornments. The cocktail designs, all with adorable old-lady names like Estelle, Millie and Edith, are heavy on the glitz, flaunting pearls, rhinestones and braided chain trims.

Available at ShopBop.

Zoe Catherine Kendall

2008-08-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

It’s the dream, no? To wave your freak flag as high as you can without sacrificing a lick of coolness. After all, there is definitely a distinct difference between being downright scary, and just weird in a good way. Which is what sets apart Zoe Catherine Kendall’s eccentric Precious Creatures collection from other creepy jewelry. Featuring twisting oxidized silver worm pieces adorned with enameled eyeballs, the necklaces, earrings and rings have a surreal beauty to them, much like the world presented in Pan’s Labyrinth. Bizarre, yes, but oh so perfect.

Available at Kabiri.

Stone & Honey

2008-08-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Transcendent first acts are hard to follow…just ask Liz Phair. But every now and then, someone follows up an alluring debut with a second chapter that is equally compelling. Such is the case with Portland designer Teresa Robinson who launched her smallthings designs jewelry line six years ago and instantly won the hearts of many with her charming stained glass pieces. Over time, she broadened the collection but stayed true to the idea of capturing the simplicity and beauty of diminutive objects.

Artistic people with ideas, however, need to change course to keep their creative juices flowing. So rather than continually extend smallthings and risk losing cohesiveness, Robinson has introduced Stone & Honey, a brand spanking new line with its own identity and Web-based store. Inspired by the intricacies of honeycomb and pinwheels, Robinson creates silver and gold necklace pendants in varying arrangements mirroring the silhouettes. For a bolder look, these pendants are layered on top of ringed Brazilian agate stones in dazzling colors, from vibrant pinks, blues and greens to earthy browns and moody grays. Shown above is the Heather necklace with swirled magenta and violet hues and tumbling silver pinwheels.

To view styles and purchase, visit Stone & Honey.

Wendy Brandes

2008-08-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

If you've learned anything, it's that laying everything on the line immediately is never a good idea, and full disclosure will always put you at a distinct disadvantage. Nope it's always better to keep a few tricks up your sleeve, to be revealed at the right place, ideal time, when opportunities are plentiful and the rewards rich. Let others make the mistake of taking you lightly at first, because in the end, they undoubtedly will learn that you are indeed quite clever, and have mastered the game extremely well.

Crafting a line of adornments flaunting concealed objects, designer Wendy Brandes digs deep in the past for inspiration. An acorn nut necklace, when pried apart, dangles an interior squirrel, a token of immorality often used in antique mourning jewelry. A black diamond pendant brandishes a skull when opened in homage to Juana "La Loca" who peeked at her husband’s coffin remains. A tribute to English Empress Matilda manifests itself as an elaborate sword necklace that can be pulled from its gold scabbard. The collection also boasts many stealthy lockets and poison rings, as well as intriguing pieces that dramatically twist into several shapes providing alternate looks.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Danielle Gori-Montanelli Felt Necklaces

2008-08-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Marrying the frothy coziness of a wrapped scarf with the delicate beauty of a jewelry piece, Danielle Gori-Montanelli’s felt flower train necklace is a terrific change of pace. Tossed over a jacket or a cocktail dress, it’s whimsical, but elegant, and deliciously different. Hand-cut black and grey wool felt flowers are sewn together in a link arrangement, and falls at a long length.

Available at Artful Home. Additional color and shape selections available on the designer’s Web site.

Farrah Dragon Jewelry

2008-08-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

You've always been insanely picky about your wardrobe, prioritizing longevity, yet never dismissing the importance of personality. Channeling the essence of you, after all, has nothing to do with being ahead of trends or on point with them, but more in line with assembling a thoughtful grouping of beautiful, quality items to lovingly be worn again and again. But that’s part of growing up, understanding that fads come and go, and arrive again, but timeless pieces always look relevant.

Which is why Farrah Dragon's designs are so appealing, a collection of fine jewelry with a relaxed spirit, but still striking a heady chord in terms of visual enchantment. Flaunting organic shapes, such as fern leaves, lotus petals and exotic flowers, the precious metal pieces are crafted from recycled materials or gathered from environmentally friendly sources, so you feel good about wearing them. The insect rings, moths and beetles, are easy everyday pieces, but we also favor the pendant necklaces dangling fluid orchids in an array of compositions, such as the slipper necklace (above).

To browse designs and view store list, visit the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Jewelry Suspenders by Bless

2008-08-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Suspenders, adopted once again by the young fashion set, are showing up in stretchy solid tones, reawakening visions of skinhead punks and New Wave/Ska boys. Madonna, early in her career, also wore them with everything. But translating any item directly is tedious, even if you weren’t around for previous iterations.

Thankfully Bless deviates from the past, delivering a high-energy twist on the classic suspenders. Intermingling mixed metal chains with metallic elastic the piece is modern and elegant, and can be worn in full view, or under a jacket to reveal a hint of sparkle.

Available at Ooga Booga.

Leather Wrapped Jewelry

2008-08-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lambskin leggings might be popping up everywhere, but leather is snuggly wrapping itself around jewelry as well, recently debuting in numerous collections. The result is tough, but luxurious, with a dash of mystery that can only be derived from touchable hidden textures buried underneath the hide.

A few of our favorites include Annie Costello Brown’s heavy weight chain necklaces enveloped with leather and arranged in intriguing knot formations, and Belgian designer Natalia Brilli’s horse head pendant necklace that resembles a chess piece (above). Also notable is Wendy Nichol’s collection of studded cuffs and earrings now swathed in leather for Fall.

Our only complaint? Everyone is dabbling in black leather, which is striking, but there are other shades on the color wheel that would vibrantly elevate the pieces.

Natalia Brilli is available at Erie Basin. Wendy Nichol is available at Ravinstyle. Visit Annie Costello Brown’s Web site to view styles.

Karen Karch Engagement Rings

2008-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sure, there must be some women out there that genuinely covet Harry Winston engagement rings, but frankly we do not know any of these people. Instead, we field questions from suitors who say that their better halves want something different…a ring that doesn’t scream traditional and flaunts an artistic vibe. And always, we point them in the direction of Karen Karch, a fine jewelry designer who crafts exquisite, off-the-radar pieces. Incorporating stones like black and cognac diamonds into settings resembling vines or upside down tiaras, most of Karch’s collection is one-of-a-kind, and many of her clients work personally with her to create customized designs.

