Vintage Layers: Jewelry Judge

I’m working in NYC this week, and it’s truly shopping heaven for me. Hopping from Bergdorf’s (Kardashian sighting) to the Meatpacking (Paris Hilton sighting) to Soho is just so fun. And people watching is right up there with cool things to do in the city, in my book. I ran across 5th Ave. and practically knocked this gal over.

vintage necklaces

I only had about 30 seconds to talk to her and snap her photo, but I really thought her two vintage necklaces were quite eye-catching. Granted, her sweater is pilling and her shoes were in need of repair, but all I could focus on was her jewelry. She was really showing her personality and sense of creativity. What do you think? And be honest, I want to know your opinion!

Rock of Eden Bracelet Giveaway

Stacking bracelets is definitely on-trend, so you will be thrilled to see my latest giveaway…two gorgeous hammered silver cuffs by Rock of Eden. (If you didn’t catch my guest blog post on their site a couple weeks ago, click here.) This is a great online jewelry site, which sells both pieces that they design as well as some vintage treasures. It’s completely free to enter, so what do you have to lose?

Loving these slim cuffs!
Loving these slim cuffs!

Katy Perry is also a fan of this line — she recently purchased these earrings:

Rocker chic!
Rocker chic!

What I love about these cuffs is that they can be stylishly worn on their own or easily stacked with other bracelets.

Mixed in a cool stack
Mixed in a cool stack

Retailing at $150, these hand-hammered cuffs have a slightly grey rhodium finish for a richer look. They are adjustable to a wide range of wrist sizes, and I’m telling you, I want them in my own jewelry box!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 Fab Pinterest Jewelry Boards

Since joining Pinterest at the end of 2012, I must say that it’s become quite the addiction. While I started with just jewelry boards, I’ve now expanded to 32 boards ranging from closets I covet to statuary. Who knew?! But I do love my 13 jewelry boards, and they give me great joy to build. I find my pins from all over the globe, but certain boards really speak to me. I follow boards that have a distinct point of view — their own voice, so to speak. Not someone who just pins every piece of jewelry willy-nilly. If you’re into pinning, then I encourage you to check these boards out!

1. Pirate Booty by Holley

This board is described as “effortless jewelry styles…my way…my daily style!” I would categorize it as a beautiful board, chock full of organic, somewhat bohemian pieces. I think she’s an up-and-comer on the Pinterest landscape. Here’s a couple examples of her pins.

Rings by Todd Pownell
Rings by Todd Pownell

Chunky stack from thatkindofwoman.tumblr
Chunky stack from thatkindofwoman.tumblr

2. Baubles by Mrs. French

I would describe her as having a more delicate aesthetic. Her pins show clean, yet beautiful jewelry designs.

Jennie Kwon Designs
Jennie Kwon Designs

Jemma Sands Bracelet
Jemma Sands Bracelet

3. Becky C of Diamonds in the Library

Now Becky is a true jewelry aficionado! With over 20,000 followers and 123 boards, she’s got boards on different jewelry genres, designers, and types of jewelry. You can seriously spend hours just looking through them all! I love her Bling Bling: Kimberly McDonald board, who’s definitely one of my most lust-worthy designers.

Kimberly McDonald ring
Kimberly McDonald ring

She really chooses statement pieces, as shown by these earrings on her Bling Bling: Ear Bling board.

Coral drop earrings from Cellini jewelers
Coral drop earrings from Cellini jewelers

4. Ancient Jewelry Europe at Pinterest by Noel P

Noel does a fantastic job of finding all sorts of ancient jewelry. (She has jewelry boards from other ancient cultures as well.) When I look through her pins, it’s like strolling through an amazing jewelry museum. Take a look at the type of jewelry she selects.

Roman carnelian ring from 2nd century AD
Roman carnelian ring from 2nd century AD

Hellenistic pendant from 3rd-2nd century BC
Hellenistic pendant from 3rd-2nd century BC

5. Bling Ring by The Coveteur

This is an extremely editorial board created for “..where (our) inner magpies come out.” With almost 63,000 followers, it has more than just jewelry — it showcases jewels in all their forms, from over-the-top creations to clothing.

