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Valentine’s Jewelry: Toi et Moi Rings

February 14, 2022 by WendyB

I’ve been obsessed with “toi et moi” rings since 2013, when the diamond and sapphire engagement ring that Napoleon Bonaparte gave to Josephine de Beauharnais went up for auction. Embed from Getty Images But even before then, I liked the double takes that two-stone rings get, no pun intended. In fact, one of my earliest…

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Filed Under: Celebrities, diamonds, featured jewel, gems, holidays, jewel of the month, Jewelry, my designs, Press, rings, Special Occasions, Valentine's Day, weddings Tagged With: anza gems, bridal jewelry, engagement rings, toi et moi, wedding jewelry

Jewel of the Month: January Birthstone Earrings

January 31, 2022 by WendyB

Here I am, once again, sliding into the blog with an ultra-last-minute Jewel of the Month featuring a birthstone — in this case, garnet for January. But, as you’ll see, I have a second garnet option that ties into Valentine’s Day, so my timing isn’t all that bad! First, check out the earrings I created…

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Filed Under: birthstone, earrings, featured jewel, gems, holidays, jewel of the month, Jewelry, my designs, Valentine's Day Tagged With: anza gems, citrine, garnet, heart jewelry

Happy August!

August 2, 2021 by WendyB

Looking for a birthday gift … for yourself, maybe? My customers and I are all about self-gifting! For August birthday wimmins, I’ve got a stunning example of the month’s birthstone, peridot, in the form of diamond chandelier earrings on sale on 1stdibs. And let’s not forget birth signs. What Leo wouldn’t love this lion pendant?…

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Filed Under: birthdays, birthstone, diamonds, earrings, featured jewel, gems, gold, jewel of the month, Jewelry, jewelry designer, maneater collection, my designs, necklaces, rings, Special Occasions Tagged With: animal jewelry, august birthstone, leo jewelry, lion necklace, lion ring, zodiac jewelry

Jewel of the Month: Queen Min Earrings

June 30, 2021 by WendyB

I’m extra excited to share June’s Jewel of the Month here, albeit at the last possible minute, because this is the first significant new gold design that I’ve created since 2019. Last year was a washout for jewelry design, but the pandemic wasn’t to blame. My manufacturers actually masked up and went back to work…

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Filed Under: 1stdibs, activism, birthstone, earrings, featured jewel, gems, History, In the News, jewel of the month, Jewelry, jewelry designer, pictures of me, politics, queens, Shopping Tagged With: amethyst, citrine, dragon jewelry, koi fish, koi jewelry, queen min

Jewel of the Month: Black Diamond for Purrkoy

April 30, 2021 by WendyB

April’s birthstone is the diamond, so my procrastinating ass is going to squeeeeeeze in an April Jewel of the Month post at the last possible moment! Behold, the black-diamond version of my 2010 single-stone platinum Gravity band. This design was originally created as a unisex wedding ring, but I made the new ring as a…

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Filed Under: Animals, birthstone, cats, diamonds, featured jewel, gems, inspiration, jewel of the month, Jewelry, mourning jewelry, platinum, rings Tagged With: mourning ring, purrkoy the kitten

Fine Jewelry for the Holidays

December 18, 2020 by WendyB

If you’re looking for a meaningful Christmas present (or a belated Hanukkah gift) for a loved one or yourself, I’ve got some fresh jewelry options for you! For responsibly sourced jewelry that gives back to mining communities in Tanzania and Kenya, check out the ANZA PURE x Wendy Brandes rough-gemstone designs in 18K gold that…

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Filed Under: birthstone, earrings, gems, Jewelry, my designs, necklaces Tagged With: anza gems, ethical gemstones, ethical jewelry, nasty jewelry, nasty necklace, responsibly sourced gems

Giveaway: ANZA PURE x Wendy Brandes Jewelry

November 23, 2020 by WendyB

Act fast for a chance to win one of the 18K gold, rough-gem designs I created for my friends at ANZA Gems, as ANZA celebrates hitting 10,000 followers (organically!) on Instagram. You have until 9 p.m. ET this Wednesday, November 25, to follow ANZA and the Gem Legacy on the ‘Gram, and tag someone as…

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Filed Under: gems, gift ideas, giveaway, Jewelry, my designs Tagged With: anza gems, ANZA PURE, artisanal miners, colored gems, jewelry giveaway, kenya gems, moyo gems, spinel, tanzania gems, women miners

Year in Review: Jewels of the Month for 2019

December 30, 2019 by WendyB

The highlight of 2019 for Wendy Brandes Jewelry was a gem of a person! I am still madly in love with the photo shoot I did with Judith Boyd, aka Style Crone, because I’m always trying to show that jewelry is for everyone. When I did appearances this year, I decorated my booth/case with photos…

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Filed Under: birthstone, Custom work, diamonds, earrings, featured jewel, gems, gold, gorgeous clients, jewel of the month, Jewelry, jewelry designer, lockets, maneater collection, my designs, necklaces, redesigns, skulls, year in review Tagged With: custom jewelry, custom ring, judith boyd, redesigned jewelry, skull jewelry, style crone, widow jewelry, widow's ring

Jewel of the Month: Padparadscha & Paraiba for ANZA

December 23, 2019 by WendyB

I wanted to save this ring’s blog debut until I had its official portrait taken, but the piece was whisked off to the Kristen Farrell Gallery before I could get it to a photographer! So here is a casual snapshot of my latest creation for ANZA Gems. This one-of-a-kind 18K rose gold ring features a…

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Filed Under: featured jewel, gems, jewel of the month, Jewelry, my designs, rings Tagged With: anza gems, lost-wax casting

Jewels of the Month, Part 2: October Birthstone

October 10, 2019 by WendyB

Tourmaline and opal are October’s two birthstones. I’ve shared the double-tourmaline ring that I created for ANZA Gems before, but ANZA’s recent Instagram post of it has inspired me to feature the ring again. I love how this post shows the different phases the gems went through: uncut rough; faceted but loose gems; and finally…

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Filed Under: birthstone, earrings, featured jewel, gems, jewel of the month, Jewelry, rings, Shopping, stud earrings Tagged With: october birthstone, tourmaline

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

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