If you are in New York, drop by her jewel box store in NoLita, or visit her online site to view selections.

Deka Ray

2008-07-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

It’s always the little things that make the biggest impression, which is why mom always warned us to do a “lipstick on teeth” check before every job interview, and of course why Frank Lloyd Wright is known the world over, and always will be. Yep, the devil is indeed in the details, and if you’re clever enough to master them, without being a total control freak, than you’ll always have the upper hand.

Exposing the finer points of objects isn’t foreign territory for designer Eugenie Huang, who holds a Masters degree in architecture, the mother of all detail-oriented professions. Her Deka Ray jewelry line is a collection of concept pieces, with each selection contributing to an overall theme rooted in organic process and technological advancement. But there is zero pretentiousness in her designs -- they are completely accessible in an understated manner, and most importantly, cool.

Multiply, an arrow pendant collection plays with sequenced arrangements on rings, earrings and pendants, including a waxed sterling silver and 10k yellow gold necklace (above). The DeathStar Debris series has a sci-fi vibe, and features oxidized chain necklaces with tumbled cage pendants, and Outland, inspired by the woods of North Carolina, flaunts mixed material pieces crafted from wood, waxed linen twine and shipping rope.

For more information, visit the Deka Ray Web site. To purchase, visit Gargyle.

Rising Trend: Unisex Jewelry

2008-07-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

There's nothing innovative about women wearing menswear, from skinny ties to tailored vests...it's all repurposed from decades past. And yet, slouchy boy-cut pants seem fresh after an avalanche of matchstick jeans over the years, and now unisex adornments are on the rise too, perfect for women who want to tone things down, and embrace a rugged, less-obvious look.

Giles and Brother, Philip Crangi's diffusion line, serves up a bevy of unisex styles flaunting heavyweight brass hardware elements. We love the railroad spike cuff, a curved bracelet with a gritty appearance available at Kabiri. A similar version, wrapped in leather with bolt ends (above right) is available at Barney's CO-OP.

Molly Mendenhall

2008-07-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to skin a cat, as the saying goes, and while the exact task of course is an analogy, and not to be taken literally, the sentiment does ring solidly true. Do things your way, instead of mimicking the traditional path. Order a meal like Sally Albright with everything on the side, or take world-class photos with a cheapie instamatic like Terry Richardson. And when it comes to fashion, it's all about individualistic style, or at least it should be. And if you wear jewelry, than by all means slip something around your neck that hasn't been mass marketed to death.

Heralding from the beautiful state of New Mexico and clocking in at a mere 19 years old, designer Molly Mendenhall draws on her surroundings to create multifarious pieces that are bold and earthy. Leather necklaces are intricately beaded and embroidered and adorned with feathers, gemstones, and shells. Some pieces are dyed by hand, and others incorporate copper and antique brass elements. Each design is one-of-a-kind, making each selection a collector's item.

The designer operates two Etsy shops, one called Hokaiye, which stocks her elaborate beaded pieces, and another called ChanteDesign which features lower-priced designs, such as pretty painted stone necklaces.

Hot Pick: T.Cyia Plum Pearl Necklace

2008-07-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Pearls, yes, they are radiant jewels of the sea. And if tailored, preppy clothing is all the rage when the weather once again dips cold, will the classic string of pearls soon follow suit? But then again, even if they do reign supreme, there are far more interesting variations than the standard ivory, such as T.Cyia’s iced plum pearl necklace. Interspersed with brass skulls, the decadent piece is 108” inches, lengthy enough to swaddle the neck many times over.

Available at the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Soixante Neuf Heart Earrings

2008-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

Heart jewelry usually can be described as a giant sugar-rush, transforming women into little girls who absentmindedly forget that eating too much candy does indeed make one sick to their stomach.

Fortunately designer Joie Jager serves up an alternative, draining the heart of its gushiness, and infusing it with some well-placed gypsy mojo. Her heart-shaped wood earrings from her Soixante Neuf line are intricately hand-carved with floral detail, maintaining a sense of femininity, but without heavy-handedness.

Available at the designer’s Web site.

Rheanna Lingham

2008-07-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

You’ve never been a Saturday night kind of woman, saving up all of your good-time energy and blowing it on one evening. Nope, you prowl the town on your own terms and timeline, be it smack in the middle of Wednesday afternoon, or the wee hours of Friday morning. After all, if you obey all the rules, you bypass the adventure. And British designer Rheanna Lingham’s jewelry confections are the ideal partner in crime for the woman who doesn’t just spring out her fancy gear for one night.

Lingham’s Feather Your Nest collection encompasses her trademark feather designs, from ball-shaped necklaces layered with Pheasant, Partridge or Peacock feathers to chandelier necklaces that dangle white feathers on lengthy gold-plated chains. As radiant as her feather pieces are, Lingham proves she isn’t a one-trick pony, presenting an equally fluid collection of gold-hued inspired designs, including an embroidered double wreath necklace.

Limited selections available at PixieMarket. For more information, visit the designers Web site.

Hot Pick: SURevolution Studded Bangle

2008-07-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Too often bracelets are relegated to second-tier status, almost as if they are the bastard children of the jewelry world. Lately necklaces have taken front-and-center position, and statement earrings will soon be at the head-of-the-pack. And rings, well they have had their resurgence and them some. Yet, the cuff, the bangle, and other bracelet styles always seem to be the additional adornment, never the main event. It’s certainly not for a lack of options, that’s for sure.

We’re big fans of SURevolution, who bring you hand-crafted goodies from around the world, and they always have an amazing array of bracelets in their collections, from woven metal bangles to mosaic coral cuffs. Our current fave is a dark wood bangle embellished with rows of copper-hued brass studs.

Available at Vivre.

Hot Pick: Aurora Lopez-Mejia

2008-07-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

At least one piece of inspirational jewelry usually finds its way into every woman’s collection, whether it’s a rubber LiveStrong bracelet, or a Jeanine Payer necklace received as a special occasion gift. But for us, Aurora Lopez-Mejia’s designs are the gold standard, brandishing empowerment messages on chunky, modern shapes, such as handcuff bracelets and cigar rings.

