Jennifer Fisher’s jewelry line is described by the designer as having a “casual edge.” I say it is gorgeous, but what I am most fond of is how her collection of necklace charms is the coolest I’ve seen. Each charm is one that I would wear–and it is a neat concept to start with one charm, and then continually add more. This idea will create your very own customized necklace story. Jennifer Fisher designs each piece so it can be worn alone or layered, so whether you wear a necklace with one charm or several, it will look great.
Besides charms, Jennifer Fisher has some other amazing jewelry pieces such as two-finger rings encrusted in black diamonds, studded cuffs and rings, gothic letter necklaces, and insect earrings. Check them out for yourself here. You can also find her jewels at Broken English.
Flower key $660
Malabar crest $750
Quill with diamonds $2500
Green Tahitian Pearl $1000
Gray Tahitian Pearl $1000
Spider with Sapphire & Ruby $1560
Wishbone branch $800
18k feather $800
Medium circle, black diamonds $2500
Antler $400
Ivy crest $715
Star with diamonds $720
Jennifer Fisher Jewelry ♦ 270 Lafayette Street Suite #1206 New York, NY 10012 ♦ 212.625.2380
Jane Diaz is a New York City-based designer with an ultra appealing set of collections within her jewelry designs. Her four collections include: “basics,” “charms,” “heirloom” and “mid-century modern.” Each has some beautiful choices, mostly earrings and rings. My favorite would have to be the Heirloom Collection–it is inspired by antique jewelry. Her designs consist of 10k yellow gold or silver. Here are my favorites below:
Our Designer Spotlight is being focused on a wonderful jewelry designer and intelligent woman–Ariel Gordon! Ariel Gordon’s jewelry designs are fresh and simple–perfect for your everyday staple piece. Take a look as she answers some questions about how she began, how designing makes her proud, and where her designs will go in the future. Gem Gossip has also chosen our favorite pieces from her collection, which are featured together with her answers!
GemGossip: Which piece from your collection is the most popular/best-selling?
ArielGordon: My initial necklaces are pretty popular. They make great gifts for new moms, graduations, or for yourself. I’m fascinated by graphic design and typography and I was inspired to make the collection after watching the documentaryHelvetica. I created the font myself in wax by hand, letter by letter.
14k yellow gold initial pendant (with or without diamond) $300-350
GemGossip: What was your experience like at Revere Academy? Would you recommend it to inspiring jewelry designers?
ArielGordon: Absolutely! Revere is a great place to fully immerse yourself in all things jewelry. The instructors are all working jewelers, stone setters, or gemologists and are extremely knowledgeable. I did an intensive program that had class 5 days a week, 8 hours a day for a few months. My hands got pretty tired and my neck was always stiff but I loved every minute of it! It covered casting, fabrication, metalsmithing, polishing, repairs, stone settings, drafting, trade practices, and gemology. Every class had a syllabus and it was very structured which I found helpful. It’s like learning a language… the more you surround yourself and immerse yourself the faster you learn. Plus it was great to be in a creative environment with other people as passionate about jewelry as I was.
14k yellow and rose gold Large Washer rings, $310
GemGossip: How has working with Maya Brenner affected your designs?
Ariel Gordon: So in addition to running the one-woman AGJ show, I also work full-time with Maya Brenner who is one of the most talented and kind people I know. When I decided I wanted to pursue jewelry as a career it was a really scary moment in my life. I didn’t know anything about how to start a retail business. I didn’t know how to source my materials, how to put together a collection, how to price my items, how to deal with buyers, how to use Quickbooks – nothing. I barely knew how to make jewelry! All I knew was that I felt a sense of satisfaction seeing people wear my jewelry that I had never felt before. I wanted the freedom of being my own boss and I wanted to be the one to reap the benefits of all my hard work. To help ease into being self-employed, I decided to send my resume out to every LA-based jewelry designer I could think of and ask if any of them needed an assistant. I got a bunch of responses but I hit it off with one in particular. It couldn’t have been a better match… Almost 3 years later and we’re still going strong!! Maya has taught me so much about how to run a jewelry business and she isn’t at all territorial (an issue friends of mine have bumped into working with other designers). I’m so lucky that we found each other!
Iolite or Garnet ID Bracelet, 14k gold, $285
GemGossip: What is your proudest moment in your jewelry career?
ArielGordon: It’s a tie between winning ShopStyle’s Emerging Desginer contest or the my first web order (to someone other than a family member or friend).
10k or 14k yellow gold Hour Glass Ring, $325-495
GemGossip: What is in store for the future of AGJ?
ArielGordon: Always more beautiful jewelry!! Ha ha… I’m actually going to try to expand into the wholesale business. There are so many great boutiques out there that are struggling in this economy and I’d love to be a part of what helps to keep things on the up and up.
"New York Night" 3.11 carat diamond ring, depicting the NY skyline
Jessica McCormack doesn’t take jewelry design lightly–she wants to designs pieces you will covet forever, and pass down through the years. Sounds like a substantially serious objective for a jewelry designer, but when you see her work you will notice that this goal is easily reached. Of course with a background like hers, you begin to understand how her talent emerged as well. She spent much of her early life surrounded by antiques at her father’s auction house. In her twenties she traveled around Asia and Europe, expanding her tastes.
