Recently in Necklaces Category

You probably know Anna Sheffield from her limited edition Target collection, but her Bing Bang line has been a celeb favorite for awhile now. The New York-based designer hails from New Mexico and she draws much of her inspiration form her native homeland. Her pieces usually have a vintage, romantic feel and she works a lot with mixed colored metals. Now Sheffield has collaborated with McSweeney's Books, the publishing house behind the classic "whodunits" for an actual cross-country treasure hunt, which kicked-off last week in NYC! 

Anna Sheffield created twelve emerald-studded numbers, from the faceless clock, each handmade and one-of-a-kind, which have been placed in adorned boxes and buried in twelve spots across the United States. The secret to find these one-of-a-kind pieces, however, can only be solved by reading the Mac Barnett book which offers clues hidden in the storyline.

It's a cute, fun idea, especially if you have children who love the house-shaped book, but if you're like me and don't have the patience for this kind of a hunt, Anna will be creating a made-to-order 'Lucky Number 3 Necklace' and Numbers 1-11 for $85.

French brand Etername is launching in the US this fall! If you read foreign glossies, you've likely seen the brand in French Vogue, Elle, L'Officiel, Stiletto, and Le Figaro or oogled the pieces on the likes of Sharon Stone, Diane Kruger, Julie Gayet, and Natalia Vodianova. The line, designed by Sarah Besnaiou (a Dior alum) is simply stunning! The only other place I've seen so many pieces that I'm dying for is at Cartier! Check-out her website (note though that it's still all in French), and start making a mental list of what you'll want come fall:)

Molly Sims, Edie Falco, Rachel Ray, and Angie Stone are just a few of the celebrities that have been spotted in pieces from the Olia collection. I'm particularly drawn to the New York-based designer's necklaces and the one above is my favorite. Called the Salam Necklace it retails for $64 and it says 'Salam' on one side and 'Shalom' on the other. Many people may not know this, but in Hebrew and in Arabic when you greet someone with 'Shalom' and with 'Salam,' respectively, you are not only saying 'hello,' but you are saying 'peace.' I have a lot of family in Tel Aviv and my parents are currently there for a wedding, so this necklace is particularly meaningful to me. I can't believe we are still dealing with all the violence. This necklace is a reminder to continue the fight for peace and the end of violence.

Simplicity with a twist: in a nutshell that best sums up Phillip Lim's Fall 2010 3.1 Phillip Lim collection. These necklaces, however, clearly befit that "twist" notion--part of Phillip's inspiration that included a step into the seventies/disco era and the vibe of Halston a la Studio 54. The jewelry was styled to minimal effect on Phillip's runway (just one look, in fact, featured a toned down version of the above necklaces paired with a sequin blouse). For the 3.1 Phillip Lim devotee seeking to maximize her disco fever, however, the options are endless--as a recent visit to the designer's studio revealed. I'm digging these three necklace options from Phillip that offer a lot of oomph for not an exorbitant amount of money (when you consider the work that went into them). From left to right: Baroque bits embroidered 20kt gold necklace plate ($375); embroidered rhinestone and blanketed bugle vanity necklace plate ($650) and Baroque bits embroidered vanity necklace plate ($695). Wear the simplest one with an oversized tanktop and a pair of Phillip's oversized trousers from seasons past--but wear the statement making ones with one of his dramatic asymmetrical fall gowns. Sometimes it's ok to throw Coco Chanel's adage out the window. More is more!

Available at 3.1 Phillip Lim New York (115 Mercer St., 212-334-1160) and West Hollywood (631 N. Robertson Blvd., 310-358-1988)

As a born and raised New Yorker I'm always into supporting local talent, so I was exciting when I found out about the line, Fancy Sexy Me, from a guest at an event recently. First off the name is genius! I would love for someone to ask me "where's your necklace from?" and for me to be able to answer "Fancy Sexy Me" - It's like an unintentional positive affirmation! The line is designed by Ronnie Aminov and Cynthia Catera and everything is hand-made in Williamsburg and in Manhattan. I'm particularly drawn to their gold pendant necklaces which range in price from about $40 to $70. 