From shopghost.tumblr
From shopghost.tumblr

From hookerlegs.tumblr
From hookerlegs.tumblr

I know that as each week goes by, I will stumble upon more and more jewelry boards to pour over during cocktail time. (my favorite time to do this) Do you have any boards to recommend? Please comment, as I’d love to know!

Chevron Jewelry Trend

Ok, I must admit that I’m having a bit of a moment with jewelry sporting a chevron pattern. It began when I started seeing chevron motifs in my home decor magazines — on walls, on floors, on linens, everywhere! The inverted “V” design caught my attention!

Cool geometry!
Cool geometry!

Interior design and fashion have always been closely intertwined, so it’s no surprise that I’m seeing this pattern everywhere, including while shopping in SF this past Saturday afternoon. (My client giggled when I accosted this shopper!) This woman paired her Gorjana necklace (purchased on Gilt.com) with a dainty star necklace. Side bar: If you are not a member of Gilt yet, then join!! I’ve found some amazing pieces of jewelry there, including my vintage Hermes bracelet. Yet I digress…

gorjana chevron necklace

The chevron has been around since 1800 BC, so it’s certainly not anything new, but I think the way different designers are interpreting the theme are uber cool. Case and point, this beautiful ring by India Hicks. (yes, the same India Hicks that was a member of Princess Diana’s wedding party)

india hicks chevron ring

I think this pattern is very delicate, yet a bit edgy with it’s geometric angles. This bracelet by Nashelle would be ideal for stacking.

nashelle chevron bracelet

I’ve also been spying all sorts of permutations of chevron rings. Some are stacked, some are knuckle rings (we’ll visit this trend soon) and I’m loving it!

chevron rings

I’m finding pieces that would appeal to various personal styles. These earrings by Nest definitely have a more tribal, ethnic feel.

nest gold chevron earrings

As with all trends, you can find examples at every price point. This stunning necklace by Brooke Gregson shines in rose gold with labradorite and diamonds.

brooke gregson necklace

So have you purchased any chevron pieces lately? I’d love to see them — send photos!

“Jewelry’s Shining Stars” by Beth Bernstein

Now for those of you who are my dedicated readers (many thanks), you know that I instantly had a jewelry-soul-sister connection when I read “A Charmed Life” by Beth Bernstein. Fast forward to Las Vegas this past spring, and Beth and I got to know each other a bit in person, bumping into each other at various designers’ booths at both the Couture and JCK jewelry shows. It’s amazing how we seem to gravitate to so many of the same designers, admiring what they are creating amidst the global jewelry market.

Well I’m thrilled to announce that Beth has a stunning coffee table book coming out later this September, Jewelry’s Shining Stars, published by Fine Points Publishing.

jewelry's shining stars


She selected 38 independent jewelry designers who have “created a unique and distinctive imprint on contemporary jewelry.” You may recognize some of the names, as I’ve had the privilege to interview them, from Borgioni to Megan Thorne to Vibe’s to Amali. And I’m so excited to read about some of the designers that I’ve yet to interview. Take a look at these pieces by some of the featured designers.

Katey Brunini
Katey Brunini

Lauren Wolf
Lauren Wolf

Todd Reed
Todd Reed

Beth, a jewelry-a-holic since childhood, “concentrated on (a) group of small and independent designers who have made an indelible mark with their signature styles, each which distinguishes them from their peers and predecessors.” And from what I have seen from those featured designers I know, she couldn’t have selected a more innovative, passionate group of people. Their talent is limitless, and their lines are amazing. These designers have “learned the rules in order to bend them.” Love that!

I also admire how Beth looks at jewelry in relation to personal style. It’s not all about having the latest and greatest trend. Rather, it’s getting to know what makes you tick as a woman. She encourages women to, “think of jewelry as an extension of their personal style, rather than statements of status.” In my book, that’s spot-on advice!

Beth’s book is set to release September 26th, so reserve your copy now! I know that I have!

Parulina’s Stunning Gems!

