A Rose by Any Other Name…

Pomellato was the first jeweler to promote the philosophy of prêt-a-porter jewelry. Founded in 1967, in Milan, they began producing statement jewels that could be worn from day to evening. 40 years later, the company is still designing jewelry that is creative, true to their philosophy and impeccably crafted.

 

Known for their use of color both in metal and gemstones, their distinct bold style is internationally recognized. Pomellato has introduced a gorgeous new line, Tango, which is sure to join the ranks of iconic jewelry pieces. The Tango Bracelet in rose gold is designed with over sized rounded links with an integral clasp. The bracelet is as sensual as its eponymous dance.

 

The rose gold gives a feminine and exotic look to the Tango Bracelet. For centuries pure gold has been alloyed with other metals for durability in jewelry. Those alloys are also selected for optimum beauty. Copper, when alloyed with pure gold, produces a stunningly beautiful and soft pink color gold, which is one of today’s hottest trends.

 

Like Pomellato’s iconic Nudo Collection creativity is manifest in the simple design through meticulous execution of the jewelry. As the ad for the Tango Braclet simply states, “You need nothing else to be elegant and unforgettable”.

Bridal Jewelry: Trends and Traditions

A wedding is an occasion marked by milestone jewelry, but once the dress is selected it is time to have some fun picking the accessories! The Jewelry Brief picks for bridal jewelry 2012 go from the traditional to the latest trends.

 

The bridal cuff, love it! Jewelry designer Catherine Marche created this hand engraved cuff bracelet with the bride in mind. The lace-style engraving on this is stunning. How incredible would it be to have the lace pattern from your wedding dress engraved on a cuff to wear again and again? Very romantic!

 

Braunschweiger Jewelers in New Jersey report they are seeing brides wearing their engagement rings on their right hands and buying multiple, stackable bands for their left hands. Fantastic idea! Stackable bands can be so much fun. They are a great way to quickly dress up or dress down a look, incorporate a mixed metal look or even add colors with enamel or colored stones. Gemvara has an incredible stackable rings collection where a bride can create her own or choose from one of the seemingly endless options already on the site.

 

Diamond slice jewelry is something I first wrote about two years ago. I loved it then but wondered if it was passing trend or here to stay. I am happy to report it looks like it is staying.  L’Dezen Jewellry is designing gorgeous diamond slice jewelry for brides. Chandelier earrings with delicate gold work incorporating diamond slices have a lacy quality to them. A sophisticated look any woman is sure to wear again and again.

 

Last, but certainly not least, pearls. They are a classic, can be found for any budget and we love them! For a more traditional feel a single strand of pearls may be best, a choker creates a vintage feel and multiple strands will add a bohemian touch. A simple pearl stud earring is always charming, but a 12-14mm pearl stud is a chic statement.

 

The possibilities are endless! If you design for brides or are a bride that wants to share ideas and pics, we would love to see them posted to www.facebook.com/jewelrybrief

 

Jewelry Trends: Resort 2012

Lucite, neon bangles, oh my! The resort collections are all about fun, vacation and sun. After all, they are made to be worn on yachting trips in warm locales during cold winter months, or not. While resort collections used to be made by a handful of designers, the vacation looks have virtually become their own separate season.

You can take inspiration from these warm-weather suggestions and punch up your winter wardrobe. And there’s no better way to add some spice to your every day outfits than with accessories. This resort season, designers did not disappoint in terms of offering their own stand out jewelry pieces. Think bright, neon colors like hot pink and shades of blue. Missoni’s accessories were big and bold and the line favored cool, Caribbean blue. Alexis Bittar offers bright neon yellow and green cuffs that are perfect for pairing with a plain black turtleneck in the middle of Winter. When it comes to the size of your jewelry pieces, more is more. Large colors call for large, in-your-face proportions. Big necklaces made of shells and endless strands of beads compliment any neutral hue and were also a runway favorite.

Pick one stand-out piece and work it into your every day jewelry. These bright, bold pieces don’t have to be an investment; their trendy status is likely to dissipate with the season.

Animal Jewelry

Animal jewelry is all the rage (again). Almost any animal you can think of has been incorporated into a fantastic, wearable design. You’re probably familiar with classic snake rings and panther bracelets, but what about pony or owl rings? Have you considered a frog or a peacock bracelet?

 

While there are many updated versions on the snake ring; I am partial to auction or antique market finds of Victorian snake jewelry. Although the style emerged in the 1840′s, serpent jewelry was so popular that many pieces were made, for all budgets, and can still be easily found today. Wild finger wrapping rings, hinged bangles or articulated links that make a neck chain feel like a real snake are just part of their intrigue and appeal.

 

Perhaps you need a wee bit of luck. Zoelle’s Pink Elephant cocktail ring may be just the piece for you. Pave-set pink cubic zirconia with gold-tone and yellow CZ detailing, this ring is not for the meek. The pink elephant could easily become your new statement ring.