Molly Sims proves with her Grayce by Molly Sims jewelry line that fabulous does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, you can be instantly chic for under $250. But don't let the lower price points deter you from purchasing if you are a jewel snob, the pieces are incredibly well made! I snatched up a dozen pieces at her trunk show last week and had so much fun mixing colors, shapes and metals-- what Molly is known for. Silver and gold liquid necklaces, bracelets, and eclectic gemstones cut in various facets and shapes are just a few highlights of this well edited collection inspired by vintage jewels Molly's mother has collected for a lifetime. Each piece feels utterly personal and it is clearly Molly's passion as she personally styled each of the 200+ guests that attended the show. I need to mention that Molly is one of the most warm and friendly celebs I have ever hosted an event for-- she is that gorgeous girl next door who everyone wants to be best friends with. Her genuine love for jewelry is also infectious and we wait with abated breath for her Fall trunk show! Check out the Grayce line here, I guarantee you will be tempted to pull out your credit cards the minute you see the pieces (so great for gifts!). See below for what I came home with.

Crystal Point Layered Necklace for $195- My absolute FAVORITE necklace of the colletion, Molly showed us how to wear it long or twist and double it as a short piece-- SO CHIC!
Braided Metal Bracelet for $145- A friend of mine actually sent me a blank check to purchase pieces for her when she saw this bracelet(let's not mention that to her hubby though!).  It has a magnetic closure (brilliant!) and is a great daily piece. 
Crystal Tassel Chain Earring for $115- Talk about a conversation piece, these earrings are disco worthy and perfect for a girls' night out!

Now, GO SHOP!

The other day I headed over to the Bryant Park Hotel for an informal breakfast hosted by Molly Sims to celebrate the launch of the Grayce by Molly Sims website. The model's big, bold jewelry pieces were just what I needed to wake me up from my morning fog! Molly is super sweet and non-intimating despite her killer bod and looks (how is she in her mid-30s!? For sure thought she was in her late 20s). She was dressed in a floral DVF dress, Elizabeth and James black cardigan, flats, and layered in pieces from her Grayce line, which complemented her laid-back style very well. She said that she priced the line from $75-$250 to keep it accessible and when someone asked her what celeb she'd love to see one of her pieces on she said "I just want to see the line on everyone!" which I thought was great. Molly seemed truly passionate about her line and wanting women to feel good about themselves which was echoed in her honest answer about how she stays in shape. Unlike most models (ahem...Gisele), who say they eat whatever they want and barely exercise, Molly spoke candidly and said she works out a lot with Tracy Anderson and that it's hard and takes dedication. It was truly refreshing to hear her speak and to know that she has the same body issues as all of us do and you could tell she was passionate about the subject in particular when she spoke about the young models some of whom are just 70-something pounds - "I just wish they would eat something and then go work-out five days a week if they need to instead of just smoking 2 packs of cigarettes and drinking 10 cups of coffee." Kudos to the Vogue cover girl for speaking-up! More about her jewelry line after the jump!

This is a twist on the chain link trend, the loops are made with pieces of ostrich egg shells. How cool and interesting is that? And a great way to utilized the entire egg which makes this also eco-chic! It has a black leather ribbon tie for that effortless chic vibe as well as ease of getting it on when you don't have a helping hand. This look could not be more ideal for the summer with all your tunics and dresses. At Browns Fashion for $740.64. I know what you're thinking and I thought the same thing - ostrich egg shell should be pretty cheap but it is the handmade craftsmanship here that is responsible for the price.

My mother is one of those lucky women (or not depending on your perspective), who think she does not look good in jewelry. Personally I don't believe in such a thing, but every time she has a wedding anniversary, birthday or some other occasion I (usually at my father's request no less!), try to force some piece of jewelry on her. She is very slender and always feels that jewelry attracts unwanted attention to her thin wrists, bony fingers and neck (if only I had that problem!). On most days she sticks to nothing more than her wedding ring and Cartier watch (diamond-less Santos:-( ). While this would unfortunately not fit for my mother, if you have a mama that's more into jewelry, how cute are Marissa Alperin's sweet pea necklaces? With prices from $120 to $800 they fit a variety of budgets and you can pick the one that features her fave stone/birthstone...or go for my fave 18K white gold with diamonds:-)

Rhinestone lovers you're going to go gaga over Winifred Grace's line! The designer is all about bunches of rhinestones and multi-chains and most of her pieces are vintage-inspired. They're bling-heavy, but not in an obnoxious in-your-face way (most pieces retail for between $150 and $450). They're a fun way to spice-up an outfit and the mix of gold, silver, and crystal make them easy to style.

