Erika Winters Fine Jewelry

I first met Erika Winters a few years ago at the Couture show. As a fellow editor, it was great fun to chat jewels with her. This year, I was immensely proud to see her standing behind a sparkling counter, showing off her first collection at the show! For those looking for a whole new look in bridal, then look no further than Erika Winters Fine Jewelry.

erika winters diamond solitaire, imogen band viola band
I couldn’t help but absorb Erika’s enthusiasm as she toured me around her line. This lady is clearly thrilled to be doing what she loves — designing beautiful, meaningful jewelry, which is then all hand-crafted in her Seattle-based studio. Erika is a stickler for design and quality control, and passionate about antique-cut diamonds. As I tried on these two hexagonal rose-cut diamond rings, she showed me how they are set upside down and backed with gold. They have the ideal height profile to allow stacking with bands.

erika winters diamond rings
Speaking of bands, she has many great options, all with just the right amount of interest and detail. I tried on the Imogen, Lily and Rose. Don’t you just adore the signature finish on them? It’s a blend of an old-world look with a modern touch, described as, “soft, yet finely textured to evoke vintage rings that have been worn for decades.”

erika winters bands
Probably my favorite diamond ring I tried on was the Thea Halo. I didn’t tell Erika this, but in my mind I was picturing a compass rose, and thinking how this ring would symbolize all the places one would travel with their spouse, yet always returning home to regroup before the next adventure.

erika winters thea halo diamond ring
Erika also goes beyond rings in her line. Her Estella Collection has some gorge necklaces, earrings and bracelets. (And since my one and only niece is named Estella, I already had a soft spot for what I was about to see.) The large shield necklace was pretty darn awesome.

erika winters estella large shield necklace
You’ll notice that the points are a blunt cut — no pointy termination. Erika is very into dimension, and works tirelessly to incorporate such sculptural details. These luminous earrings are also part of the Estella Collection.

erika winters estella earrings
And because I’m always looking for bracelets that fit my small wrist and don’t spin around, I was quite impressed with her curved bar bracelets. Not only does the bar fit comfortably on the wrist, but she has created a clasp with perfectly spaced links to make it fully adjustable. So clever!

erika winters estella bar bracelets
erika winters adjustable bracelets
I know Erika is just overflowing with ideas, and I can’t wait to see how her line develops. Thanks for all your time, Erika!

erika winters and amy roseveare

Jamie Joseph: Designer

When I think of Jamie Joseph, I think color! I envision handfuls of rings in every hue, as perfectly shown in this photo from their cool Instagram feed.

jamie joseph rings
At the end of one particular day at Couture, I briefly was introduced to Jamie and her husband, Jeremy, by Melissa Joy Manning. I promised to come back the following day for the full tour of the line. Though Jamie was off buying stones when I came back, (Jeremy said, “She is a stone hound!”) I was able to spend some quality time with Jeremy getting the whole backstory on them and the jewels.

It turns out this story goes way back, all the way to the University of Kansas, where they met when they were only 20 years old! Jamie was getting her degree in economics, though she managed to take a singular jewelry making class. When they embarked on a “destiny trip” they landed in Seattle. They traveled until everything felt right, and things just fell into place, from a job to a great place to live. Jamie, though, lasted only one week interning at Merrill Lynch, and she soon found her new path in jewelry. (I’m so glad she took that class in college!)

Studying at the Jewelry Arts Institute in NYC, Jamie really started developing her craft. All the meanwhile, Jeremy was busy with his woodworking. (Quite handy, as he built her bench and studio.) Back in the day, they would sell their wares (sterling silver dancing bear earrings and wooden wands) at Grateful Dead shows. Everything would sell out. Her earrings were a hot commodity.

grateful dead dancing bears
Fast forward to the 1990’s, and Jamie was spotted by a retailer, wearing a ring of her own design. He quickly sold all six rings she gave him, and that’s when things really started taking off. Soon, Jeremy found himself learning to cut stones. He told me that it was trial by fire — he started cutting Peruvian opal, and kept practicing until he got it right. For the past 13 years, Jeremy has been the full-time stone cutter for the line, and if I must say, he’s pretty darn fabulous at it.

This is the Dahlia ring, which is one of their signature styles. This particular one is a round hand-faceted carnelian with a bezel-set diamond, set in 14K gold on a sterling silver band. Jeremy commented that the diamond is the “beauty mark” on the ring. Adorbs!

jamie joseph dahlia ring

Though color is a powerful theme in their line, I was also (no surprise) drawn to the range of neutral shades. Neutrals are my vibe!

jamie joseph rings
The new collection they were showing features stones that have cracks through them, with artistic 22K gold detailing. I think they’re fabulous! Truly unique.

jamie joseph rings
They came up with this idea when a boulder opal he was cutting broke in half. (Yikes!) Apparently, there have been quite a few broken bits along the way, and they live in an African wooden bowl in their studio called “The Boneyard.”

