BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

BEHIND THE BAUBLES: RACHAEL RYEN JEWELRY

by Leave a Comment

image

As I continue to shop for my own jewelry collection, I find myself shunning fast fashion accessories and opting for the pieces that will last a lifetime—a difficult task on a limited budget. Fortunately designer Rachael Byers sought to fill that void in the marketplace. “It was difficult to find a beautiful, genuine stone that wasn’t set in solid gold with a price to match. The fine jewelry was overly traditional and the costume and fashion jewelry was cheaply made or way too trendy to invest in,” she explained. Rachael began using design techniques of fine jewelry to create 14k gold vermeil, gold-filled and sterling silver jewelry punctuated by vibrant, colorful semi-precious gemstones and diamonds, and in 2011, the Rachael Ryen Jewelry Collection was launched.

image

image

Shop It: Hasma Charm Necklace, $69 | Square Link Bracelet, $60 | Diamond Bar Necklace, $425 | Vintage Bezel Gemstone Earrings, $55 | Long Drop Earrings, $148 | Round Prong Set Ring, $225 | Diamond Hollow Circle Ring, $445 | Button Star Stud Earrings, $69

Follow Rachael Ryen Jewelry: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest

Reminder: Enter to win $300 to spend on art at UGallery.com!

BEHIND THE BAUBLES: KARA ROSS

by Leave a Comment

image

The love of jewelry design has been with Kara Ross since she was a teenager returning home from a trip to Africa with a native gemstone in hand. Her mother took her to a Jeweler’s Row in Philadelphia where she created a square cut ring on an 18 karat gold band with diamonds. Kara decided to pursue a career in jewelry shortly after college and a brief job in advertising at Harper’s Bazaar, becoming a certified Gemologist and officially launching her company in 2003.

She is now an award-winning designer who has showcased her work in museums across the country and has embarked on noteworthy collaborations, including one with the White House. Kara was selected by President Obama and the First Lady to create gifts for visiting heads of state from magnolia wood that originated on the White House lawn. As you’ll see below, Kara crafted bracelets reminiscent of the signature “shirt cuff bracelets” from her KARA by Kara Ross fashion collection—the piece that made me first fall for her designs years ago.

 

image

image

Shop It: Petra Split Pendant in Rubellite and Amethyst, $6,500 | Pangea Stacking Bangle, $2,500 | Zig Zag Studs, $795 | Petra Split Pendant in Green Beryl and Blue Topaz, $8,200 | Cava Open Link Earrings, $3,495 | Hydra Contour Ring, $7,500 | Petra Narrow Split Cuff, $33,000 | Petra Split Ring, $6,850

Follow Kara Ross: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr

BEHIND THE BAUBLES: MAU

by Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about the “Behind the Baubles” series is the opportunity to introduce you to emerging jewelry designers. I came across Marianna Maurer’s debut spring collection, MAU, a few weeks ago and fell in love with the architectural, minimalist designs. (It doesn’t get much better than the facet cuff, which is actually Marianna’s most often worn piece.) Handmade in L.A., each piece is crafted from recycled materials including sterling silver and 14k gold.

Shop It: Six Point Cuff, $228 | Floret Ring, $160 | Facet Cuff, $192 | Simple Fold Studs, $94 | Simple Fold Ring, $120 | Four Point Earrings, $118 | Bulbous Ring, $185

Follow MAU: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Behind the Baubles: Elizabeth JEAN

by Leave a Comment

image

After fulfilling her dream of visiting 21 countries before her 21st birthday, Elizabeth Stewart earned a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from Australia’s Monash University. She never dreamed her career would lead to jewelry design until a family member commissioned her to create a small collection. Since then, Elizabeth’s line has blossomed into her own label (Elizabeth JEAN), an online boutique and even an editorial placement in Vogue.

image

image

Shop It: Lana Necklace (my favorite!), $339 // Cecile Studs, $165 // Hudson Bracelet, $269 // Florence Ring, $144 // Laurel Ring, $165 // Penelope Earrings, $219 // Vienna Ring, $175 // Viktor Armband, $179

Follow Elizabeth JEAN: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

image

Behind the Baubles: KALAN by Suzanne Kalan

by Leave a Comment

image

Suzanne Kalan started her jewelry line in 1988 after her daughter, Patile, was born. Patile joined the industry nearly 25 years later and began designing the KALAN by Suzanne Kalan collection. Set with diamonds and white sapphires, the candy-colored baubles are just as bright and optimistic as Patile herself.

image

image

Items from the collection are available at various retailers, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue (there’s a 20% Friends & Family discount on jewelry that you can use right now), and Amazon.

Follow Suzanne Kalan: Facebook, Instagram

image