Each piece she designs has an enormous amount of thought and meaning behind it–a great example is her popular Wing of Desire, said to have been worn on the hat and sandals of Greek mythological being Hermes. Her work reinforces what I believe–that those who are self-taught, when it comes to jewelry design, are those who are least conventional and boring. Her jewelry sure pushes the line.
This necklace is amazing. All done in 18k yellow, rose and white gold and featuring blue, yellow and pink sapphires–this would just make anyone look radiant. It is 19 inches is length with a total of 4.26 carats worth of sapphires. Priced at $20260, it is a one-of-a-kind statement piece. For more information on designer Janet Deleuse check out her blog.
I have become enamored by this brooch–the faceted jet, the rose gold, the rough cognac and champagne diamonds–so beautiful. Laine is new to the jewelry scene, however her remarkable talent leads anyone to believe she is a 30 year veteran. Her Lillie brooch, made of 15k rose gold, dates back to 1890. The vintage piece has been reinvented through her artistic perspective, and this is the end result. And the price? Only $300. Just picture some skinny jeans, black solid tank, and a sea green scarf wrapped and secured with this brooch–niiice!
Us adults need our version of the friendship bracelet. This is where designer Scosha comes in, bringing you a mix of friendship-like bracelets reminiscent of our childhood’s past. Only this version is much cooler, has some diamonds added, and made of vintage fishing line. Give a girlfriend one of these, and I’m sure you’ll be best friends forever. Love how these bracelets can be worn with other stackable kinds. They have just the right amount of sparkle.
This bracelet comes from the Poetry Wheel Collection in Scosha’s line. The turquoise, yellow gold and black color combination is just beautiful. This dainty, little bracelet is made of antique silk fly fishing line that has been braided. Can you believe a single line can hold up to 120 pounds?! All the gold is solid, 10k yellow. Price: $550
These bracelets come from the Caravan Collection--with your choice of ruby, emerald or sapphire. This one has a 14k button closure, with a black and white braided fishing line look. Price: $235 each.
Want one with more sparkle? This one’s for you. It features small, gold rondel beads with the middle bead set with diamonds. From the Jessijean Collection, this bracelet consists of black fishing line crafted so that it adjusts to fit any wrist. A couple of these on and you will sparkle into the night! Each are $179.
Hanut Singh designs jewelry that will surely catch your eye, along with everyone else’s gawks. His talent is tremendous, with roots that go back to his grandparents, along with a family jewel vault filled with inspiration. Many of his pieces have art deco or past influences, with a new twist. The website features his entire collection, along with press articles and a section devoted to displaying his celebrity clientele that have been seen wearing his designs.
The iconic, eye-catching motif of a tri-link has admirers gawking, and people buying. First to come on the scene in 2005, jewelry line Hoorsenbuhs has created pieces like rings and bracelets using a simple motif that flatters anyone wearing them. A very young company, yet already has a unique list of celebrity clientele. Mary-Kate Olsen is seen here wearing the Hoorsenbuhs ring.
Their line is meant to be customized to the buyers’ needs: anything can be done in silver, 18k yellow, pink or white gold, even platinum. You want diamonds? You can add those too.
I had no idea Hoorsenbuhs did bridal jewelry as well. I LOVE the above wedding set, featuring both the man’s wedding band and woman’s matching band, and the engagement ring is amazing. Simply stunning.
You’ve seen those silver charm bracelets made by Pandora. Maybe you even own one or have purchased one for a gift. Well those are not the only type of jewelry Pandora designs. The company has branched out by coming out with many gold pieces in their collection. Including some majorly neat stackable rings. Their Lovepods collection features customizable birthstone rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Check out the Lovepods collection below in this exclusive video. Also, check out my favorites from Pandora below!
Anyone who has the guts to quit a job on Wall Street must have some big dreams, a creative brain, and a daring edge to them. This combination is what led Tina Tang to making her dream of designing jewels into a reality several years ago. Today, her work has been featured in countless magazines and dazzled on celebrities. Worth the risk, right?!
Her style is unique and I especially love her description, “classics with a twist” because it is literally just that! Texture is lovely in all aspects–fashion, home decor, art–and this can be seen in her jewelry line. I love the twisting of the gold, it gives her jewelry a nautical, luxurious feel to it.
Check out some of my favorites from her collection below. Read up on what is going down at her NYC studio and everyday life here on her blog.
It is enchanting to read about a jewelry designer and begin to see similar stories about how designs are conceived. Along with other designers, Gabriela de la Vega gets inspired by the gemstones, letting them sort of “speak to her.” She uses and is inspired by cognac diamonds, sapphires, tourmaline, emeralds and turquoise. The collection of keys, which was started in 2003, and continues to be popular, is a favorite of mine. A key can have so much meaning and symbolism to it, and Gabriela’s pieces are each unique. Check out some of the keys below, and her website as well to see her other beautiful designs.