Each piece is hand-stamped with an antique letterpress and many of the words were selected from 18th century English dictionaries. We love her pebble gem rings swirled with phrases on the front and back.

Available at the Aurora Lopez-Mejia Web site.

Eva Gozlan

2008-07-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, you’re sweet, but thankfully not that sweet. So, sure you sometimes wear pink, and adore gooey lip gloss, but you balance it out with a choppy haircut and steel gray nail lacquer on your toes. Which is why you adore Eva Gozlan’s jewelry pieces, which are equally sweet and left-of-the-dial cool.

The French designer works primarily with brass adding dainty pearl and gemstone touches, and her collection is deliciously cohesive, transforming girly touchstones (like purses and butterflies) into modern statements. A bracelet with a sculptured form on a closer glance resembles an angel’s wing. A leaf charm earring, to be worn on its own ala 80s style, dangles pearls on oxidized chain. A lengthy necklace flaunts a glass jar pendant revealing miniature brass butterflies.

Her collection is available online at Manjoh.

Mifflin Jewelry

2008-07-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

You grew up a long time ago, swapping Bukowski for Philip Roth, eliminating cigarette breakfasts, and eradicating whiskey shots from your Saturday night activities. And so when you buy jewelry, you’re no longer in the mood for trendy knock-offs from Urban Outfitters. Instead you opt for distinct pieces that elevate your wardrobe without defining it entirely.

For her Mifflin Jewelry line, Brooklyn designer Staci Leatherland avoids large scale pieces in favor of adult selections that are whittled down to promote a solitary statement. The Lost Time necklace (above right) flaunts a barren clock disk in sterling silver, with another version dangling the pendant cracked in half. A series of gold-plated necklaces and rings boast single coins embossed with Pomona, the Roman goddess of the gardens. Antique buttons, cast in silver, swing alone from thin bangle bracelets and chains.

To view styles and browse a store list visit the designer’s Web site.

Margaux Lange Deconstructed Doll Jewelry

2008-07-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Whether Margaux Lange is deconstructing Barbie Dolls as a feminist statement, or simply taking us on a whimsical trip down memory lane is open for interpretation, but in the end it really doesn’t matter, because her jewelry pieces are just flat-out fun. Eyes and lips peek out from colorful resin frames in necklace and earring arrangements, with some in repetitive patterns. And on occasion Ken even makes an appearance, and lovingly cups Barbie’s plastic face.

Available at the Margaux Lange Web site.

Brilliant Everyday: smallthings designs Stained Glass Necklaces

2008-07-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Brilliant Everyday series spotlights jewelry pieces perfect for everyday wear.

Designer Teresa Robinson has a devoted fan base who covets her precious jewelry pieces, and buy from her again and again. Her smallthings designs line, which boasts nature-inspired sterling silver images backed with colorful stained glass has stretched over the years to include additional collections, but her classic designs still sell amazingly well.

Robinson recently updated her original selections with a fresh palette of colors, including marigold, salmon, steel blue, forest green and lavender. We couldn’t be happier, as her necklaces are the perfect everyday adornment, and now it’s even easier to select a hue that will fuse effortlessly with your wardrobe.

Available at smallthings designs.

Best of Etsy: Neile Butterfly Jewelry

2008-07-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

This series highlights noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

Nature on its own is so color-streaked and full of life, that imitation is not always the best form of flattery. After all, why take the humdrum route, simply casting butterflies in silver, when you can preserve them in full tinted winged glory?

Stained glass artist Neile extends the beauty of the butterfly by recycling their wings (after natural death), and placing them under glass. The pendants are offered in different arrangements, with some clustered in circular shapes, and others dangling a single crescent. All flaunt a dazzling array of colors, from the Monarch’s golden orange hues to the deep purple shade of the Graphium Weiskei butterfly (above). Each pendant is framed with silver alloy and hung from a sterling silver chain.

To view styles and purchase, visit the Neile Etsy shop.

Amy Tavern Limited Editions

2008-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

There’s a genuine thrill in buying a special piece that no one else owns, which has always been the appeal of vintage clothing. Metalsmith Amy Tavern gets this, launching her first limited edition collection this month, a set of five sterling silver pendants, each shaped differently and wrapped in cotton embroidery floss in varying shades of green-blue.

The necklaces, inspired by the Aegean Sea, are numbered and available exclusively on her Web site until the end of July (or until they sell). After that, new one-of-a-kind pieces will be listed each month as part of her ongoing Jewelry of the Month series. Upcoming sets will incorporate vintage wallpaper and sewing, and feature collaborations with other designers who specialize in mediums such as glass and clay.

Available at Amy Tavern.

Photo courtesy of Hank Drew.

Nugaard Designs

2008-07-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

You've always instinctively recognized that living life to the fullest doesn't necessarily translate to packing in as much activity into a day as humanly possible. That's just running (run, run, run), and to you, a busy life is a blurred one. You'd much rather take your time, enjoy the journey, and dismiss the never-ending checklist that can clog the mind and soul. Yes, taking time to stop and smell the flowers isn't a cliché, but a way of life...a healthy, full, rewarding one at that.

Nugaard Designs keeps you connected to the world outside, blending nature's creations into their jewelry designs. The brainchild of Erica Pacey and Alessandra Feio, the line plays with the fusion of recycled metal and earthy elements, dipping bamboo bangles in silver, and coating dehydrated leaves with gold for dangled earrings and pendants. The selections from their Camp collection are inspired, sprucing up gold jewelry with golden grass from the northwest of Brazil, such as a cuff bracelet with a circular centerpiece.

Available at Nimli. For more information, visit the designer’s Web site.

Rising Trend: Knotted Jewelry

2008-06-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Mastering the rope knot isn’t to be taken lightly, as any sailor, rock climber, or Eagle Scout, will tell you. The reef knot, the sheet bend knot, the clove hitch knot, the sheep shank knot, the bowline knot…there are many, many knots that can get you out of a jam, or at the very least make life easier.

So it’s unsurprising that the functional art of the knot has now become a focal point of design, inching its way into necklaces, earrings and rings. A few of our favorites include a black rope necklace from Lanyard, a chunky knotted ring from Adeline Cacheux, vintage brass knot earrings from 1.4.2. (above right), and a feminine necklace from Sunday’s Best sprinkled with knots.

