Rings – Page 9 – Jewelry Fashion Tips

22 Jewelry Gifts for $50 and Under

I have been receiving quite a few inquiries from readers about jewelry gifts that fit in their holiday shopping budget. With the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals upon us, I’ve gathered a range of ideas for you that fall in the $50 and under range. Some are as low as the $20 range, yet they have no shortage of style in my opinion. In no particular order…

Isharya Mirror Gems Marquise Bangle

Sundance Lucky Labradorite Ring

Antrhopologie Clustered Crest Cuff

J.Crew Brûlée Crystal Drop Earrings

Kate Spade “Make me Blush” Pave Bangle

Pradelles Drop Earrings

Rebecca Minkoff Feather Knuckle Duster Ring

Sam Edelman Pave Spike Pendant Necklace

sam edelman paave spike pendant necklace

Tai Stardust Earrings

Nordstrom Oversize Crystal Statement Necklace

Gorjana Cress Shimmer Split Ring

Anthropologie Luminous Feather Pendant Necklace

anthropologie luminous feather pendant neckalce

Sundance Window Box Ring

Ted Baker London Lynda Stud Earrings

Lucina Layered Necklace

Melinda Maria Trillion Ear Jackets

Kendra Scott Elisa Pendant Necklace — comes in a wide variety of colors

Rebecca Minkoff Rhinestone Stud Earrings

BaubleBar Canopy Crystal Drop Earrings

Starlight Climbers

Madewell Dala Layering Necklace

SonyaRenee Lee Semiprecious Stone Pendant Necklace

Some of these items are already marked down on the websites, yet others may have a code you need to enter at checkout, so shop carefully. Also, act fast, as these deals won’t last long. Happy clicking!

Ana Katarina

It all started when Roseark posted this photo on Instagram, featuring rings by Ana Katarina and K. Brunini. I was mesmerized!

Ana-Katarina Vinkler-Petrovic launched her Venus in Furs collection just this past September in Paris, France. This line “…taps into the feminine mystique; the duality of seductive and demure.” And can’t you just see the sensuality in the enticing curves in her designs?

As a huge proponent of ethically sourced and made jewelry, Ana Katarina is a member of both the Ethical Metalsmiths and the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). She uses 18K recycled gold and palladium, and all her stones, diamonds and fossils are conflict-free and fair trade. In addition, each piece is hand crafted in NYC. Fabulous!

Ana Katarina jewelry truly is art to be worn. Take a look at how these rose gold and diamond earrings perfectly complement the shape of the ear.

Ana Katarina rose gold and diamond earrings

Her rings come in a variety of styles, and they enhance ones hands, as shown in the photo from Roseark. Here are four styles to show you the range in design.

Ana Katarina rose gold, blue opal and green dimaond ring

Ana Katarina palladium and black diamond ring

Ana Katarina rose gold and black diamond ring

Ana Katarina yellow gold, fire opal and diamond ring

They are all so unique and different, I honestly can’t decide which one is my favorite!! If your neck is in need of some adornment, then this necklace would be perfect, with its combination of blue and pink opals, blue/green diamonds, rose gold and palladium. Wow!

Ana Katarina blue and pink opal, blue:green diamonds with rose gold and palladium

If you’d like to keep up with Ana Katarina, then follow her on Instagram. And if you’re in southern California, you can see her jewelry at both Roseark in West Hollywood and Seaside Luxe in Santa Monica. I’m hoping to see it in San Francisco one day soon!

November Birthstone: Citrine

Those of you lucky enough to be born in November have not one, but two birthstones! (If you missed last week’s article on Topaz, click here.) While topaz is known for it’s calming and balancing properties, citrine is here to bring you success and abundance. In fact, citrine used to be known as the “merchant’s stone” as traveling merchants always carried a piece with them to assure profitable sales. Coming in a range from pale yellow to brownish tones, it’s really a lovely stone.

Citrine sounds pretty darn awesome, bringing the wearer:

-cheerfulness and joy
-confidence
-self-esteem
-generosity
-personal power
-AND it combats negative energy

I’m loving this list! While I don’t (yet) own any pieces of jewelry with citrine, it might be the time to add some to my jewelry box. If I were, here are some of the gorge items I may consider. (in no particular order)

Disa Allsop cushion cut citrine ring

Margo Morrison citrine and white sapphire earrings

margo morrison citrine and white sapphire drop earrings

Jamie Joseph citrine ring with diamond accent

jamie joseph citrine ring with dimaond accent

Renee Lewis double citrine pendant necklace

Nak Armstrong labradorite and citrine earrings

nak armstrong labradorite and citrine dangle mosaic earrings

Disa Allsopp citrine spaghetti ring

Devon Leigh rainbow jasper and citrine necklace

Miseno Sealeaf Collection 18K diamond and citrine earrings

Julie Wolfe cage ring with citrine and opal

Michael Aram 18K twig diamond and citrine pendant necklace

michael aram twig 18K and diamond citrine pendant necklace

Ippolita Rock Candy shell and citrine earrings

ippolita 18k rock candy earrings in citrine and shell

Oh…if only I had a bottomless wallet….