 

If a pave animal ring isn’t your cup of tea, try out a large statement brooch. This time of year we are all breaking out our coats, blazers, and sweaters and a brooch is the perfect accent. This fabulous selection is from Tiffany & Co.’s Audubon collection. Diamonds, amethyst, tsavorite, and spessartite are combined with lacquer and set in 18k gold. Simply stunning! No matter what your animal of choice may be, there’s an amazing piece of jewelry out there featuring it. If you don’t have a favorite animal, just peruse the zoo.

Cameo Jewelry

From ancient Sumerian and Egyptian cultures to the Victorian age, cameos are shrouded in an air of mystery. Historians and jewelry collectors still debate the origin of the word and their exact use. But one thing remains true, this style of jewelry and self adornment has lasted for thousands of years and doesn’t show signs of disappearing.

The first cameos made their appearance around 3,000 BC in the form of scarabs carved into stone. They were meant to symbolize the sun, serve as amulets and represent courage. By the time the Roman Empire swung around, cameos were status symbols and given as tokens of affection to departing soldiers. The small circles and ovals moved throughout history. They became extremely popular during the Italian Renaissance as prized jewelry for royalty, and again reemerging in the 19^th century as a favorite of England’s Queen Victoria.

Pictorially, cameos represent any number of objects. Portraits, animals, flowers, pastoral and classical scenes are just a few of the designs to pick from when you’re collecting antique objects d’art. The designs found in contemporary cameos are limitless.

Peruse the collection of colorful cameos at AprilM.com by Extasia to add a classical, but youthful, touch to your accessories wardrobe. Bracelets, earrings and necklaces utilize glass cameos in bronze mountings giving the traditional designs a contemporary appeal.

If you’re taste tends toward fine jewelry, you’ll find stunning hand-carved shell cameos set in silver and gold by Amedeo Scognamiglio at amedeonyc.com. The use of semi-precious stones in rings, cuffs and bracelets of exquisite design manage to re-create jewelry that seems to be a direct relic of the past. 

Things We Love: Personalized Jewelry

Personalizing jewelry and clothing has been going on since the Roman Empire reigned supreme, but the return of the Preppy Style has reinforced our love for all things monogrammed. These days you can add a personal touch to just about anything. Adding a few letters or numbers can turn something you love into something unique.

Jewelry is where monograms, or initials, go the extra mile. So often used to mark a milestone or a special occasion, personalized jewelry makes an already personal gift extra special. Stunning cufflinks and pendants by Grey Lee Designs are an instant heirloom, completely customizable online. Designed by Regina Chapman, who combines a passion for antiques, a love of monograms and a crisp, flawless style that translates into initials as art. David Aubrey’s Letter Charm Necklaces, available at AprilM.com, put original flair on the single initial charm. Combining carefully selected beads in various color palettes to accent a gold plated letter, these pieces are fun and whimsical, perfect for a new mom or a special friend.

Check out our Facebook page for more things to monogram!  

Fall 2011: Jewelry and Fashion Trends

Metallics is one of the biggest trends emerging for fall. Mixed metals is the way to go for jewelry. We love large chunky pieces that make a statement in gold, silver, platinum, bronze or copper. These colors paired with the plums, olives and other earthy tones on the runways are fabulous. You can’t go wrong with this classic wide link necklace by PONO.

The cuff is still the go to accessory for fall. Make a statement on your arm. We love these bracelets because they can be perfect peeking from the cuff of a suit jacket or with jeans to glam up a dressed down day.

Fall fashion is also trending with a very feminine Retro glam. The focus is on the silhouette. Include one ‘stand-out’ piece of jewelry to perfect any retro outfit. Large cocktail rings or oversized earrings are perfect polish for the highly embellished and fur trim tops of fall. Glamour and attention to detail never go out of style.

Fashion Trends: Summer 2011

Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.  ~Henry James

Although plum palates, metallics and fur collars have begun to fill the stores, we still have more than a few glorious weeks of Summer remaining. This season has been filled with some great fashion trends: some revivals and others destined to be classics themselves.

The Jewelry Brief  has singled out a few favorite Summer 2011 looks for your days at the beach, nights on the patio with friends and cool looks for hot days at the office.

The Jumpsuit! Cameron Diaz does it best. She accessorizes with a gold cuff bracelet, a very pulled together and glamorous look.

A color-block dress by Reed Krakoff will carry you effortlessly from office to sidewalk cafe. Color-blocking is not just for dresses, visit our Facebook page for some great examples of color-block jewelry.

Glam-up your bikini with oversized gold earrings! That’s right chandeliers are not just for the ballroom. A great pair of earrings will give you a St. Tropez look at any beach.

Happy Summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Elva Fields

Emily Wheat Maynard is the owner and designer behind the amazing one-of-a-kind jewelry produced by Elva Fields. Emily reached her artistic pinnacle just as all the true masters do: through years of study and dedication. Emily was an Art History and French major in college, and did graduate work in ancient jewelry comparisons at Bard. But it was not until she took a course at the famed Jewelry Arts Institute in Manhattan, that she had her a-ha! Moment, and decided that creating jewelry was her calling. Lucky for us!