jamie joseph  gem boneyard
They started turning these “mistakes” into amazing new designs. I think the back of the pieces are just as pretty.

jamie joseph ring, backside
And take a look at the necklaces as well.

jamie joseph necklaces
Speaking of necklaces, they also have a lovely collection of multi-prong twin teardrop lockets. They come in a range of stones. Here are a few — in rock crystal, pyrite, and lapis lazuli.

jamie joseph rock crystal locket necklace
jamie joseph pyrite and lapis lazuli twin teardrop lockets
I couldn’t resist trying on this Galaxy cuff with the dreamiest of opals.

jamie joseph galaxy opal cuff
By now, you may be VERY ready to see this line in person. Lucky for you, they sell at retailers across the globe. Click here to find a location near you. They also are represented in many online shops, if you prefer to shop from the comfort of your living room.

Thank you very much, Jeremy, for spending so much time with me and sharing the story behind the brand!

jeremy joseph and amy roseveare

Gina Pankowski: Designer

In my next lifetime, I’m going to be an interior designer — I’m obsessed with creating the perfect home environment, and I pour over all the decor magazines each month. I was so intrigued with Moen’s ad campaign that featured statement necklaces made from the parts of their new faucet collection. (In fact, I saw the ad in a magazine while on a plane to the jewelry shows in Las Vegas.)

gina pankowski moen project
Who would have known, but just a couple days later while walking through the aisles of JCK, there was the ad! And even better, I was able to meet the talented Seattle-based designer of the necklace in person, Gina Pankowski!

gina pankowsi and amy roseveare
I thought it was so interesting to watch her video about how she came up with the necklace concept.

Gina has a truly distinct look to her collection, which is inspired by “organic architecture,” such as the planetary orbits and the human spine. Each hand-fabricated piece is kinetic and moves with the body. Take, for example, her Lattis Burst necklace. Gorgeous, right?

gina pankowski lattis burst necklace
I can see how Gina’s past as a sculptor influences her work. These earrings are truly small sculptures for your ears.

gina pankowski amphora earrings

Even her variation on a stud earring goes beyond the norm…in a very good way!

gina pankowski caged sphere earrings
The construction of this bracelet is so unique, that it doesn’t even need a clasp. (Plus, you know I’m a softie for mixed metals!)

gina pankowski lattis bangle bracelet
Gina takes the ordinary hoop earring to a new level, with her Vertebrae hoops.

gina pankowski vertebrae hoop earrings
Along with the 100% recycled metals she uses, Gina also incorporates color in some of her pieces, as shown in this rose quartz ring. I adore the setting — so unique!

gina pankowski rose quartz ring
In addition to her online shop, you can also see her line in person at various shops in the United States — click here for a list. Enjoy!

Shannon Koszyk: Designer

“Fortune favors the bold,” Shannon Koszyk told me when I met her at the JCK show, and her jewelry is certainly testament to this mantra! You may remember me writing about her WWI Victory Medal bracelet back in June of 2013. (Click here if you missed that story.)

shannon koszyk victory-angel-bracelet
Excited to finally meet her in person, I was able to see how her collection is such a mix of raw and refined, light and dark, edgy and fashion forward. I was intrigued. I first tried on this diamond bar ring. Though it looks like it’s a multi finger ring, it’s only one, with the bar extending wide on top. Very comfortable, and definitely a statement.

shannon koszyk ring
As she told me, she’s “vintage obsessed” and loves incorporating vintage pieces in her designs, from coins to medals to crucifixes. She took this 1924 Kroner from Denmark, set it in sterling and then made it sparkle with diamonds. Such unique juxtaposition!

shannon koszyk dimaond kroner coin ring
Leather is also one of her go-to mediums, with its tough vibe, yet soft feel. This unisex Crux Wrap Bracelet can also be worn as a necklace.

shannon koszyk leather crux wrap bracelet
Speaking of necklaces, you must know by now that I have a total thing for horns — so no shock that I would love to wear this diamond horn necklace! This shows her signature bronze hook clasp.

shannon koszyk diamond horn necklace
Making every piece by hand in her Seattle studio, Shannon also has branched into the fashion and home decor world. Partnering with Currey & Company, she has designed some pretty unique light fixtures, such as this Fortune Chandelier, made of wrought iron.

shannon koszyk fortune chandelier
While my small apartment may not be able to accommodate her chandeliers, these killer drawer knobs would certainly work!

shannon koszyk drawer knob
Her vintage obsession also includes military shirts and jackets, which she takes and re-works. This unisex camo Audaces jacket could be styled many ways. Personally, I’d pair it with a pair of distressed narrow jeans, rolled up, with booties and a silk tank. Very masculine meets feminine.

shannon koszyk camo audaces jacket
Such a pleasure to meet Shannon! She sells her work around the country, so click here for a list of stockists. By the way, if her aesthetic appeals to you, then definitely check out her Pinterest page — she has some amazing boards!

shannon koszyk and amy roseveare