Odds are you've never heard of Ben-Amun, but if you've ever flipped through Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, Marie Claire, or tuned your TV on to a red carpet, you've likely seen pieces from the collection. The brand has been in business for over 30 years and is designed by Isaac Manevitz who works extensively with lucite, pewter, glass, and crystal which help keep his pieces looking a lot pricier than they are (few pieces are over $400 and you can get many for as little as $60). Celebs love the line because they can wear pieces without having to worry about insurance, body guards etc. when they're doing casual on-air appearance. The line has also been used in Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren shows. 

A lot of the pieces aren't my style (a bit too boho), but click through the site and you'll find some wonderful costume pieces at prices that won't have you stressing!

Pictured above from left --

Charm and Chain is a one stop shop for all the unique jewel designers you love. And they love you back by giving Jewel Snob readers 15% off their entire site, including items already on sale! Here are my favorites but you should go through the site, you will be amazed by the variety and selection, and savings! Use code JEWELSNOB when you check out to get 15% OFF.

Jac Necklace, Hot Pink Quartz by Gemma Redux, seen on Blake Lively in Gossip Girls, on sale, was $369 and now $174.25 with Jewel Snob code.

Magical Landscape Ring by Pade Vavra. This is a show stopper, it is so incredibly interesting, it is an attention grabber. $4000 - $3400 with code.

Clip-on Fan Earrings by Badgley Mischka. Timeless yet chic and fabulous, on sale, was $300 and now $204 with code.

Yellow Sunburst Coil, exclusively for Charm & Chain. Industrial is in, and this feminine mix of chains and crystals embodies this trend but still making you feel delicate, $575 - $488.75 with code.

I just discovered DAMA, named for the queen in the Greek deck of cards, while shopping at Henri Bendel where the line was discreetly displayed on their second floor. It's designed by Heather Keller who credits Greece and New York City for influencing her work (the piece above is called Helios Choker and she seems best known for her borough ring and gear motif "meant to reflect New York's machine-age modernism and Greek classicism").

As the former editor of Rizzoli and Gloss.com, Keller learned a great deal about accessorizing over the years and when she decided to leave the editorial world for jewelry design she opted to enroll in goldsmithing classes at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The expertise she acquired have translated into a 70-piece collection which she debuted less than a year ago (I wish there was more on her site since Bendel's just had a limited selection :-( See here for more stores). The collection includes gold, silver and brass statement cuffs and necklaces which retail from about $400 to about $15,000.

Maybe it's only because she's Greek, but I'm totally thinking Keller needs to team-up with Sophia Kokosalaki somehow...the necklace above looks like it was destined to complement one of Kokosalaki's draped dresses!

I never paid much attention to Catherine Malandrino's jewelry until her Spring Summer 2010 show (see below for some photos I snapped at the presentation). I'm completely gaga over these bold black necklaces which retail for $1,350 for the larger one and $950 for the smaller one. They have this wonderful tribal feel to them and look great paired with turbans. Of course most of us won't be walking the streets in a turban anytime soon, so luckily they look just as chic against pretty much anything black or white and low on detail. Don't these looks totally make you want to hop a plane to an exotic island somewhere? :-)

Pierre Hardy truly can do no wrong. The affable Frenchman, who's long been responsible for shoe design at Hermès, has extended his creative say at the luxe French brand, designing the label's first high jewelry collection. Dubbed "haute bijouterie," Hermès, which has until now been known for its silver jewelry, spent the last two years creating an aesthetically gorgeous capsule collection inspired by its equestrian heritage.

