Green Gems: My Top 20 Picks

I try not to discriminate in the world of gemstones, but I must admit that emeralds have never been one of my favorite stones. (I guess it’s lucky I wasn’t born in May.) So I thought I’d give myself a challenge this St. Patrick’s Day and delve into the world of green stones, from emeralds to green diamonds to tourmalines and beyond. I decided to send myself on a virtual shopping spree, with no budget constraints and see what gorgeous green gems I could come up with. Folks, I was definitely NOT disappointed, and I now have a completely new appreciation for lovely baubles in all shades of green. So here goes, my top 20 picks.

Earrings

First up is this amaze-balls pair of earrings by Sutra.

sutra emerald drop earrings

Next I started drooling over these oval cravellit earrings by Armenta.

armenta oval cravellit earrings

With the bar necklace trend still fresh in my mind, I expanded further by adoring these bar earrings by Jennifer Meyer. Though they are made of opals, they definitely read “green,” don’t you think?

jennifer meyer opal bar studs

For a classic tear-drop with a twist, take a look at these chrysoprase earrings by Irene Neuwirth.

irene neuwirth earrings

And taking a more yellow-green approach, I think Anne Sportun has a lovely design in green garnets and diamonds!

anne sportun green garnet earring

Necklaces

Moving down the body, I started looking for green ways to adorn my neck. And oh, what lovelies did I find! First, I fell in lust with this tourmaline and diamond necklace by LFrank.

l frank tourmaline & diamond pendant

For a truly dramatic look, Irene Neuwirth nailed it with this emerald necklace.

irene neuwirth columbian emerald necklace

I also explored the world of vintage jewelry, and I fell in love with this antique “Mogul” emerald and diamond pendant. The emerald was carved 1695 — so pretty!

antique amogul emerald & diamond pendant

Back to a simpler design, I think this green diamond paisley by Sethi Couture is beautiful.

sethi couture

And finally, this pendant necklace by Emily Amey would be great in creative layers.

emily amey

Bracelets

Taking us to the wrist, I was loving the array of choices in which you can adorn yourself in green gemstones. This ombre look in chrysoprase and green quartz by Mary Esses is phenomenal.

mary esses bracelet

Since I am a fan of stacking bracelets, I thought this bangle by Nak Armstrong would be a fab addition to my jewelry box. I love how the emeralds are such an unusual hue — veering more toward the aqua-green side.

nak armstrong bangle

I am often seen wearing my Hermes click-clack bracelet, and perhaps one in green would be just the right way to add a punch of color to my oft-neutral ensembles.

hermes H bracelet

This delicate cuff by Jemma Wynne made of Zambian emeralds, gold and diamonds is perfection.

jemma wynne bracelet

And given that this exercise gave me an unlimited budget, why not go for this tourmaline and diamond bracelet via Sotheby’s?

sotheby's  tourmaline and diamond bracelet

Rings

Lest we forget our fingers, I kept on the search. The first ring to catch my eye was this emerald slice and diamond stunner by Monique Pean. The stone has such a smoky quality to it — love it!

monique pean

For a much more organic, boho look, I’d opt for something like this adventurine and sterling silver ring from Circle & Square.

circle & square adventurine ring

Given my penchant for stacking rings, I know that I could incorporate some of these skinnies by Suzy Landa into my collection.

suzy landa green tourmaline rings

I think this opaque green diamond ring by Sethi Couture would look amazing with my skin tone.

sethi couture green diamond ring

And to end with another vintage piece, I think this emerald and diamond ring from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s via Bonhams is exquisite. I’m actually shocked that it sold for under $3K.

emerald & diamond ring late 18th century

So what do you think of my virtual shopping spree? Do you see some pieces that you’d like as well? Wishing you a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day!

Fragments “New” Website Launch!

