Obsession: Bario-Neal Senna Round Ring

I’ve already come to terms with my unknowing attractiveness to yellow gold and black, after a glance into my jewelry box.  However, the obsession continues!  Bario-Neal has some creative and delicate designs, yet the Senna Round Ring quickly became my favorite.  After inquiring further, I’ve got some good news that will shake up my repetitive gold/black palette–the ring comes in any enamel color (except purple)!  That is just what the doctor ordered!  A little splash of color is necessary, and with the fall foliage in abundance, I am feeling possibly a red, orange and yellow stacked trio?!  These three colors are $180 because they include flecks of gold in them.  Any other color will cost $168.  The Senna Round ring is done in 14k rose gold of which is reclaimed precious metal.  Read more interesting tidbits on Philadelphia-based jewelry designer Bario-Neal here.

Obsession: Delicate Seed Pod Flower Rings

Seed Pod Flower rings; comes in small, medium or large sized flower

These seed pod flower rings designed by Blanca Monrós Gómez are the epitome of daintiness. The way they are designed lets you stack them in such a neat way–rings don’t need to face straight-on when worn.  I also like the idea of taking one and stacking it with a large solitaire ring. It is done below with tinier stack rings.  The juxtaposition of the two is so unexpected.  Would make a great addition to anyone’s wedding set–just stick a little seed pod ring in between your band and wedding ring.  How great would that be?!

Blanca Monrós Gómez also custom designs wedding sets that are just as beautiful and dainty.  The tiny diamond stack ring gives this set just the right look.  The seed pod flower rings are all done in 14k rose gold, with the center of the flower being oxidized.

Prices:
Small seed pod ring- $98-100
Medium seed pod ring- $110-115
Large seed pod ring- $155-165
Single Black diamond stack ring- $120

Blanca Monrós Gómez ♦  blanca@blancamonrosgomez.com  ♦  718-594-2869

Obsession: Jamie A. Kelsch’s Dainty Solitaires

These little solitaire rings by Jamie A. Kelsch are my latest obsession. These have a vintage feel and are so versatile. I can see them worn alone or stacked, and be equally as beautiful. Each can be customized in 14k yellow or white gold–even platinum by special request. Below, in order from top to bottom are a blue topaz, amethyst and blue sapphire. Diamond and pink tourmaline are also available (and possibly others by request). Prices range from $350-400. Jamie A. Kelsch is an Austin-based designer; you can find her designs at Austin-based jewelry store Eliza Page.

Obsession: Egyptian Inspired Jewelry

The mystery and allure of Ancient Egypt has inspired many and will never stop enchanting curious historians.  It is interesting to see how this ancient civilization has influenced fashion and jewelry throughout hundreds of years ago, and even into today.  The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb is fascinating…if you haven’t read about it since high school history, you should revisit some informational websites.  I have personally discovered a newfound appreciation for history, and I think it has to do with not having to read a textbook.

A diamond and emerald cuff bracelet here which depicts Egyptian scenes all the way around, with a large bird in the center. This bracelet is from the 1980s and done in 18k yellow gold. You can find it featured at 1stdibs provided by Neil Marrs, and priced at $15000.

There are many versions of the Egyptian cartouche pendant–I like the open version best, done in 18k yellow gold. Any piece of jewelry that you can personalize is fun, and doing a word in hieroglyphics is even better. Even if the word is spelled totally wrong, no one would notice! Usually the prices are based on the number of letters you want, the one above is from Nilestone. Their prices are 1-4 characters: $135, 5-7 characters: $150, and 8-9 characters: $160.

The Art Deco Era was wild about Egyptian revival–wouldn’t anyone be with this ring? Circa 1935, it is fine craftsmanship from Rene Boivin. The ring features emeralds and diamonds, done in 18k yellow gold. It is featured at 1stdibs from Primavera Gallery. Price: $22000

Obsession: Emerald Cut Earrings

The Emerald Cut has always been a favorite of mine, especially when it comes to earrings.  It compliments the face and adds that extra pop of style.  Anyone and everyone has a pair of round diamond studs, but a pair of Emerald cut diamond studs?  That is another story!