Happy November birthday!! xo

Marc Alary: Designer

I never knew monkeys and jewelry could blend so effortlessly, but Marc Alary demonstrated how it’s a perfect fit. Though he doesn’t have an explanation for exactly why he loves monkeys so much, Marc definitely has made them come to life in fine jewlery!

And what’s even cooler? Check out how it moves!! (Enjoy this 17 second video I shot.)

I throughly enjoyed chatting with the charming Marc Alary at the Couture show in Las Vegas. With his French accent (born in Toulouse) and passion for his craft, I was completely intrigued by his line. Have you ever seen two monkeys fighting over a banana in a necklace? I certainly haven’t.

And then there’s a diamond-encrusted monkey, and monkey earrings, dangling with bunches of bananas.

Marc started as a print designer in NYC, working for DKNY, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs. While at Marc Jacobs, he discovered he wanted to focus on jewelry design. In 2009 he was given an opportunity to sketch for 2 hours and show them to Marc Jacobs. The feedback was definitely positive, and he headed back to the studio to work. The result was three animal charms — a jaguar, a zebra and an elephant. When they overlay, it creates a more abstract piece. In 2011 he left Marc Jacobs to pursue his jewelry career full time.

As Marc explained to me, “The tangible object of jewelry is what my passion is; it’s better than print.” I’m with you, Marc! His collection of charms continues to grow, and he talked about how you can create different stories by stacking the different charms.

While speaking with him, I couldn’t help but notice his bracelet, which is part of his Caravan collection.

As a runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2013, there’s no doubt that Marc is on the rise. This is why it was no surprise when I saw his rings featured in the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Way to go, Marc!

I’m also very excited about Marc’s latest collaboration with Spinelli Kilcollin, a long-time favorite of mine. It’s truly a perfect alignment of designers, and the result is tres chic. Here are a couple photos they shared on Instagram.

marc alary and spinelli kilcollin collaboration

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet Marc and explore his line. I look forward to seeing what he has in store next!!

For a list of retailers, click here.

November Birthstone: Topaz

How is it that it’s already November?! I truly don’t know where the time goes. November is another month that has two birthstones — topaz and citrine. In this article, I’m going to focus on topaz. Many of you are likely familiar with this stone, as both blue and smoky topaz are very popular in the marketplace. But they can come in a wide range of colors, from colorless to orange, yellow, pink and purple. The word topaz comes from the Sanskrit word for “fire” although it’s popular meaning, being know as a calming stone, is certainly the polar opposite of fire! Perhaps the fire element was referring to the color of certain stone specimens.

Regardless, topaz can help you with many things, such as:

-it heals and energizes
-balances emotions
-brings synchronicity to your life
-helps with love and hope
-brings good fortune

Going on yet another one of my virtual shopping sprees, I discovered some lovely topaz designs. Do any of them pique your interest?

Armenta blue topaz and diamond ring

Larkspur & Hawk Lily Riviere gold-washed topaz necklace

Gurhan Willow London Blue topaz and 24K earrings

gurhan willow london blue topaz and 24K gold linear leaf drop earrings

Rosa Maria Olfat smoky topaz and grey diamond ring

Loren Stewart topaz and diamond pin and stud set

Emily and Ashley 18K blue topaz bangle

Ray Griffiths white topaz earrings

Anaconda pink topaz Leona ring

Elizabeth and James Windrose pave white topaz cuff

Kelly Wearstler mariposa white topaz sunburst earrings

And because I’m truly a princess at heart….I just NEED this Ray Griffiths Regency tiara in 18K yellow gold, white topaz and diamonds! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!

Best wishes to you November birthday readers out there. I will have an article about your other birthstone coming soon.

Suzanne Kalan: Designer

While I certainly enjoy ripping into a sweet baguette right out of the oven and pairing it with some creamy brie, the baguette I crave even more is that brilliant cut of diamond. Suzanne Kalan is a master of creating out-of-this world designs with various colors of diamond baguettes. The top of my list? Her Fireworks bangles. Coming in three sizes, they are beyond comfortable to wear.