Hot Pick: BauXo Surpass Necklace

2008-06-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Leather jewelry imparts a nice textural contrast when layered over pieces like a linen shift dress or metallic-threaded tunic top, and also lends a casual flavor, never looking overdone. The surpass necklace from BauXo owes its bohemian essence to its earthy brown color, but the circular elements veer it into mod territory, blessedly straying the wearer away from a categorical look.

Available at Candystore Collective. Visit the BauXo Web site for more information.

Hot Pick: Tomoko Igarashi

2008-06-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

There’s such an abundance of jewelry on the market with assorted spikes and handcuffs and other overused punk rock/biker chick iconography, that one could easily be forgiven for losing interest altogether. Another skull necklace? Really? But yes, somehow Tomoko Igarashi reinvigorates the skull by placing it in a grown-up composition that reaffirms our faith that a thoughtful designer can always do something fresh and interesting.

Available at Min-K. Visit the designer’s Web site for more information.

Best of Etsy: Linda Layden

2008-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

This series highlights noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

Numerous designers skillfully dabble in scrimshaw, from Dana Lorenz to Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons, but we give high marks to Linda Layden for offering her one-of-a-kind pieces at such wallet-friendly prices. And most importantly, the hand-etched designs are sweet, from heart-shaped ivory pendants with colorful flowers to bluebirds on dangling bone earrings.

To view styles and purchase, visit Linda Layden’s Etsy shop.

Megan Auman

2008-06-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

You’re a dyed-in-the-wool minimalist, which means you cleverly opt for one savvy, unconfined effect, instead of piling on a myriad of overly hip items. Label it selective behavior or pickiness, it doesn’t matter, because the heart of the deal is that the objects that take up cherished residence in your world are there for the right reasons, instead of all the wrong ones.

Floral patterns are the focal point of Megan Auman’s jewelry collection, but she impressively sidesteps the usual route by employing welded steel in her designs. The effect is dark, but not dour, with beautifully shaped ironwork leaves sprinkled across long necklaces or taking form as hoop earrings (above). Many of the pieces are artistically adorned with raised silver drops in clustered patterns, imparting a dew-like appearance.

To view styles and browse a store list, visit the designer’s Web site.

Gemma Redux

2008-06-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

I’ve been accused of everything, and I’m guilty of most of it.
- Dolly Parton

Yes, that’s you…guilty of walking into a room and stirring up healthy trouble with a swift wink, a cunning smile, and off-the-radar jewelry that will keep the compliments flowing. But you’ve always been comfortable in your own skin, letting the sweetheart and the siren collide into one formidable woman.

With her Gemma Redux line, designer Rachel Dooley creates daring pieces that are premeditated in their messiness, assembling bundles of chain in a tumbled fashion and then nestling chunky stones within the arrangements. The effect is much like a meandering jazz song, vigorous and free, but purposeful. For her Spring 2008 collection, Dooley selected soothing stones like lemon jade and reconstructed green turquoise to offset the hardness of stainless steel and silver chains in her designs. We adore the Ami necklace (above right), which mingles vintage chains with rippled disks of Labradorite.

Visit the designer’s Web site for more information and to purchase.

Hot Pick: Cristalette Thunderbird Earrings

2008-06-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Some jewelry designers tend to craft their wares in a bit of a vacuum, imagining the woman that buys their pieces, but never really knowing for sure if their inspiration is in fact their true customer. Designer Cristina Armijo smartly does not play this game, opting instead to fully immerse herself within the Bay area scene that she not only designs for but helps to create. More than a handful of prominent area bands don her playful clothing designs for gigs (Armijo herself is also a musician), but it’s her signature Thunderbird earrings that are all the rage with the locals. The fringe earrings are heavily beaded, and dangle 4” in length.

Available at Bona Drag in sky blue, black and red. You can also visit the designer's Etsy shop.

Brilliant Everyday: Wendy Nichol Bolt & Pearl Necklace

2008-06-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

The Brilliant Everyday series spotlights jewelry pieces perfect for everyday wear.

Wendy Nichol, who typically incorporates exotic skins into her jewelry designs, recently launched a collection of minimalist pieces that are light and feminine, but pack a tough-girl punch. Her Sandra necklace, which dangles a black pearl with a gold vermeil hardware nut on a 14k gold chain, is stunning. Day or night, summer or winter…it works.

Available at Bird.

Kimberley Selwood

2008-06-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

The thing about you is, that you never really can be pigeonholed into owning a particular look or style...because that's just downright dreary, and certainly no fun at all. Yes, one of the pleasures of being a woman is playing dress-up each and every day, mixing and matching, and adorning. And so you are always on the hunt for special, yet adaptable pieces that will mesh with your revolving moods.

British designer Kimberley Selwood’s jewelry line is a potent, well-mixed blend of uptown sophistication and downtown cool. Her Order in Chaos collection boasts three-dimensional elements pieces that are lacey and delicate, and Tangled Hearts, an oxidized range, flaunts designs that are twisted with airy filigree touches. The Butterfly Effect presents a bevy of interesting arrangements, from mixed metal rings with an open center to wide cuffs with sterling silver waves adorned with resting butterflies (above).

Available at Astley Clarke. For more information visit the designer’s Web site.

Best of Etsy: Paraphernalia

2008-06-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

This post is part of an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

British designer Paraphernalia paints a very distinct world with their jewelry collection filling its Etsy shop with acrylic pieces screened with vintage wallpaper patterns and illustrated prints. Whimsical necklaces shaped like paper doll dresses, skinny ties and floppy bows brush shoulders with floral crescent-shaped pendants. Somehow it all works. It’s hard to pick just one as a favorite, but we think the batik necklace from the Chroma series is pitch-perfect for the summer.

To view styles and purchase visit Paraphernalia’s Etsy Shop.

Hot Pick: Alkemie Jewelry

2008-06-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Online shopping powerhouse ShopBop recently upped their game in the jewelry category with the addition of St. Kilda (a longtime indie favorite) and Tuleste Market (who features some great pieces on their own Web site). But the Alkemie Jewelry line is the true standout collection, serving up arty pieces with a green stamp of approval (selections are forged with reclaimed metal). Their large flower ring has an intricate forest flavor, and we think earns wow status.