Check out some of the amazing vintage finds featuring Emerald Cut earrings.  Since this style was popular during the Retro Era, most are from that time period.

This pair features large emerald cut aquamarines, totaling over 10 carats! The added diamonds on top give the illusion, to me at least, that there is a tiny bow on top. These are from the 80s although they look very retro. Priced at $1450 from Beladora.

Citrine is a classic retro gem. This pair of earrings even has the 18k rose gold, which was popular during the 30s. From Lang Antiques and priced at $495, with over 10 carats of citrine–so pretty!

Another pair of aquamarine earrings, but this time a lot smaller. These come from Doyle & Doyle and are priced at $450. The gold scrollwork is beautiful and it gives away what time period they are from.

Obsession: Marine Link Bracelets

The marine link has an elegant, classic, as well as trendy look to it. Hilary Duff is spotted here with an extremely large version of the marine link bracelet. I wonder if hers is real good or fake…can’t imagine the pricetag if it were real!  Her other wrist dons the double link version of Cartier’s Love Charity Bracelet.

Below is an example from Ross-Simons done in 14k yellow gold, with a price of $445 on clearance.

This option is actually from Sam’s Club and priced at $275.11, very random price. Anyway, it is 14k yellow gold as well but this one has more of an emphasis on the marine links–oversized and bold!

Obsession: Chain Rings

Chains aren’t just for your neck…your fingers can now rock the chained look thanks to this great trend!  This type of ring is able to be layered with other rings or worn alone for a delicate feel.  I’ve found some great examples and they are featured below!

Designer Dana David works her magic with this ball-chain ring. Done is 18k white gold with diamonds, here you have the graffiti star and it also comes in the graffiti heart design. Check them out at Dana David’s website, where you can browse more of her work.

These rings are both designed by Moritz Glik and can be found at auto. Here, Glik creates the illusion of the stones floating–beautiful green and blue stones!   The white gold ring is done in 18k with an emerald in the center and two diamonds on each side–price is $1580. This yellow gold ring is done in 18k and features blue/green diamonds. The price is $1340.

If you are looking for a chain ring without any stones, this one’s for you. Just a plain, 14k gold ball link chain, slightly faceted to give you that extra sparkle. Each costs $64 and can be purchased at CatBird.

Obsession: Vintage Navette Rings

Navette style rings consist of any rings that are boat-shaped. This sort of style tends to elongate the finger and has a definite feminine side. Often popularized during the Victorian Era, however you can find brand new navette rings today. This shows how timeless the look is and it is here to stay! Finding vintage navette rings is fun and a collection isn’t complete without a good one. Check out my favorites below!

From the Victorian Era, with a Belgian origin, this ring has diamonds with a single rose cut sapphire in the middle. A true definition of navette style ring. It is set in 18k rose gold and is priced at $1620. It can be found at Adin.

A more modern approach to the navette style ring is this one. It is still considered vintage since it is circa 1980. It is set in 18k gold with diamonds and sapphires. This one goes for $1420 at Ross-Simons.

This ring can be found on eBay right now, from seller: Ashland_Investments. The auction ends November 30, so there is still time! You can buy it now for $910 or make an offer! The ring features 29 diamonds set in 18k gold. Take a look on eBay by looking up the seller or typing in ‘navette’ into the search bar, and narrowing the criteria down by clicking on vintage jewelry as the category.

Obsession: Leather Bracelets

After coming across these bracelets in hopes of finding something “unordinary” in the stackable bracelet trend, I’ve realized these leather goodies are on a whole new level. I especially love how the designers have paired the earthy material of leather with something bold, like a pearl or something sparkly, like diamonds. These would go great with any other bracelets, whether you own gold bangles or a tennis bracelet. The leather on these bracelets has proved that leather can be considered “fine jewelry” and look high-end. I love them!