While at the Couture show, I couldn’t stop trying them on, and for the life of me, I could not decide which was my favorite…There’s also rings in the collection, oh my!

Based in Northridge, CA, Suzanne has been in business for over 25 years now and it’s truly a family affair. Her husband selects and sets the diamonds; her daughter, Patile Kalandijian, now is working on KALAN by Suzanne Kalan, their 14K gold collection which features beautifully colored stones and diamonds. Just during my time in their exquisite booth, I could feel the warmth of their family. They are passionate about their jewlery as well as their clients. I learned that Suzanne sold her own diamond tennis bracelet, which was a wedding gift from her parents, to get the funds to start the company! Every piece is still made in house in southern California. Awesome.

Here are a couple more examples of how Suzanne creates harmonious chaos with baguettes.

And what do you think of these statement ruby earrings, highlighted with a frame of baguettes?

Or perhaps a linear design is more your cup of tea?

Suzanne was showing a “Starry Night” collection as part of the Rio Tinto collaboration. I was lucky to try on this double star ring.

The Vitrine collection is also mesmerizing. In this group, she takes a gemstone and cuts it flat on the top and bottom. This stone is then a window of sorts to peer at the diamonds behind the stone. Ooh la la!

Giuliana Rancic showed off some Suzanne Kalan earrings at the Met Gala.

Giuliana Rancic@MET Gala in Suzanne Kalan earrings

The 14K KALAN by Suzanne Kalan line is a perfect complement to the 18K line. Originally developed for a younger audience and at more accessible price points, this colorful collection truly works for everyone. (Check out more of this line at Sak’s.) I first tried on this topaz and moonstone ring.

J’Adore these long topaz earrings!

This design, with it’s off-kilter rectangular stones, is so harmonious with the Fireworks collection, don’t you think?

These earrings once again show how they reign supreme at unique stone configurations, really taking it to the next level in style.

Time definitely flew by while trying on all these dazzling gems. Thanks to Suzanne and her team member Rebeka for the tour!

If you’d like to enjoy more images, I encourage you to follow Suzanne Kalan on Instagram.

October Birthstone: Opal

I apologize for the delay in my monthly birthstone report, but I just returned from a family vacation at the beach where the Internet was spotty, to say the least. (Did you see any of my beach pix on Instagram?) I was just forced to take some time off the computer. 😉 But I’ve just returned, and the writing resumes.

Now I must say that opals have been and continue to be one of my favorites stones. The only downside I’ve discovered over the years is that they are quite fragile, so the opal eternity band I once purchased quickly had two stones break. I find them better suited to rings with the opal featured on the top, as well as in earrings, necklaces and bracelets, of course.

Opals come in a wide range of colors, from white to orange to green and more. There are also many different varieties. Some you may have heard of are Peruvian, Black, Boulder and Fire. (If you’d like to read more about the different types, you’ll enjoy this detailed article I found on CrystalVaults.com) The name opal comes from the Sanskrit word “upala” which translates to precious stone. Sometimes referred to as the “eye stone,” opals are known for inspiration, hope and optimism. They are purported to aid with:

-memory
-self-esteem
-inspiring love and passion
-centering the mind
-protection from negative energy

I like it! And I also like so many of the stunning pieces of opal jewelry I found this month. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites.

Katherine Jetter Opal Corner Ring

Jane Taylor Boulder Opal and Diamond Bracelet

Pippa Small Fire Opal Eleven Stone Pendant

Communion by Joy Warrior of Life Opal Ring

Variance Australian Opal earrings

Nan Fusco Australian Boulder Opal and Diamond Necklace

nan fusco australian boulder opal with diamonds

Brooke Gregson Diamond Band Boulder Opal Cuff Bracelet

Peppina Fire Opal Ring

Misa Jewelry Compass Earrings (They come in 4 different stones)

Irene Neuwirth Opal Necklace

Elizabeth Bell Jewelry Ammonite and Opal Cuff

I actually had to call “time” and stop searching, or this list would be endless. And…in case you didn’t know, October has TWO birthstones. While opal is the one traditionally associated with the month, tourmaline is also an October birthstone. Who knew?!

Maggie Rose Looking Back Now Video: Jewelry Judge

I’ve always written Jewelry Judge about someone I’ve spotted live, but when I came across this video by Maggie Rose, I felt it was a perfect candidate for the series. Now granted, I’m not condoning the song, its message, the gun in the video, or anything like that. I’m just commenting on the jewlery.