Available at ShopBop.com.

Hot Pick: Double Happiness Sari Earrings

2008-06-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Wells and her sister Alisa Rottenberg have been cranking out gorgeous collections of earthy jewelry for years, but their most recent designs caught our attention, from enameled peacock feather earrings to chunky turquoise slab rings. And while everyone else is doing fabric necklaces, they smartly give a pair of earrings the treatment, wrapping dangling ovals with brightly colored sari fabric and then layering them with delicate gold chain.

Available at Double Happiness.

Best of Etsy: Christine Kangas

2008-06-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

This post is part of an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

It’s easy to get caught up in the quest for the statement necklace, but sometimes a sweet little something for the ears is the better adornment. Designer Christine Kangas crafts dainty brass earrings that flaunt hand-wrapped vintage fabric beads paired with rustic stones and sparkling crystals. The pieces look antique, yet modern, and decidedly feminine.

To view styles and purchase visit the Christine Kangas Etsy Shop.

Hot Pick: Ant Earrings From Jezebel

2008-06-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

As far as insect jewelry goes, the usual suspects generally appear…spiders, scorpions, beetles, and flies. So hats off to Jezebel for choosing the entirely underrated ant as the focal point, an ego-less bug who understands that seemingly impossible feats can be accomplished by being the consummate team player. The stud earrings are crafted from 14k rose gold.

Available at Catbird.

Emily Amey

2008-06-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Beauty, truly spectacular beauty, often can go criminally unnoticed…because it does take a certain type of person to look outside the confines of traditional attractiveness, and appreciate the splendor of an everyday miracle.

Designer Emily Amey positions the spotlight on many of nature’s overlooked treasures, from seaweed to amoebas to swirling vines. Working primarily with sterling silver and 14k gold, Amey’s designs flaunt single silhouettes with intricate detail, such as a crescent-shaped sea fan necklace with a sprawling pattern, and squid hoop earrings that twist and curve in unexpected directions. There are many stand-out pieces from her collection, especially her bracelets, notably the sea fan cuff (above), which exquisitely translates the complexity of the organic form.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Focus Cuff from re:vision

2008-06-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

At some point in her lifetime, every woman has a bona fide love affair with photography, taking esoteric shots with an old-school Minolta or Leica camera. Australian designer Craig Arnold can relate, passionately collecting discarded cameras and repurposing their components into one-of-a-kind bracelets. Most of the pieces are crafted from camera lenses, with expected wear. But that’s the beauty, no? Like passing on a great book to a fellow reader, the bracelets are a touchstone to those who have experienced the magnificence of being behind the lens.

Available at Oye Modern.

Hot Pick: Yoko Devereaux Coin Necklaces

2008-06-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Menswear designer Yoko Devereaux marvelously enters the jewelry realm with a set of unisex coin pendant necklaces. The coins are hand-carved to retain the interior image, with the background dropped away, giving the medallions a new twist. Hung on 18” aged sterling silver chains, the pendants are available in three limited edition styles, Ponoma (a Czech Republic coin featuring the goddess of gardening), Raghorn (a Canadian coin boasting a young bull elk), and Family Origins (a British ship coin, shown above).

Available at Supermarket. For more info visit the designer’s Web site.

Best of Etsy: Elizabeth Scott Jewelry

2008-06-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

This post is part of an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

Many jewelry pieces have a daring flavor geared for nightlife dressing, but the truth is that your social life is just as active when the sun is shining -- lunch dates, museum trips, matinée movies, strolling through flea markets. Elizabeth Scott's jewelry is exactly what you want for your daytime adventures, boasting botanical prints and shapes, some with soft-hued enamel detail. Her pool series has a wonderful relaxed summer flavor, but we adore the petal collection (earrings above) that features hand-cast hydrangea petals with an oxidized finish.

To view styles and purchase visit Elizabeth Scott's Etsy Shop.

Hot Pick: Fallon Dynasty Collar Necklaces

2008-06-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Sammy Jo, Alexis, Krystle, Fallon…the women of Dynasty all had one thing in common, and that was searing clothes that defined the decade.

Designer Dana Lorenz, best known for her high-end jewelry line Fenton, scores with her homage to the women of the 1980s prime time soap opera, crafting a series of choker style necklaces for her urban-spiced Fallon line. The rose gold pieces are adorned with colorful stones and studs, except for the Sammy Jo choker, shrewdly presented in hammered sterling silver.

Available at Barney's CO-OP.

Beth Church Jewelry

2008-06-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Oh, how we adore, the disobedient dresser who masterminds genius outfits with a palette loaded up with vintage Vivienne Westwood, lace kimono jackets, chenille clutches, and Rachel Comey shoes. Because attitude reigns supreme, which is why Beth Church’s high wattage necklaces are perfect, just perfect, for making that bold statement no one else dares to make.

But really all of the Arizona designer’s glitzy pieces, from cuffs to earrings, grab attention, flaunting color-drenched glass and stones, a wide range of vintage elements, and heavyweight chains. Selections are one-of-a-kind or limited edition. The necklace shown above marries striking opal drops with vintage 1930s Bakelite wings layered with filigree work.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Best of Etsy: OctopusMe Tentacle Ring

2008-06-09T11:49:00.001-07:00

This is the first post in an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy jewelry selections available on Etsy, the mammoth online marketplace for handmade goods.

The San Francisco seller OctopusMe is obsessed with tentacles, but in a good way, really. She casts octopus tentacles in sterling silver, leaving no detail to the imagination, and then lightly oxidizes the jewelry pieces on the exterior leaving the interior nice and shiny for contrast. Her spiraled tentacle earrings are creepy cool, but we think the ring is the prizewinner. Capturing the suctioned underside of the tentacle, the ring wraps around the finger, enabling the wearer to vary the position of the piece.

View this ring and other styles at the OctopusMe Etsy shop.

