Tag: foundrae

Jewelry Lovers’ Day in London

I’ve got to be honest — London is a bit of an overwhelming city for me. It’s absolutely ginormous, and there’s so much to do, see and eat. But I want to share an itinerary for jewelry lovers that will make this big city feel all cozy and sparkly. My first stop is always Liberty. (I actually visited three times on my last visit!) Not only do they have an incredibly well-edited collection of clothing, but there’s the fabrics, the home area, and of course…the jewelry department.

Isn’t the vibe just too cool with the dark beams, the greenery, and the ultra-modern cases? You’ll find a wide array of jewels here, but I spent quite a bit of time in the Annina Vogel area. This gold-centered line includes both vintage/antique and it’s combined with her own designs. I always have a soft spot for old meets new in the world of jewelry.

Layers of Annina Vogel necklaces

I was VERY partial to this diamond and gold necklace… (Where’s my bottomless wallet when I need it?!)

By this point in the day, I’m always ready for lunch, and eating at the Arthur’s Restaurant at Liberty is a real treat. Once your stomach is satisfied, you can walk to Browns, which is completely different than Liberty, but equally enticing. Browns is a large split-level boutique, and you’ll find fabulous merchandise at each turn. I’d been following Browns on Instagram, so I did a little happy dance when I got to the jewelry department.

Stephen, the dashing sales associate, was just lovely, and he gave me tour around the cases. While I was pleased to see some of my favorites, like Foundrae and Marla Aaron, I also enjoyed seeing brands I don’t see in my regular travels in SF, such as Daniela Villegas, Sabine Getty and Anissa Kermiche.

Daniela Villegas

Sabine Getty

Anissa Kermiche

Depending on how your schedule (and wallet) are doing, you can also pop into Grays Antiques, which is just around the corner from Browns. Although I warn you, this place could easily take up the rest of your day! And if that’s the case, enjoy!

If your spending limit has been hit, then this is the perfect time to cab over to the Victoria & Albert museum. While there are always numerous exhibits to see and enjoy, being that this is a “jewelry day” I’d head straight to the jewelry room, where your jaw will seriously hit the ground!

The V&A

Excited to walk through the door…

Breathtaking exhibit!!

While of course it’s wonderful to drool over the collection, it’s also fun to try things on, right?! Down in the V&A gift shop, they’ve got a diverse jewelry section with all sorts of modern designers, many of which were new to me, which is always fun.

Jed Green jewelry

By this time, your feet will likely be in need of a rest, so take a load off and enjoy happy hour! Hope you’ve enjoyed this little bling-filled tour of London. Let me know if you have any favorite jewelry spots in the comment section below — I’d love to hear from you!

Enamored with Enamel Jewelry

What do you think of enamel jewelry? Personally, until a couple years ago, I hadn’t given it much thought. But with its resurgence in popularity, I’m becoming a big fan!! Certainly enamel is nothing new, as it dates back to the 13th Century BC! (If you want to read more about the history, Lang Antiques has an amazing article about enamel jewelry.) Basically enamel is when a certain type of glass, called an allochromatic, is fused to the metal below. You may be familiar with Closionee and Champleve, which are two popular types of enamel.

Today, some jewelers are really taking this tricky technique to new heights, mixing enamel with jewels and themes that really make what’s old new again. Foundrae is one company that really has melded enamel, gold and meaningful talismans together. Here’s their Dark Blossom cuff.

Erica Molinari combines my love of momento mori and enamel in a new type of heirloom ring.

Just about a month ago I visited August in Los Angeles, and tried on this incredible emerald ring from Alice Cicolini. Not only is the peacock pattern on the side of the ring fab, but the red rim of enamel around the emerald really makes it pop!

Brooke Gregson adds a whole new dimension to enamel work with hand engraving. She said, “It is really tough to create an enamel that also can enhance the engraving and I feel this piece was successful in doing so!” Agreed, Brooke — it’s awesome!

When I first met Marc Alary back in 2015, I wrote all about his jewelry featuring animals. Now, I’m a bit obsessed with his rings with accents of enamel and diamonds. I can’t decide which design is my favorite!

Through For Future Reference, Sarah Hendler’s earrings are now on my radar. Love the touch of violet enamel on these one-of-a-kind peridot earrings.

Buddha Mama has really been expanding their enamel collection. Personally, I dig this evil eye ring. How about you?

Enamel can even play into an engagement ring, as seen in this spectacular diamond ring from Selim Mouzannar.

But let’s not forget that enamel was quite popular during the Georgian era as well. This past summer I picked up this white enamel mourning ring from Lucy Verity. She taught me that the white enamel signifies that the person died young and/or unmarried. The inscription inside is still very clear, so I must research who this man was who perished too soon.

As you can see, there’s an extremely wide array of enamel jewelry out there. Have you been noticing it where you live? Or perhaps you already have some in your jewelry box? I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.