Designer Spotlight: Jennifer Fisher Jewelry

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

Designer Spotlight: Jane Diaz

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:

Heirloom collection, 10k yellow gold & turquoise, Price: $550

Charms collection, 10k yellow gold & slice of watermelon tourmaline, Price: $225

Heirloom collection, 10k yellow gold & labradorite, garnet ring, Price: $390

Heirloom collection, 10k yellow gold & pearl earrings, Price: $310

Heirloom collection, 10k yellow gold & turquoise ring, Price: $315

Q & A with Jewelry Designer Ariel Gordon!

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.

Designer Spotlight: Jessica McCormack

"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.

Jessica McCormack, The Salon  ♦ 32 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0AU ♦

  ♦  +44 (0)20 7549 6700   ♦  by appointment only

model wearing Wing of Desire earrings

{The photos I have chosen are from her Blog on her website, which has even more inspiring images.}

Designer Spotlight: Scosha NYC

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.

Designer Spotlight: Hanut Singh

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.  

Check out my favorites below from Hanut Singh’s jewelry line, and you will understand why celebrities like Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, Beyonce, and Penelope Cruz love his work!

Designer Spotlight: Tina Tang

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.

14k gold Toby Bird Necklace, Price: $750

14k Diamond Twist Ring, Price: $568

14k yellow gold bow earrings, Price: $265

18k Carnelian & Diamond Starfish Necklace, Price: $7800

14k Citrine Earrings, Price: $265

Designer Spotlight: Katie Diamond Jewelry

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!

Mendhi Necklace, Price: $836

Mendhi Ring, Price: $730

Lotus Hoops, Price: $1200

Designer Spotlight: Iosselliani

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.

Gretchen Julius;; a Day at the Zoo

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.

Designer Spotlight: Sarah Perlis

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.

Designer Spotlight: Karen Karch

When I came across jewelry designer Karen Karch and her website, it was like Christmas morning for me. Every time I clicked “next page” I got more and more thrilled by her jewelry designs. Talk about one-of-a-kind! Brides-to-be love her organic and simply stunning engagement rings. They are different, and will continue to be beautiful throughout your lifetime. Brides can choose from a wide range of wedding bands, many featuring vines and tiara shapes. White and Cognac diamonds are used in engagement style rings.
Karch also has some breath-taking everyday jewelry. Her collection features lapis, jade, coral, turquoise and tiger’s eye. Any jewelry lover who is not familiar with Karch’s designs should check out her site–you will love it!

The bright blue of the lapis against the yellow gold really makes this ring stand out. The band is made out of golden vines, which give the ring an organic look. The lapis is rose cut, making it even more unique. The prongs look like claws–so neat! Price is $4200, and the ring is called Spellbound.

Karch has many lucky horn pendants in her collection. You can purchase them in turquoise, jade, coral, onyx, tiger’s eye, even a diamond encrusted horn. Some have different caps, having more or less diamonds…it depends on your style (and budget!) This one is the most simple, and is green jade. Price: $1900

This is called the Supreme ring–the name says it all. The black diamonds really contrast against the 18k rose gold. Tiny white diamonds border around the center stone. The total carat weight of diamonds in this ring is 2.17, price $6800.

Get Familiar: Karen Karch

Want more?  Stay tuned.

Designer Spotlight: Ronni Kappos

Up and coming designer Ronni Kappos vintage glass jewelry designs are bold and bright. When I look at her jewelry line, I first thought rainbow bright would be too flashy or gaudy, but she takes rainbow bright to a sophisticated level. Kappos uses vintage German glass from the 1940s, usually surrounded by 24k gold. All of her designs are so affordable for the detail and craftsmanship. I feel like that won’t last long. As soon as America gets familiar with this designer, I’m sure we won’t be seeing prices under $100. So check out her work at Twist, and check out my favorites below!

This is the Propeller necklace–black, red and teal vintage German glass with 24k gold. It hangs from a nylon cord that is a kelly green color. This could be worn casually or even dressed up. It is playful and pretty, great for summer. And only $100!

The Triple Ellipse earrings remind me of a modern version of the cat tail plant. The color combination here would go great with jeans. These are $140.

And lastly, the Emblem pendant. Vintage glass that is a pretty sky-blue circle, contrasts the bright tomato-red diamond shapes. It has 24k gold surrounding the shapes on a brown nylon cord. Only $100.

Designer Spotlight: Donna Distefano

Makeovers are always fun, but when anyone hears the word ‘makeover’ they think hair salons, new wardrobe, and getting their nails done.  Donna Distefano adds one more kind of makeover–a jewelry makeover! 

Ever get tired of that old diamond solitaire ring that is just sitting in your jewelry box?  Or how about that gawdy 80s style diamond cluster ring that catches and snags on all your sweaters?  Well Donna Distefano offers the opportunity to transform your old piece into a modern, up-to-date style!  She consults one-on-one in her studio, giving advice and her expertise.  You are also provided with chocolates, champagne, and gift bags…(all your favorites!)  This can even be done for small parties, bridal parties, anniversary or birthday parties for up to six ladies.  Now that would be a day to remember!  For booking inquiries, check out the website or call 212-594-3757.

Below are some pieces from her jewelry line.  Her collection has inspirations from her previous work and job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Check out the prices and other pieces on her website, and you can also order directly. Happy shopping!