These leather bracelets have a diamond encrusted button which encloses each one. You have your choice of black or brown leather, and you also can choose yellow, rose or white gold. Each are $500 and can be found at JL Rocks! Easily purchased online!

This stack of seven bracelets is actually one bracelet! From the Misani Collection which originates in Milan, Italy. The company specializes in combining leather, gold and diamonds. It can be purchased at Pageo Jewelers–North America’s exclusive representative of this company.

Bold and beautiful! Leather combined with black or white South Sea Pearls creates these great bracelets from Cathy B. Jewelry. I am excited for their website to be revamped soon, allowing customers to order directly and have access to prices and better descriptions. Keep an eye out for that, as well as sneak a peek at their flip flops. They are extremely cool.

Spotted: Dangle Rings

I’ve always had this tiny, gold, etched band ring with a single, circular charm dangling from it which portrays the Virgin Mary.  I love this ring and I was recently admiring the simplicity of it.  It is also one of the most complimented-on rings that I own.  That dangle definitely sets it a part!  I’ve found some dangle rings that are just as beautiful and will guarantee compliments.  Enjoy!

This dangle ring showcases a pretty color-combination of aquamarine, peridot and apatite. Set in 18k gold and designed by Becky Kelso. This is a fun and vibrant ring! From Ylang|23, for $540.

This ring is also from Ylang|23 and is a great buy at $202.50! That is half off! It looks similiar to the dangle ring I have. A good amount of gold with two charms dangling from m2 Design collection by Mary Margrill.

A unique dangle ring that combines two trends in one! A stack of rings, plus the cross dangle! Believe it or not, there are seven stack rings here, all done in 18k yellow gold. This one is designed by Beth Orduna, priced at $1320 from Ylang|23.

I can’t stop wanting to buy this ring. I think the concept is so neat, and I’m so intrigued by the pieces of jewelry that BYLU creates. That little piece of quartz? Found in Central Park–each is unique and hand cut. Price ranges from $250-280 depending on ring size and can be found in the Compass Rose Collection on BYLU’s site.

Wow is the first word that comes to mind when I see this ring! It is made using 18kt gold and denim silk that is hand woven together. Made in Italy by Carolina Bucci and found on Astley Clarke, an online boutique which houses designer jewelry from around the world. Price is about $1122.

Buddha-rama

Slightly buddha-obsessed, my sister and I were on a mission to find a good piece of jewelry featuring, none other than, the buddha himself. We wanted either a necklace or bracelet, something you couldn’t find in Forever 21 or Claire’s that would tarnish in three days. Fake jewelry is a waste of money for that reason.

photography by ALisha

We found a necklace, a pendant and a bracelet, although the bracelet is not real gold, we couldn’t resist its similarity to the peace sign bracelets seen recently on The Hills’ Stephanie Pratt. Check out our finds below!

This pendant is our favorite. Priced at $150, it is a good buy for being 14k gold and carved jade. It would look great on a short or long chain, depending on what you like. This juicy treasure may even bring you good luck, and can be purchased at c.h.a.r.m.

When we saw this necklace, we immediately wanted to take out our credit cards. Unfortunately, $420 is not in the budget. The buddha is made out of carved coral, with a mother-of-pearl leaf and turquoise bead dangling below. On a 14k gold chain with a lobster claw clasp, this little jigglypuff can be yours by going to Ylang|23 now!

This is the bracelet we found…wish the buddha was made out of 14k gold. [sad face] But if you’re into fake jewelry, he’s good as golden! Max & Chloe is the neat online shop where you can purchase this bracelet for $63 in any color you want!

Badassness; Jewelry that Rawks!