Parul “Kuki” Seth (Kuki being a nickname given to her by her grandfather) is the designer behind Parulina, a gorgeous line I explored while at the Couture show.

Parul and Amy
Parul and Amy

The group that immediately grabbed my attention is the “Isle of Capri.” Perhaps it’s because Capri is one of my favorite places on the planet and that aqua is my favorite color — the jewelry just spoke to me. Take a look at these “Grace Kelly Cuffs.”

One for each wrist!
One for each wrist!

Working with 18K gold and ethically sourced stones, such as naturally harvested coral and non heat-treated stones, Parul strives to create beauty without harming the environment. All her jewelry is made in house, in New York City. I love these diamond and aquamarine earrings. You can wear the drop flipped to either side, or just wear them as studs. Getting three looks from one pair of earrings is fabulous!

Fit for a princess!
Fit for a princess!

The allure of this ring really does take my mind to my last visit to Capri, where I saw every shade of blue…from the turquoise waters in the Blue Grotto to the azure sky above.

parulina ring

Finally, this pair of earrings, with a rose gold stud, oxidized silver and diamonds comes from her Briar Rose collection, which is inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the thorns and briars around her castle. I think they are exquisite.

parulina earrings

Chatting with Kuki about her line, she just exuded excitement and passion. It’s clear that she’s doing what she loves, which is a rare gift indeed.

Efva Attling: Passion Cuff Rings

There are a few non-jewelry blogs I follow, and one is “French Kiss Life” by Tonya Leigh. She has this amazing view of life full of joie de vivre, and I always find inspiration from her blog posts. Her latest one is entitled 80 Mantras for the Elegant Lady. While I’m not necessarily into saying mantras on a daily basis, I still read through her list. One popped out BIG time for me…”I don’t have to be a good girl.” Really? Who says? This is my decision? Me, the girl who had “Goody Two Shoes” by Adam Ant dedicated to me countless times in middle school? Me, who always does the “right” thing, even if it isn’t the best decision for me? Hmmm…very interesting. Revolutionary, really.

Perhaps this thought has been percolating in my subconscious for a while, because when I saw Efva Attling’s Passion Cuff rings at the Couture show, I made the sales rep take them off her own hand so I could try them on!

These are a little bad a**!
These are a little bad a**!

I don’t think the casual observer would notice that they are handcuffs, but as the wearer, you do! With a subtle reference to being naughty, it brought a devilish glint to my eye. In addition, I think these sort of multi-finger rings are just hot-hot-hot! She also makes the design in a bracelet.

efva attling passion cuff

I think when I work in NYC later this month, I’m definitely going to make a point of visiting her store in the Meat Packing district and try those rings on again. I don’t need to be a good girl, and I think that this piece might be just the mantra I need, yet in the form of jewelry! 😉

Boaz Kashi: Designer

Boaz Kashi is a famous household name in Israel, and I had the pleasure of meeting him stateside at the Couture jewlery show. This charming designer has an extremely unique line — it’s raw, edgy and sculptural all at the same time.

Boaz and Amy
Boaz and Amy

I tried on this ring, with wrapped metal and stunning diamonds.

boaz kashi ring

Here’s another ring, which truly shows his unique aesthetic.

boaz kashi ring

Founded in 1889 by his grandfather, Boaz is a 3rd generation jeweler. He has been designing for about 15 years now, and he’s really taking the line in a powerful direction. Here is a bracelet made from wire-wrapped lava stones, highlighted with a spattering of colored gemstones.

How did he think of this design?
How did he think of this design?

This bracelet is substantial, to say the least. It’s crafted from 18K blackened solid gold with diamonds and a huge Tourmaline.

boaz kashi bracelet

Finally, this cuff is just amazing, rough and elegant at the same time. It is made from 18K oxidized white gold, set with diamonds in 24K gold frames. I think it’s a work of art!

boaz kashi cuff

I can see this line worn by a variety of personal styles, from the rocker to the bohemian and beyond. He says his jewelry is, “…pieces to fall in love with, a reflection of self, a mirror to the owner’s personality and life style.” Would you like to have a piece of Boaz’s work in your jewelry box? I certainly would!