I remember the first time I visited Fragments in SoHo in NYC. It was like stepping into this amazingly huge jewelry box with such exquisitely curated collections, that I didn’t know where to start looking (and trying on) first! Well unfortunately it’s been quite some time since I’ve been back in the Big Apple, but I’m thrilled with the new and improved website that Fragments just launched this past week.

fragments jewelry store
The storefront on Prince Street

While I’ve certainly spent countless hours on jewelry websites, I have to say that this site is oh, so, much more than your average bear! As Danielle Gadi, their PR gal told me, “It’s a jewelry journey.” Well said. It’s shopping, it’s educational, and it’s very on-trend.

As I explored the site, I first went through the different designers. Instead of just showing the lines (and they do carry both fashion and fine jewelry), they had pictures of the designers, information about them, and short interviews that really give you an insight into the creative forces behind the jewelry you’re looking at. I always think that getting to know a designer really makes their jewelry more personal. I love knowing random facts like what their guilty pleasure is, and what piece of jewelry they never take off!

The next section that really grabbed me was Janet’s Jewelry Box. Janet, the founder and CEO of the company, uses this forum to show her top picks each season, based on different themes and trends. In this first edition, she starts where she should — with the basics that you should have in your jewelry box. I can’t wait to see what her next batch of picks are!

fragments janet's pick
Jewelry basics by Janet

Two pages on the site that I will be sure to keep up with are Trend Watch and Style Spotlight. Currently, they’re featuring Maria Duenas Jacobs, who’s the senior accessories editor at Glamour magazine. I love finding out some quirky things about her, as well as see what jewelry she’s currently obsessing over. (because I am NOT the only jewelry-obsessed girl in the world…)

fragments style spotlight
Chic layout!

There’s also more than just jewelry on this site. There’s a section on events going on around the city, and a whole section dedicated to art. How cool is that? On my next visit, I can literally use the site as a mini travel guide! And finally, I have to mention the kick-ass glossary they include. You can get definitions of everything from jasper to toggle clasps. I know that I learned a few things from perusing it!

Thanks for letting me wax poetic about this updated website. I’m just so happy that I can really get my “Fragments Fix” even though I’m on the opposite coast. Hope you enjoy it as well!

Vibe’s by Lene Vibe Dahlgren

One of the coolest parts of attending the Couture jewelry show was meeting designers from all over the globe. Case and point…meeting Lene from Copenhagen, Denmark, and learning about her “magical” line, Vibe’s, the likes of which I’d truly never seen before!

vibe's jewelry denmark
Learning about Lene's line

The Vibe’s studio and shop are located in a quaint two-story terra-cotta colored building built back in 1750. One of the key selling points to Lene was the antique safe from 1820. No, this safe is not used for securing jewelry. In fact, it would be useless considering it has a huge hole in the back of it from a robbery back in the “olden days.” No…Lene uses the safe to store her port wine, which she enjoys sharing with special customers. Love that!

So back to the jewelry…the Vibe’s line is inspired by the fairy tales of Hans Christen Andersen. When you think of these tales, you envision fairies dancing, mystical animals moving through the enchanted forest, and other whimsical creatures. This is exactly what you’ll find in her designs. Check out the exquisite detail in this ring, from the little insect to the tiny sea shell!

vibe's ring
Amazing detail!

And here are some more examples of her rings. Notice the raw, yet carefully curated beauty in each creation.

vibe's rings
Fit for a wood-nymph princess!

You’ll notice a variety of pearls in her line, from baroque South Sea to Keshi to freshwater. Combined with other gems and brushed 18K gold, the result is quite stunning. Each time you look at her pieces, you’ll notice more and more detail.

vibe's necklaces
I love the snails!

I think part of the reason Lene has such a vivid, fantastical imagination is that she treasures children and appreciates how they see the world. In fact, she always travels with drawings by her 4 1/2 and 7 1/2 year old children.

lene vibe dahlgren
Showing me the art in her "portfolio"

Personally, I would love to visit her shop in Copenhagen one day. But luckily, I can still see her work in person at one my FAVE jewelry stores in the USA, Fragments in New York City. This store is definitely a must-see on your next trip to the Big Apple!