Hot Pick: Pretty Young Thing

2008-06-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Designer Arlene Guerra is a crafty chick, adding a dash of this and that to her to her re-worked vintage jewelry pieces. Her collection, aptly called Pretty Young Thing, is for the woman who comfortably wears1950s siren dresses with patterned 1980s-style flats. And her pieces are fun, deliciously egging you on to subscribe to a mischievous lifestyle. Her Darla necklace flaunts a hand-beaded black bow appliqué hung from brass chain.

Available at Shine Collective.

Comfort Station

2008-06-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

You’re the brainy one in the group, humble, but with biting wit. Of course, smart doesn’t equate to being a know-it-all, it just means that attention to the finer points carries serious weight. That’s right, the devil is in the details, not to be glossed over in flaky, airhead style.

London designer Amy Anderson’s Comfort Station line is brimming with multifaceted jewelry selections that deliver a singular monumental impact. The whimsical pieces flaunt signature wood pendants (some engraved with cloak-and-dagger type messages, others shaped like chess pieces), as well as a slew of other adornments, from chandelier charms to glass bottles. Steam Punk influences are on full display, from a gold vermeil necklace dangling clock hands to burnt walnut heart-shaped earrings dressed up with brass clock innards.

To view styles and browse a store list visit the designer’s Web site. Selected pieces are also available at kim & maki.

June Deal: Steel Couture

2008-06-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Every designer should have that one singular thing that they do very, very well that sets them apart from the pack, and with designer Lisa Fortin, it's chainmail. With her Steel Couture line, Lisa offers a wide range of chainmail jewelry using a variety of materials, from brass and sterling silver to black rubber. One of our favorite pieces is the Geraldine necklace, a chainmail confection that mixes plastic and metal rings, and also brilliantly doubles as a belt.

Enjoy 20 percent off all Steel Couture designs at Unsung Designers from now through June 30th. Enter the code JH Steel at checkout. This promotion is exclusive to Jewelry Hunter readers.

Hot Pick: Dream Mullick

2008-06-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

A lovely twist on classic hoops, these sterling silver earrings from Dream Mullick are inspired by the New Mexico designer’s travels to Indonesia, as is her entire collection filled with ornate silver jewelry.

Available at the designer’s Web site.

June Deal: Amy Bengtson Jewelry

2008-06-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Amy Bengtson's wood jewelry flaunts etched patterns, many with a vintage flavor be it circular mod shapes detailed with mother-of-pearl and sterling silver, or intricate scrolling graphics.

And now, her jewelry just became even sweeter...from now through June 30th, Jewelry Hunter readers will receive 15 percent off all purchases made at the Amy Bengtson Web site. To redeem offer, enter JHUNT08 at checkout.

Hot Pick: Sconi

2008-06-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Summer is all about uncomplicated pleasures, which is why “throw it on and go” dresses always hit the mark, especially when you can spice them up with the right jewelry piece. Sconi’s beaded loop necklace, hand crafted in Guatemala, flaunts beautifully draped glass bead clusters in a looping arrangement. Toss it over weekend knit dresses, or linen shifts for work…easy, easy, easy.

Available at Candy Store Collective.

Father's Day Gift Guide

2008-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Much like any stereotypical holiday, one would believe that on Father's Day, men actually are interested in receiving goof-ball gifts, such as crazy golf gear, silly coffee cups, and BBQ aprons. But the truth is, that most guys, like most women, just want to feel special, and are confident enough to adore jewelry and wear it convincingly. Of course, nothing remotely girly will do...

Concrete Rings from Tam Aura
Sleek and cool, these rings are lightweight in form, but carry a heavy attitude. Available at Tam Aura Design.

Shark Jaw Necklace from Rogue's Gallery
A more menacing alternative to the shark's tooth necklace, this piece flaunts a ball chain necklace dangling a silver open-mouth shark's jaw pendant. Available at Rogues Gallery.

Deucalion Pendants
Deucalion is the men's jewelry line from Canadian designer Pyrrha, and is filled with their signature pendant necklaces hand crafted from vintage wax seals. The pendants have an antique appearance and are hung on heavyweight chains, some oxidized. Available at Pyrrha.

Hannah Clark's Patron Saint Necklaces
These hand engraved 1" pendants flaunt portraits of icons Grandmaster Flash, Miles Davis, Woody Guthrie, Jack Kerouac, Sartre, and Trotsky. Pithy quotes from each "saint" are engraved on the back. Available at Auto.

Me & Ro's Fearlessness Bracelet
If your main man is on the earthy crunchy side, than he is an ideal fit for Me & Ro's jewelry. The Fearlessness bracelet, crafted from natural cotton cord features a sterling silver bead engraved with the Sanskrit symbol for fearlessness. Available at Me & Ro.

Periodic Rings from ITSNONAME
For the Dad who subscribes to Scientific American magazine, the periodic rings from ITSNONAME will be a treasured recognition of his brainy nature. Available at ITSNONAME (ring sizes 7,8,9 only).

Miki Tanaka Insect Pins
Yes, there are men who are fashionably adventurous, and would delightfully decorate their jacket lapel with a Miki Tanaka oxidized silver insect pin. Is your man one of them? Choose from a rhinoceros beetle, stag beetle, or cicada.
Available at Creatures of Comfort.

Wear your Music Guitar String Bracelets
If Dad is a daily Pitchfork visitor, than he is a worthy candidate for a guitar string bracelet from the Wear Your Music Charity Project. Musicians such as Les Claypool and Jack Johnson, and members of Death Cab for Cutie, Wolfmother and Weezer, donate their strings (proceeds go to the musician’s charity of choice), along with hundreds of other artists. The strings are gathered with a silver seal that bands them together. Available at Wear Your Music.

Pamela Tuohy Jewelry

2008-06-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sure life is not about keeping score or collecting notches on your belt, but there is something immensely gratifying about finding a sensational piece that no one else owns. Of course, it’s not just the thrill of the hunt, but the discovery of a designer who fits just right with your personality, one who dabbles in intriguing compositions and materials, and understands that jewelry can indeed be flavorful without being conventional or weird.

Designer Pamela Tuohy recognizes that now and then you need to reach back in time to savor something really good. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, crafted from recycled antique frames, flaunt portraits of the world’s creatures, big and small. A mixed metal chain necklace dangles a green Praying Mantis pendant encased within a gold and brushed silver frame…an ornate gold frame brooch boasts a majestic lion…a black and white spider portrait is mounted on a darkened silver cuff. While all the selections have a similar focus, each piece has its own distinct vibe, solidifying its singular status.

