All you March babies are entitled to a fabulous birthday gift this month, and I’ve got the perfect thing. I made one of my 18K gold Livia poison rings with March’s birthstone, aquamarine. My aquamarine is a curved, polished cabochon, rather than the more typical faceted gem. The cut gives the stone a soft, gorgeous…
jewel of the month
Jewel of the Month: WTF Rings (on a Good Girl Gone Bad)
I unofficially revealed February’s Jewel of the Month over the weekend. I just couldn’t resist posting this photo of the WTF ring set — worn by model Tina J for my lookbook shoot — as soon as I got it. Here’s a closer look at the rings. These rings are sterling silver with adjustable bands…
Jewel of the Month: Siobhan Ring With Mixed Metals
People often ask me if it’s okay to mix yellow and white metals. My answer? “Hell, yes!” I didn’t always have that mindset, though. I too grew up thinking jewelry had to be matchy-matchy. I don’t know where that fashion taboo against combining different-colored metals came from. One of the most famous jewelry designs in…
Jewels of the Month for 2011
I’m going to continue the lazy-ass theme from Tuesday and belatedly do another 2011 wrap-up post. (Actually, I’m working on something for the Huffington Post, so I’m not being 100% lazy.) Here’s a look back at my Jewels of the Month for 2011. I started off last year with a black-diamond Cleves swan ring in…
Jewel of the Month: Empress Wu Dragon Earrings
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love redesigning old jewelry. Last month, I described how I started redesigning some of the pieces I got before I started my own jewelry line. My first project resulted in this tsavorite-and-pearl pendant. Sticking with the pearl theme, I next tackled a pair of diamond…
Jewel of the Month: WendyB’s Redesigned Pearl Pendant
If you read this blog regularly, you know that I love redesigning old jewelry. Here are a few examples: Susan’s engagement ring got a major overhaul. Heather’s diamond earrings turned up on her engagement ring. Terri Berry’s earrings and necklace became new earrings and a ring. In the summer of 2010, I started thinking about…
Jewel of the Month: Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright
My gorgeous client Christine has an affinity for tigers. It started in childhood, when the sight of a tiger in a zoo brought her to tears. She says: “I first saw a tiger in a typical 1960s zoo, when zoo meant a line of small cages. I can still clearly see the brown bear in…
Jewel of the Month: Tracey’s Custom Engagement Ring
Love at first sight? Nah. When painter/illlustrator Tracey Atkinson first met new-media artist/designer (and my former People.com colleague) Paul Notzold at The Brooklyn Inn in January 2007, romantic lightning didn’t strike. But Paul walked Tracey home in the rain, so she agreed to see him again. Then she gave him a broken umbrella and sent…
Jewel of the Month: Terri Berry’s Birthday Ring
Today is my gorgeous sister Terri Berry‘s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERRI BERRY! Yesterday, TerriB’s husband, Tim Berry, presented her with a custom ring I designed. TerriB was in on the plan. Earlier this year, when gold was at a then-record-high of $1330 an ounce, I started taking the stones out of old jewelry and selling…
New Jewelry Collection: Memento Mori Skulls in 18K Gold
Because of the soaring prices of gold and silver, many jewelers are using less metal in their work. That means a knuckleduster-size ring feels surprisingly light considering how big it looks. My jewelry has always been about heft, because I like the feel — not just the appearance — of luxury. I have pieces that…