While I could quickly ascertain this was not a high-budget video, I was drawn to the sound of Maggie’s voice (yes, there’s definitely a bit of a country girl inside me) and her five RINGS. Her ears and neck are naked, and her face has very minimal makeup. The two tops she dons are black and basically a non-color. This brilliantly draws your attention to her voice and her fingers.

Why don’t you take a look at the video and see what you think. (If you’re getting this on an RSS feed, and the video is just a blank or black box, please click through to the blog post and you’ll be able to see it without issue.)

She has a cool combination of gold rings, including midi rings and a ring that seems to cover her right pinkly nail. A bit edgy, right? I’m liking it.

maggie rose looking back now video rings

I think the midi ring on her right finger may be from the Balenciaga set I wrote about in ’13, but that’s just a guess. So what’s your opinion? Do you like the look?

Custom Wedding Bands by Sethi Couture

When my client BB got engaged, she received a VERY special ring — a family heirloom sapphire and diamond ring dating back a couple generations. How cool is that?! As soon as she showed it to me, I knew just the designer to make her wedding rings… San Francisco’s own Sethi Couture.

I knew this would be the right fit, as Sethi Couture has this ingenious way of designing jewelry that is utterly modern, yet with an heirloom feel. This is precisely what was needed to complement her engagement ring.

The first step was for BB and I to meet with Prerna Sethi (one of the two sisters behind the brand) for a design session. She had oodles of diamonds to work with, and she quickly visualized two bands with graduated diamonds that would fit snugly with the engagement ring. My client loves the bling (a girl after my own heart), and we wanted to get the diamonds as big as we could, yet not overpower the delicateness of the ring. Prerna was up for the challenge!

Once Perna had all the measurements taken and a firm idea of what BB was looking for, she was off to the design board. She presented us with a CAD design to see what it would look like. This is fantastic, as it’s not always easy for everyone to visualize what it’s going to look like.

Prerna explained the CAD renderings show a bit more metal than how it will look in real life. Needless to say, BB and I were both very excited to see the finished product. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

A close up of the same image, taken by an excited BB on her cell phone!

Pretty spectacular, don’t you think? When I met BB for a shopping appointment this past Thursday, she said, “I honestly could not be any happier with the rings!” I know it must be challenging to not wear them every day, knowing that they’re right in your own house. But only a few more weeks, and they’ll be worn and enjoyed every day.

Thank you so much for your amazing work, Sethi Couture, and I’m sending the happiest of wedding wishes to you and your fiancee, BB!! xoxo

Margery Hirschey: Designer

Here is a quintessential pair of Margery Hirschey earrings, recently posted on her Instagram feed.

Are you drooling yet? Known for her designs with “thoughtful asymmetry,” Margery’s work really makes my heart sing. Her use of color is inspiring. Here’s another of her Instagram shots showing “design day” in her studio. So good, right?! I can’t decide which combination is my favorite.

Margery is an awesome mother of two children, and she took time off to raise them and be very involved in their school while they were growing up. With a degree in fine art (she originally wanted to be a painter), I wasn’t surprised to hear that she enrolled in a jewelry class at a local school in Denver, Colorado. In 2008, a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman spotted her wearing a pair of earrings she designed. In fact, here’s the first pair of earrings she ever made, which she befittingly named “cage earrings.”

margery hirschey's first pair of earrings

This clever buyer wanted to see more, but Margery only had 12 pieces to show. This does not constitute a full line, so off Margery went to her studio, where she produced 50 pieces in 22K gold. Yes…fifty! From there, things have only grown, to put it mildly. When I met her at the Couture show in Las Vegas, I didn’t know which piece to try on first! Here are some examples of her amazing work.

This was definitely one of my favorites!

Margery is very inspired by ancient jewelry and artifacts (one of my personal loves), and she regularly posts inspirational images on her Instagram feed. (If you haven’t picked up on it yet — follow her for a true visual delight!) I feel her line captures the essence of these timeless works of art, and she re-interprets them into modern, one-of-a-kind pieces that will stand the test of time. Her work is not trendy, yet it is effortlessly current. One day, I aspire to have her jewelry in my own jewelry box.

Margery, thank you so much for spending time with me and allowing me to play with your exquisite jewels. (And being patient while I ran back upstairs to change my shirt when I realized it didn’t photograph well!!) It was a pleasure to meet you and your daughter, Rachel!

Oh, and p.s. I will most definitely try out Pizzeria Locale when I find myself in Boulder! I’ll treat you to your favorite pie!