Each piece designed by Emily is truly unique and eco-friendly. Emily finds inspiration from beautiful objects she finds: a Victorian brass buckle, a vintage gold tone fish brooch, an enamel and pearl cherry pin that you might see at a flea market or vintage clothing store. The necklaces are designed around those focal points with complimentary beads and coordinating clasps. The result is amazing! Seasonal collections are available at www.ElvaFields.com, where you can also discover fun fact about the company including the meaning behind its name.

The website is beautiful, easy to navigate and fun to read. Every piece comes replete with prose worthy of the finest gemstones! A portion of each sale on the Elva Fields website goes to support a charitable program in their local community in Kentucky. Back Pack Buddies of Spencer County provides healthy meals and snacks each weekend of the school year for over 185 children to take home. Emily Wheat Maynard is making a difference in her own back yard, and we love that, too.

 

Every piece in your collections is unique. How can you keep such high levels of creativity? Do you have sources of inspiration that you keep going back to?

Staying fresh and inspired is definitely a challenge when it comes to creating so many one-of-a-kind designs each season – but the materials are truly what renews our passion and creativity each day. Each vintage brooch or antique buckle seems eager to tell its own story, and that engages our love of design and gives us the opportunity to arrange the right composition for each. (And if all else fails, a trip to the flea market or a walk down our country road breathes new life into a stagnant state of mind!)

You have been and academician and jewelry historian and now are a designer. Tell us about your journey.

Very roundabout! I’ve always loved to create, but my love of research and documentation is equally strong, so I suppose it was no surprise that I ended up mixing it all together to fashion a business that draws from both aspects and interests. I studied Art History in college at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia – all while taking studio art classes – and initially thought I’d be a curator or an auction house specialist. Objects have always held a distinct fascination for me, so pursuing studies in the Decorative Arts, learning about the history of furniture, silverware, Oriental carpets, or jewelry was a natural next step upon graduation. I have a Masters in Decorative Art History, with a focus on the history of jewelry, from The Bard Graduate Center in New York. My graduate school studies were all-consuming, leaving little time for creating art; but when an advisor recommended a course at Manhattan’s Jewelry Arts Institute to better understand ancient metalsmithing techniques for my thesis studies, my love of working with my hands immediately returned, and as much as I loved library research and writing about art, I realized how much I missed making art. Elva Fields seemed a perfect opportunity to allow both my academic and creative sides to flourish simultaneously.

As a jewelry historian, you were exposed to the styles of different periods. Do you have a favorite era?

Ancient Roman jewelry will always be special to me – and it all started with a childhood project on Pompeii and grew from there. Something about ancient gold (especially tiny amphorae earrings!) with its beautiful detail and roughly carved and polished stones is so stunning.

I love the idea of custom designs for brides. What inspired you to bring originality to a space where tradition and classic styles have always reigned?

I started the business just after my own wedding, and I had created necklaces for each of my bridesmaids and my mother and grandmother–each of them unique. I remember thinking it was such a fun and special element of the celebration, and I felt sure that other brides would enjoy a similar opportunity for giving (and wearing)! I love working with such adventurous, stylish, and sentimental brides–it’s a joy to be part of the occasion.

What are you working on right now?

Our Holiday Collection is nearly finished, so I’m putting the finishing touches on those designs, giving them names, and preparing to pack them for press opportunities after our fun photo shoot with them! Next up, a second Holiday Collection…but more on that another time!

Finally, as a writer about jewelry, I must ask: Do you write the descriptions of the pieces for your website? They are so witty and, like your jewelry, very original.

Thank you! I did write all of the descriptions myself for these past seven years and only very recently enlisted help with copywriting – not because I don’t love to tell each design’s story, but our production has increased just enough that crafting so many narratives for each web update was a bit overwhelming. The thesaurus had served me well, but it was time to divide and conquer with another author!

Everyone is Going Green

Green is the color of nature: Spring, growth and harmony. It is the most restful color for the human eye, but it’s making a big splash this season.

 

There is green jewelry for every style and budget. Andrew Hamilton Crawford uses green resin for their “puffed heart” necklace that looks good enough to eat! Faraone Menella has incorporated green leather into this fantastic yellow gold bracelet. Green gemstones are also abundant. Pamela Froman features green onyx in the 18kt yellow gold earrings from her “Scroll Crush Cap” collection.

Emerald, the most famous green gem, is the birthstone for the month of May. It is also the most valuable variety of the beryl species. Its color ranges from very strongly bluish green to green, and the saturation of color can be breathtakingly beautiful. The finest emeralds, frequently those from Columbia, have only a very slight blue element and are a warm green color. Emeralds are delicate, ranking a 7 1/2 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. (Diamonds score a 10) They are naturally included, so the cleaner the stone is to the unaided eye the more valuable it is. Emeralds are most commonly found in smaller sizes. However, they can be lively and vibrant in small sizes.

 

 

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