My Jewel of the Month posts highlight my newest — or newsiest — jewelry designs. Here are 2015’s hot jewels from both my luxe signature line and my social-media-inspired WENDYB by Wendy Brandes diffusion line. Click the photos to read the original posts.
Most of the engagement/wedding jewelry I do is customized to the clients’ taste. It’s not very often that someone hands me a sizable diamond and says, “Do whatever you want with it.” That’s the kind of thing only a mom would do. My mother, BarbaraB, had me surprise her by resetting a diamond from a necklace she didn’t wear anymore. She wears it as a right-hand ring, but I think it would make a fabulous engagement ring. I started the year off with a bang by making this January’s Jewel of the Month.
For an engagement ring, I could replace the rubies with diamonds. Or sapphires. Or emeralds. Or … your choice.
February’s birthstone is amethyst. You can see February’s Jewel of the Month — amethyst cabochon studs set in 18K gold — in this photo with other birthstone studs and emojis.
If you don’t see your birthstone stud, contact me at info at wendybrandes dot com to special order it.
Speaking of February, it will be here before you know it! Why don’t you do your birthstone shopping now: My stunning amethyst Queen Min ring is part of my holiday sale.
In March, I did my first Instagram video. Some of my mechanical pieces need to be seen in action to be truly appreciated. I focused on my Vampire Diana ring — a gold heart pierced by a removable silver stake.
Click to see the stake pulled out!
Anne Boleyn/Tudor fans were captivated by Wolf Hall on PBS in April, so I reminded everyone that I have Boleyn initial pendants in 18K gold and silver.
This photo of the “A” Boleyn necklace in silver was taken by the lovely Alice Olive.
Cartier has its prestigious Panther design. I’ve got … FitzRoy, the cat who sits in a bowl. Well, he’s got 15,000 Instagram followers, so that’s kind of prestigious, right? Here is FitzRoy as an 18K gold ear climber and May’s Jewel of the Month.
Click to see these modeled by Alyssa of the Jewelry Altar.
I had a two-part Jewel of the Month post for June. First, I introduced my nine-piece Punk Platinum collection, with a barbed wire theme.
This full-finger, hinged ring stops people in their tracks.
I focused on my barbed wire ankle bracelets for a second post. Hot summer days call for bare legs, and, I’m telling you, anklets are due for a big comeback. I have this style in platinum, 18K yellow gold and silver.
Eryn Patton wearing her silver anklet.
My gorgeous ex-employee Eryn (whose ankle is seen above) had a passion for a dancing crab emoji that could only be found on Gmail. July’s zodiac sign is Cancer the crab, so the dancing crab was a must. My earring is pixelated just like the real thing.
Also available as a ring.
August babies are so lucky to have peridot as their birthstone. It’s such a beautiful shade of green. The peridot in the earrings that were August’s Jewel of the Month are of exceptional quality.
Eryn Patton models my peridot and diamond chandelier earrings.
In September, I introduced arrowhead Y-necklaces … or bikini necklaces … or lariats. It seems no one has settled on a term, so use whichever one you like. A necklace by any other name is still really sex-ay.
Modeling my own necklace in silver.
My parents officially celebrated their 50th anniversary this week, but BarbaraB got her anniversary ring early. This was another job where a parent said, “Do whatever you want.” This time, it was GeorgeB giving me the go-ahead. I had a lot of fun with this.
Click to see the special detail INSIDE the ring.
November was all about my seventh Maneater design — the Dragon and the Knight — ring. I have shots of the work in process and video for this special piece.
The dragon’s treasure chest opens.
December is my birthday month, so I spoiled myself by highlighting a design that features two of my favorite things. Here’s FitzRoy the cat, as an orange-sapphire Y-necklace. Or bikini necklace. Or lariat. His toy is a gorgeous black opal even though in real life, he likes to play with pennies.
The real FitzRoy better keep his paws off that opal.
The Jewel of the Month posts for 2016 will start next week!