A trend that has swept, and will continue to sweep the jewelry industry is the rocker chic look.  There are many names for this type of jewelry/style: goth, biker, rock & roll, badass, etc…  Some designers and celebrities have really made this style mainstream and have done some pretty good things with it.  I think there is always a way you could glam this style up, so that it doesn’t look so hardcore.  Of course I’ve had my eye out for some rocker chic jewelry that I think is the best out there.  Here are my finds:

This is a double finger ring. Very impractical to wear, especially when you are trying to type on a computer, but one can’t help to feel badass in it. This type of ring has been seen on the fingers of a few celebrities lately, such as stars of “The Hills”–Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge. This particular one is a 14k gold curved bar with a tiny diamond, priced at $392. It can be found on the website ZoeChicco, which has an amazing selection of jewelry that will make your mouth water!

Of course I cannot talk about badass jewelry without including those skulls! A definite trend, that is still going strong, but can easily be tacky if you go about it the wrong way. With these two pieces, I guarantee you won’t overdo it. They are tiny, simple and still look tough. The charm is a baby charm with two tiny diamonds (price $110) from C.H.A.R.M. which is a company that carries…you guessed it…charms! They have the best selection, hands down, and even have an array of antique charms.

The ring is a tiny skull in 10k gold from a company that specializes in biker jewelry. It is priced at $140, which is the best price I’ve seen for a skull ring, and this one is the real deal.

I never thought a cross could look badass before, until now. This is such a unique necklace, especially with the opals, but then designer Fatima Maria adds two random diamonds in the mix–I love that! I also like how the cross hangs from the chain like that–so unconventional. This can be found on Twist, and be purchased for $2200.

Obsessions: Vintage-Inspired Necklaces

My favorite kind of necklaces or pendants are ones that have a vintage-inspired look to them. They look more intricate and have a unique style of their own. The above picture has two great examples. They often have a chandelier look to them or dangles of diamonds. Some prominent symbols are bows, hearts, or drops. Many jewelry stores carry brand new pieces that have the estate-style to them, while other times you can buy the real thing at antique stores or online. Here are three examples of my top choices:

This 14k white gold necklace has round and baguette diamonds that weigh a total of 1/3 of a carat. It is from Reeds Jewelers, which has stores located in the upstate New York area, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Price: $399.

This necklace I have been eyeing for quite sometime! I love the bow at the top and the two pear-shaped sapphires dangling. This is a true vintage piece from 1910. It is priced at $7395 from Ross-Simons. Their estate selection is always amazing!

This last one comes from Fay Cullen. It is from the Art Deco time period and is a pear-shaped citrine hanging from 18k white gold scrolling. So beautiful and for a price of $780.

Obsession: Eternity Bands

A ring that never could go out of style is the classic eternity band. For those of you who don’t know, they are bands that have gemstones that go all the way around the entire ring. The stones can be cut in a few different shapes, adding to the uniqueness. Recently, I purchased a round cut sapphire eternity band on Ebay from Doverjewelry.

Doverjewelry is a great seller, who was featured in Lucky magazine. The ring caught my attention because of the etching along the 18k white gold, as well as its size of 4.5 (since I have the tiniest fingers!!). It is very difficult to find an eternity ring that small without getting it custom made. I also liked the channel setting because of its wearability (stones are less likely to be “knocked” out). If you’re looking for an eternity band, but don’t feel like taking a chance on Ebay, check out these below. Happy hunting!

This one is from www.Ross-Simons.com It retails for $585, but usually they have some sort of sale, whether it’s 15% off or free shipping. The pattern is pretty on this one and 35 points of diamonds make it good for stacking.

Or, check out this turquoise and 18k yellow gold eternity band. I like the chunkyness of this ring. It has a boho-chic look to it. But, it comes with a hefty price tag of $1050 from www.moondancejewelry.com

The best for last! This eternity band designed by Todd Reed takes the cake! Over 6 carats of raw diamonds and outfitted in 18k yellow gold. At $6000 this would make a great anniversary gift.  Available at www.twistonline.com