To view styles and browse a store list, visit the designer’s Web site.

Hot Pick: Daydream Nation

2008-06-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong label Daydream Nation designs dreamy bib necklaces to compliment their ethereal clothing line. But we think the pieces are strong enough on their own...the compositions pair chains with crochet elements and draped fabric with a resulting hard-soft dynamic.

Available at Pixie Market.
For more info on Daydream Nation, visit the designer's Web site.

Balboa Jewelry

2008-05-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

This year is the year. The one where you check things off your list, set things right, and buy what you need and adore, instead of gorging on sales that often reap regrettable purchases that can’t be returned. Yes, you’ve decided, this is the year. You’re going to own a swimsuit that fits and a beach hat that wasn’t borrowed from your boyfriend. And finally, you’re going to buy a versatile necklace that you can rotate with your work outfits, casual weekend attire, and hitting-the-town evening ensembles. A tall order, indeed, but Jane Pope’s necklaces from her Balboa hit the mark perfectly.

Like many designers out there, Pope uses vintage elements as the main ingredient in her designs, but the difference is that her pieces are streamlined confections heeding to the mantra “less is more” where many of her counterparts pile on, and on, and on. The result is genuinely successful, imparting a signature feel to the designs that breathe femininity and easiness. Necklaces dangle pretty pendants, but nothing too girly, and earrings have an heirloom vibe to them. The best part? The pieces are all reasonably priced, with many of her earring selections around $50.

To view styles and to purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Lizzie Fortunato Jewels

2008-05-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

It's amazing really, that a piece of jewelry can actually inspire you to conquer the world outside, but then again, that's what the best items do. Inspire you at the last minute to drop by a midnight party that an acquaintance casually mentioned, but you never thought you would truly attend...inspire you to convincingly walk into a bar knowing your ex will most likely be there too...inspire you on a weeknight to hit the hottest nightspot in town overflowing with sexy men and great music. Yes, a jewelry selection can inspire a can-do lifestyle, if, and only if, it is brimming with all the right elements.

Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, a kicky line of jewelry created by twin sisters Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato, is overflowing with beautifully crafted pieces that embody a good-time attitude, but with a decidedly grown-up flavor. Whimsical necklaces flaunt hand-sewn leather and silk elements adorned with antique chains and precious gemstones, and include fanciful touches like gold skulls and vintage buttons. Previous collections are still very relevant and wearable...check out their Fall 2007 collection, which pairs porcupine quills and shark's teeth with Peruvian opals.

To view styles, visit the designer's Web site. To purchase (including the necklace above with hand-sewn chiffon rosettes), visit La Garçonne.

Pade Vavra

2008-05-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

For some, it's a cathartic experience...toes dipped in sand, salty air kissing your face, and the soothing sound of lapping waves. For others, it's a lifestyle filled with indulgent freedoms, from tossing your shoes aside to letting your work become a distant memory. And then there are those who see it as a reminder of what's pure and essential, and commit themselves wholly to the power of nature. But that's the beauty of the beach, there's always a staunch personal connection, and a level of unwavering devotion that can never be matched by any urban structure.

Los Angeles designer Pade Vavra has indeed created a passionate homage to the beach with her collection filled with sparkling seahorse locket necklaces, and bangles inset with coral. Vavra's gold vermeil jewelry flaunts precious and colorful elements, such as turquoise, pearls, and gemstones such as Peridot and Iolite. Her serpent necklace, a pendant adorned with opals and sapphires is a decadent piece, but it's her shark tooth necklace that makes the most majestic statement, dangling a hefty fossilized tooth from a double chain with tiny pearls (her Prehistoric Mako Shark Tooth in her fine jewelry collection is even more dazzling).

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Daughter of the Sun

2008-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

You left it in the dust years ago…a frantic lifestyle brimming with sharp edges and one-upmanship. These days you’re calmer, more in sync with yourself, less in tune with what everyone else is doing. Sipping on iced peppermint tea, casually paging through The Secret of the Golden Flower, while Eva Cassidy serenades you through your ear buds…yeah, if this isn’t the good life, than someone has deceptively pulled the wool right over your eyes. Either way, your compass has been set just perfect, with your instincts never more in focus, your choices especially discriminate.

Native American artistry is on vibrant display with designer Amy Woodruff’s Daughter of the Sun line, a collection of hand crafted leather jewelry with a vintage flavor. Staying true to her ancestral Chocktaw and Cherokee roots, Woodruff’s pieces are hand-cut, tooled and dyed, and flaunt intricate nature landscapes. Each necklace boasts adornments such as feathers, bells or brass pendants. Our favorite is the macramé necklace (above), woven with brass beads, and tooled with an Art Nouveau design.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Etsy store. For more information, visit the designer’s Web site.

Delaila

2008-05-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing in your rules of conduct about throwing down the “play it safe” card. After all, boring is as boring does, and you’d much rather be the life of the party, than sit upright with your legs properly crossed while making polite small talk. With a stiff drink in one hand, you’re a fearless mischief-maker with a special blend of smarty-pants wit and dry intellect that would have even Dorothy Parker beaming with pride. And so, of course, you relish jewelry pieces that match your spirited nature...bold and energetic, but still thoughtful and feminine.

Designer Laila Aitken was bitten by the fashion bug early own, growing up in her mother’s NYC store Samson and Delilah, which catered to a range of adventurous clients from Alice Cooper to David Bowie. And as if it was all meant to be, she became very passionate about vintage accessories, so much so, that after a stint selling pieces to boutiques, Aitken decided to launch her own jewelry line that would winningly blend the past with the present.

Inspired by the Art Deco movement, Aitken’s Delaila line is filled with wearable, modern pieces that are crafted from brass metal, Plexiglass and Swarovski crystals, and then color-coated. Many of the pieces flaunt fan-shaped elements, and are offered in stirring colors, from fuchsia to bright orange.

Visit the designer’s Web site to view styles, browse a store list, or shop online.

Jacqueline Sanchez

2008-05-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

It’s the unlikely pairings that always seem to create magic together…Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith, Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in the 1971 movie classic Harold and Maude. Because the best collaborations don’t cross each other out, or compete with one another, but define something new, something fresher, something powerful.

