Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Images, courtesy of representative PR companies and related websites
We’re fans of classic, timeless jewelry – Cartier, Van Cleef & Aarpels, and the more interesting semi precious jewelers – Seaman Schepps, Verdura, and Kenneth Jay Lane. [If you’re in the market for an astounding Verdura cocktail ring, have a look at the amethyst beauty vintage jeweler, Peter Suchy has on www.ebay.com. His site is: petersuchyjewelers1137] While visiting his Stamford, CT shop, we couldn’t resist trying it on. At $7,995, call it an investment piece.
All of the above are great investment pieces – keepers, if you will. Our daughter will be wearing our Kenneth Jay Lane serpent bracelet and Verdura aqua clip-ons soon.
Sometimes though, you just want a quick fix that’s an original but that doesn’t look like the hippie-granola jewelry you’d see at a Grateful Dead Concert.
Sometimes, also we find great new style finds in the most unlikely places. In this case, at a pool party in Upper Westchester County to celebrate the end of a victorious club soccer season.
ALEXIS STUDIO DESIGN -
ALEXIS GOPAL, jewelry designer, initially caught our eye because of her striking exotic good looks – think Salma Hayek crossed with Catherine Zeta Jones.
Alexis is a surgeon turned jewelry designer and proof positive that you CAN completely switch gears in mid-life, and be very successful in round 2.
Her unique handcrafted jewelry is made with gemstones, crystals, and glass, using either sterling silver or 14KT goldfill. Other media such as polymer clay, and precious metal clay are used on occasion. Each piece is one of a kind.
At this point, she’s grown out of her Bridgewater, CT space and will be growing her home business into one where there’s a studio loft/design space and a “proper” showroom.
To view more of her designs, visit www.alexisstudiodesign.com to check out what she means by, “Art for mind, body, soul”.
RUTH BARZEL JEWELRY – light and delicate
We hadn’t heard of this designer until the editor of www.cupcakemag.com and manager of the Sugar boutique in D.C. sent us a pair of delicate cushion cut emerald quartz drop earrings to road test.
We love Ruth's design philosophy: “Ruth Barzel Jewelry allows you to reveal who you are without getting fired, ridiculed or injured.”
CHRISSY COOK DESIGNS
This company gets our vote for jewelry in the ultra modern-chic category goes to with a seriously contemporary twist goes to Chrissy Cook, who won the Millenium Design Award in 2001, and studied contemporary Jewelry Design at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London. All of this contributed to making her the experienced bench goldsmith she is today. The jewelry pictured here is made with silver, semi-precious gems and pigmented resin.
Pricepoints: from $75 - $2000.
To inquire further, visit www.chrissycookdesigns.com
ETTIKA.
Design duo, Ettie Rafaeli and Joey Rafaeli were inspired by their The surroundings in Los Angeles. Their proposition? Layering!
At a price point of $22.00-$88.00, you can afford to buy in multiples. In the know fans include: Eva Longoria-Parker, Tyra Banks, Niki Hilton, Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Gwen Stefani
Better still, all styles are available in all colorways, and they’re easy to find. Available worldwide in over 2000 retail outlets in the USA and internationally including Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, Lord and Taylor, Henri Bendel, and boutiques like Kitson.
To learn more, visit www.ettika.com
*IF YOU CAN SPLURGE:
RAUL FRISNEDA JEWELRY, an interesting Marriage between antiquities inspired designs and modern geometric ones, in the June 2009 issue of W [p.44]. Designers Raul Frisneda and Keith Freman use 18K gold and diamonds in their "Dew Drop" bracelet.
www.wmagazine.com
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