Take the Centaure collection, for example. Have you seen design inspired by horse's hoofs result in anything chicer? I think not. I love that a full suite of complementary pieces was designed for this particular collection as it's sure to be well received when it launches this fall as part of a world tour the pieces will go on (Tokyo in September, Hong Kong in October and Berlin in November). The bracelet, necklace, earrings and rings all focus on bold shapes--hence the hoof--and less on precious stones. They're cast in rose gold with a black jade or orange aventurine stone ringed with brilliant cut diamonds or entire paved with diamonds. I just absolutely love the Centaure necklace for evening and the ring for day!

Meanwhile, have you seen the Fouet necklace? Talk about slender elegance! A diamond necklace designed to mimic the lines of a whip, it's made of platinum and set with 3,669 diamonds, totaling 36.16 carats. The collection is priced from $23,675 for clip-on rose gold and black jade earrings to $880,000 for the diamond necklace. It'll take about five to seven months for the pieces to be made and delivered--clients can customize their pieces as they wish. Perhaps the best part? The pieces will come in custom-made boxes made of black alligator leather.

My new favorite jewelry line, The Woods Fine Jewels, has designed a delectable collection of charms to be sold for a worthy cause-- The Marshall Direct Fund. 100% of the profits will go to the fund, who's mission is to improve relations between the West and the Muslim world by working together to alleviate poverty and illiteracy via sustainable educational and economic development in Southwest Asia.  Education is freedom my friends, yet we all take it for granted.  Buying one of these charms will not only make you feel good about donating to this charity, but you'll look so chic doing it!

I am currently contemplating my first purchase of one of these earthy glam pieces myself, the natural wood element really complement the old mine cut diamonds and shimmering pearls without being too "in your face", you know what I mean?  It's all about subtlety for me when it comes to jewelry but I still want luxe and glam-- "The Woods Fine Jewels" strike that perfect balance for me!  If you are also contemplating a piece, why not buy it through the Marshall Direct Fund so you can feel great about shopping with a purpose.  Go to Marshall Direct Fund here! 

A few weeks ago I was introduced by a mutual friend to Bianca Pratt while out for a drink at Monkey Bar in NYC. Pratt is a super-chic young designer (and strikingly beautiful mother!), who designs these precious little unassuming pendants inspired by her Brazilian/Canadian heritage. Her pieces sell at Barneys and a few other exclusive outlets  and she will be introducing e-commerce to her site soon. I love the fatima charm (pictured above in the middle), which is also available accented with a small diamond (a number of the pieces incorporate white, cognac, and blue diamonds, as well as rubies and sapphires). The pendant necklaces start at about $500 and include everything from Brazilian saints and Figa, to cold coin and bear charms (all 14K Gold). I love how pocket size and delicate these are. Definitely a thoughtful Mother's Day gift!

Simple and flattering ready to wear and big bold jewelry. Donna Karan has it right! She is so amazing, I love everything for Spring. This sabre tooth is a theme she has had for a while now, and is the exact thing I wear with her Infinity dress. The Lucite sabre embellishments are on the sides is not noticeable in the picture but they are super cool! The entire necklace just slips on with no clasps. At Net-aPorter for $1295.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Keith Haring the fabulous Leeora Catalan of nOir teamed-up with the also fabulous Patricia Field for a collection called K.Haring by House of Field. Using the bright colors and characters found in Haring's work, the Catalan-designed pieces feature images of some of Haring' most iconic pieces and do an amazing job at paying homage to an artist that has inspired so many designers. Plus all the proceeds from the collaboration will be going to the Keith Haring Foundation to assist AIDS
related and Children's charities. Oddly enough, though I'm a big fan of bright colors, my fave piece is the cuff below:)

A mixed assortment is the trend but if you don't have the time to sort through everything and come up with your own combination, Marlaina Stone has this perfectly mixed necklace that is as full of personality as if you did it yourself. It is a potpourri of Snow quartz, Amethyst, Lepidolite, Herkimer Diamonds, Glass, Hand-made Satin Flower and Freshwater Pearls on a vintage chain and charming vintage watch face clasp. Wear this with florals and prints to create a bouquet look, or spice up your solids and LBD. At Charm and Chain for $1700.