With her Forever Young jewelry collection, designer Jacqueline Sanchez introduces an unpredictable, yet perfectly balanced threesome -- modernist plastic squares resembling Lego building blocks are encased with sandblasted silver and adorned with sparkling diamonds. The range of rings, earrings and cuff links are offered in a plethora of eye-popping colors, from primary red to magenta.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Vesper Jewelry

2008-05-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Never one to live life as a spectator sport, you categorically define optimism, bouncing from one adventure to the next with smiling authoritative glee. And your friends, well they love you to pieces, thankful for a genuine cohort who’s up for anything, day or night, rain or shine. But don’t paint you with a brush dipped in sticky sugar, because you’re no one’s fool…just someone who’d rather not get her hands dirty with self-centered drama. So unsurprisingly you favor jewelry pieces with an infectious playfulness that radiate your live-it-up lifestyle.

Working in collaboration with her main squeeze Jason Sho Green, Seattle designer Jessi Frenkel crafts a light-hearted collection that proves jewelry doesn’t have to be grim to be taken seriously. Let others corner the skull and crossbones market, because Frenkel’s joyful robots, angry totem poles, and delightful storm clouds are right-as-rain objects to adore (shown above are the peacock feather earrings). The sterling silver and copper pendants are created using a production process that entails toner resist etching and roll printing, and then hung on complimentary chains or ear wires.

To view styles and purchase, visit the designer’s Web site.

Natural Historie

2008-05-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Color is derived from nature after all…iridescent puddles following torrential rains to fading sun-streaked skies smeared with blending hues. And no matter how many acrylic paint tubes you empty onto a canvas, or recreate graphically on a computer screen, artificial color is always going to be second best. Which may answer our fascination with geodes, always romancing us with beguiling shapes, fascinating textures, and alluring colors.

Jenny Vorwaller is a painter and a photographer, but first and foremost, she is a world traveler. And along the way, as she explores exotic locales, she collects arousing elements, such as colorful geodes from Uruguay, and incorporates them into beautiful jewelry designs for her Natural Historie line.

The sliced geodes are electroplated in silver or gold and then hung in different arrangements, some with faceted crystal beads hung in the cavity, others with pearls dangling on either side. Each geode is one-of-a-kind, boasting its very own color palette of rippling bands and interior bursting crystals, and is hung from a 14k gold chain.

To view styles and purchase, visit the online shop SuperMarketHQ. To learn more about the Natural Historie collection, visit the designer’s Web site.

Tivi

2008-05-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Diamonds, pearls, sparkling gems…that’s never been your style. You live fast, skirt confining traditions, and spend your time off at the corner brewery where cold mugs, bratwurst, and British Jazz-Funk music rules. And yes, try as you might, jeans and camisoles always seem to be your uniform, so when you can add a spark, while staying casual, you’re all for it.

Wooden cuff bracelets from Tivi are crafted from ebony, zebrawood, maple and walnut, and then hand silk-screened with distinctive prints that have charming names such as Orange Junegrass and black coneflower (shown right). Each cuff is finished with a satin lacquer for resiliency. Tivi’s designers Ryan Wither and Paul Lewin enlisted artist Sari Gunderson, a fibers and mixed media specialist, to collaborate on the line, which also includes laser-cut flat veneer wood bracelets.

To view styles and purchase, visit the Tivi Web site.

Renata Mann

2008-05-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Your personal soundtrack has always been a moving target, a little PJ Harvey, a dab of Coralie Clément, a good dose of Nina Simone. So it's no surprise that paired with your perfect ladylike shift dress are your bad girl Camilla Skovgaard pumps...but it's your Renata Mann necklace that keeps things interesting, an intriguing centerpiece that mixes hard with soft in a thoroughly convincing manner.

Mann’s hand-knit necklace collection serves up visually arresting arrangements of chunky stones, shells and glass beads encased in colorful yarn. Woven bib necklaces flaunt draped quartz clusters…mosaic shell discs are layered in a pyramid sequence…strands of glass beads are twisted to achieve a rope effect. Each piece is offered in a variety of colors, and is custom produced.

To view styles, visit the designer’s Web site. The collection can be purchased at her Etsy store.

Kate Cusack

2008-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

There’s no definitive age when a woman crosses over from being wholly interested in wearing what’s hip to embodying her own natural style. But at some point we all wise up and realize that owning what everyone else is buying isn’t all that much fun. And the moment you turn that corner is when you start to build a wardrobe filled with classic, quality pieces, and a jewelry box stocked with truly artistic adornments.

Some designers are drawn to classic jewelry materials, such as metals, gemstones, enamel and glass, and then there is Kate Cusack who abandons that conventional path entirely and fashions her collection entirely out of metal-teethed zippers. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are fluid, flaunting kaleidoscope patterns that spiral in unexpected, playful directions. Some pieces sport complex circular arrangements that resemble beehives, and others have streamlined asymmetrical drops.

Her necklaces are understandably expensive, but she also offers flower-shaped zipper pins in a variety of colors at a wallet-friendly price. To view styles visit the designer’s Web site To purchase, email Kate at kate@katecusack.com.

Elke Kramer

2008-05-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

You'd love to fill your apartment with bright white accoutrements and Florence Knoll furniture, but the reality is, it's a challenge to even get the dishes done, let alone find time to organize and decorate your humble abode. But the thing is, deep down you're a minimalist who hates clutter, and in a heartbeat you'd swap everything you own for one perfect Pierre Paulin orange slice lounge chair. You shop for personal adornments in the same manner - opting to own one amazing piece, than cram your drawers with a bunch of mediocre stuff.

Australian Elke Kramer spreads herself across many creative mediums, from graphic design, illustration and art direction (she did the backdrop artwork for the Holly Throsby and Joanna Newsom tour) to textile design. But it’s her role as jewelry designer that we love best, producing artistic pieces that are infinitely wearable yet deliciously off-beat. Her limited edition collection of necklaces and earrings flaunt abstract elements that are laser-cut from plywood and then laminated. Evocative of insect forms, Aztec motifs and clockwork mechanics, the shapes are hung from copper-plated chains.

To view styles and purchase visit Style-Scene.