The Katie Diamond Jewelry collection is full of pieces that are versatile and have great craftsmanship that will last from generation to generation. Each necklace, ring or earrings will make an elegant statement when you wear them, needing no other jewelry at all. The designer of Katie Diamond Jewelry studied goldsmithing and turned her hobby into her very own jewelry line. The best way to describe her line is a juxtaposition of old and new styles with both eastern and western influences. Check out her website where you can buy direct and check out my favorites below!
I’ve always had a thing for Italian crafted jewelry. I think it stems from being half Italian myself, but I’ve also experienced owning Italian jewelry purchased by my grandparents on their trips to Italy. To read more, browse this post I did earlier. Without further ado, I’d like to spotlight some amazing jewelry, handcrafted in Italy by designer Iosselliani. Explore their site to find where to shop for the amazing pieces they create.
Very glamourous, this single ring looks like it is several stacked on top the other. Convenient if you want that stacked look, but are in a hurry to slip just one on. Made of 18k yellow gold, with the stones being a quartz and a zircon. Priced at $1545.
Here is a set of three bangle bracelets. I love how delicate they are and they flow together perfectly. Made of 18k yellow gold and sapphires. Priced at $940.
This is a pearl ring like no other. The setting that the pearl is placed in is edgy and exciting. Priced at $875.
I am really liking these tiny black diamonds I’ve been seeing in lots of necklaces. The facets make them sparkle, and the their size makes them dainty and sweet. I recently tried on a necklace that featured the tiny black faceted diamonds and 14k gold bars in between each one. The necklace was at least 22 inches long, and was around $1200 at a small gem & fossil shop in California.
Laura Gibson, jewelry designer out of Arizona, uses tiny black diamonds in a few of her pieces from her collection. Check out her entire collection by looking at her website. She also has several trunk shows across the United States, which would be interesting to attend. Here are her designs–love the bracelet. What do you think?
I love Gretchen Julius’ designs because they make me feel like I’m spending a day at the zoo or on an African Safari adventure. Zoos are my top favorite places ever and I’ve been to quite a few. For my birthday this year, it was the San Diego Zoo and then last year it was the Cleveland Zoo.
Here I am when I was little at a zoo in Florida. The petting zoo area is the best part. I fell pretty hard and scraped my knee, and the little goat was licking my scrape.
My favorite animal at the zoo has always been those meerkats…I could watch them for hours. I get frustrated though because I just want to play with them.
Here are some of Gretchen Julius’ designs–we’ve got a ring, necklace and earrings. All are done in 14k yellow gold with semi-precious stones. She uses a zebra, elephant, camel, rhino, and scarab in her pieces of the Safari Collection. So, if you like the necklace but would rather have, say, a camel for example, it is available. Check out her website…her bracelets are also very pretty. And check out the Cluster Collection. I’ve added a peak of what that collection looks like as well below.
I don’t normally browse through Flickr photos, but a few days ago I was intrigued by Tourmalines, especially watermelon tourmalines, because a few people had found some while gem mining a few weeks back. To read more about that experience, click here. I came across this photo on Flickr and, as you can see, definitely had my breath taken away and had to know more!
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a designer was behind the gorgeous gemstone, and she had recently transformed it into something even more beautiful. She calls it the Hanging Gardens of Babylon–a name that fits since it also is a name to one of the seven wonders of the world, built by King Nebuchadnezzar. It is said that the King built the vast array of temples and palaces for his wife to mimic her homeland, which she missed so dearly. Eclettica uses pink sapphires, pearls, sunstones, yellow sapphires, rubies, and of course that watermelon tourmaline. So pretty!
"Hanging Gardens of Babylon," $439
You can find her designs on Etsy by clicking here. I had to include some of her other wire-wrapped pieces of art! I can’t imagine how much time is spent to intricately complete each one, and think about creating the design.
If you ever wanted fine, handmade jewelry then Sarah Perlis is a jewelry designer that you need to check out! She likes to create jewelry that is eco-conscious, so she melts her own gold in her studio, located in New York City. Her designs use 18k and 22k gold, gemstones and diamonds. Sarah Perlis has a popular collection called “In the Rough” which incorporates 22k recycled gold and rough diamonds that have been panned and not mined. The panning method does not release toxic chemicals into the environment, like how mining often does.
Take a look at my favorites from her collection, which can be ordered from her website. There are more great pieces to look at on there as well!
Personalized jewelry is fun and quite popular. Whether you get your initial, your significant other’s, or a secret crush’s, this is an all around easy-to-wear necklace. I like how it also comes with a gold heart charm and a tiny diamond charm. This piece is done in 20k gold and is $595. You can also get this necklace without the heart charm, for $435.
This ring is so adorable! Sarah Perlis was definitely thinking outside the box when she created this piece. I never would have thought to attach a gemstone in that way–sort of looks like one flower petal. This ring features a pink sapphire and a rose-cut diamond, in 20k gold. Price: $840
I like this chain necklace because it could be worn in so many different ways. It would look great alone, or layered with other necklaces. Who ever thought a simple chain could make such a bold statement? It is 20k and 18k gold and priced at $480.
Posted by gemgossip 