The entire Fall 2010 collection from ready to wear to accessories was inspired by the beetle. The colors, an opalescent green blue that degrades to a bright yet gentle yellow. The jewelry is elegant and refined, yet edgy and surprising. I did not know a beetle could be anything but icky, but after Tomas Maier tames them, they become a beautiful and interesting creature. The beetles are made of enamel. He also has a new technique that is used on gold. Just like the woven leather bags, here gold is woven and made into belted chokers. Super chic and decadent! And the craftsmanship is astounding! They are handmade in Germany. For fine jewelry, there are silver links with pave diamond for their loyal customers who will and always remain classic and timeless.

Candace Ang is the young designer behind these bold statement necklaces. Ang's pieces are always fun and flirty and often have fringe details making them the perfect final touch to spice-up an LBD. Ang was designing bib necklaces way before they became the trend du jour and fittingly her Volume III Necklace ($610, pictured on the left), is one of the coolest ones I've seen. Like all of the designer's pieces, it's handmade in LA and is made from nude silk chiffon accented with silver lurex and then hand ruched and covered with rows of Swarovski crystals. Besides draped on top of an LBD, this necklace would look great over a white tee paired with skinny black pants. Ditto for the Revolution Collar in Toast ($245), pictured on the right and the Sargent Pepper Fringe Necklace ($345), pictured in the center.

De Beers is proud to be the lead sponsor of The Love Ball London in aid of the Naked Heart Foundation, a children's charity. The centre piece of the auction was The Magic Moment Necklace designed by Natalia Vodianova and created by De Beers. This one-of-a-kind piece was inspired by that precious instant when two people meet and immediately connect. Two stunning De Beers diamond hearts fit perfectly together becoming one - symbolic of a great love.

The necklace features a 1.10 carat Fancy Intense Pink heart-shaped diamond set in pink diamond micropave and a 3.06 carat FVS1 heart-shaped diamond set in white diamond micropace. The delicate white gold chain is studded with 1.81 carats of white, round, brilliant diamonds, 1.65 carats of fancy pink, round, brilliant diamonds and 1.94 cars of fancy yellow diamonds.
For more information on the Naked Heart Foundation, please visit us here.

Images from style.com

For the brand's Fall Winter 2010 season, Ports 1961 designer Tia Cibani once again turned to Lina Peterson to create jewelry to complement the collection. Peterson is based out of London and has a knack for creating bold, guaranteed to get you noticed, contemporary jewelry pieces. Her work has been showcased in museums around the world and she's sold at many international shop and galleries. I love the pastel colors and geometric shapes of the pieces that were used in the Ports show. They're a great alternative to a bib necklace which I'm so over now that everyone and their mother seems to be sporting them! The jewelry also highlights how versatile the F/W 2010 collection was - you can easily go conservative and wear it without jewelry or spice it up and add some pop if you're on the younger, edgier side. Check-out Lina Peterson's website by clicking here!

While in NY for Fashion Week, I went to visit Paige Gamble's showroom. She is amazing, to put it plainly. Paige has an eye like no other, she is sharp witted, gorgeous, genius and most importantly (for our purposes) phonemically creative. I am in love with her bags, they are immaculate and chic, it's sick!! So when she started doing jewelry, you know I was all over it. Her pieces are like works of art, they are unique without being unwearable. The thing I love most is that you can wear a simple outfit with her pieces to spice things up and it is totally effortless but entirely put together. I am crazy over the Amethyst and Gunmetal Chains ($550) , it is a perfect mix of feminine and bold. In the summer, white tee, jeans and this and you are rocking like no other.

When it comes to jewelry at Barneys, I actually find more pieces I like in their co-op section than on their main floor. In the NYC flagship they've got three large cases on the seventh floor with a ton of fun, affordable (relatively at least), original designs from the likes of Fallon and Subversive. When I first saw this Thea Grant Quadrangles Multi Chain Necklace ($385), I thought it's kind of fun and quirky, but for nearly $400 it's a bit ridiculous to have a hotchpotch of items on a metal chain. I tried it on for fun and it predictably looks ridiculous. Plus the random items aren't even interesting!! The necklace makes me think of those monochromatic canvases you sometimes see at modern art museum and think to yourself...uhhh, I could have done that myself!

Am I missing something here? What do you think of this necklace? Snob or Slob?