Tag: Expensive

Noor Fares

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Noor Fares LogoDefinitely one a showstopper, Lebanese jewelry designer Noor Fares has been on my radar for quite some time.
Her signature wings earrings are almost always sold out on her website. I’ve seen a lot of winged jewelry renditions overtime, but Noor Fares creates the best balance of flashy, and elegance. Each piece is hand carved made of various different stones, materials and attached to precious metals; from wood, sandstone, diamonds, quartz, jade, ebony, mammoth ivory etc. you name it, she can probably craft it. Her iconic ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ earrings have shot her straight to fame since 2009.


Each and every piece she creates provokes meaning and almost beckons someone to come forth and inquire. Would love, love, love to eventually be able to purchase and own one of her pieces! Feast your eyes on some magnificent jewelry porn below!
18k Chandra Crescent
One of her latest pieces I absolutely adore is from her rainbow collection. The Crescent Chandra earrings are particularly sublime. That slice of crystal in the shape of a crescent moon sitting on a golden bed of rainbow stones is just gorgeous.

Rich and richer.
Noor Fares is the daughter of Lebanese multi-millionaire Issam Fares. Hailing from Tufts University, she learned all about gems at London’s GIA. Some can only dream of being able to fulfill endless inspirational pieces with boundless resources! Her father is said to be a very successful entrepreneur and it looks like his daughter most definitely followed in his footsteps!

Mateo NYC

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I recently lost one of my favorite rings at a Dave & Busters (literally tossed it off into the abyss as I was lobbing a basketball in one of those arcade games). Sent out a mobile phone flashlight party, but to no avail it is most definitely gone for good. And that is the reason why I’m back here. The hunt for a new shiny piece is on!

I’ve been pretty much MIA with life this summer. As the days grow shorter and the daylight wanes, I’m back to my usual online prowl for glimmering beauties.

Mateo Logo

MATEO NYC was introduced to me by the one and only Eva Chen (I’ve been an avid follower of her instagram and fashion pieces). Mateo NYC is headed by Matthew Harris an NYC implant of the ripe age of 16 from the sunny, sandy shores of Montego Bay, Jamaica. A self taught jeweler, he started with mens jewelry and later evolved his collections to include women’s jewelry. Love his simple designs.

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Absolutely adore some of his most recent pieces made for women. I’ve been recently very interested in mixed metals, diamonds, and pearls with modern shapes and designs. Something about the translucency and timelessness of pearls just makes we stop and stare. And while I don’t quite put myself at an age appropriate enough to dare are wear white pearl jewelry, one of Mateo pieces just might make me break that rule…
Most worth mentioning is the fact that some pieces are still pretty affordable as diamond/ gold goes… for now…
Get em while they’re hot! As any new upcoming jeweler is bound to sky rocket in fame, so are the prices!

Daniela Villegas

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Daniela Villegas LogoDeep diving into one of a kind beauties in the world of fine jewelry. One artist of quite notable mention is Daniela Villegas.

This Los Angeles based designer uses only the best materials to create one of a kind works of art. Each piece stems from a love and appreciation of nature.

 


Alpaca Ring.jpegI’m not usually a fan of symbolic and close renditions of animals, but the sheer craftsmanship and attention to detail Villegas puts into her work is nothing but breathtaking.

However, don’t be too tempted to pour your soul out to own one of these beauties. Each piece is literally one of a kind with a sky high price tag.
(This gorgeous Alpaca ring on the left retails for about $25,000+ USD!)  This particular piece on the comes from her Peru collection inspired by the colors and culture of historical Machu Picchu. Handcrafted in 18k rose gold with a string of roughly 5 carats worth of multicolored sapphires, this ring sure is a sparkly stunner.
Incredible prices for incredible pieces. I think I’ll just look from a far… by that I mean really really far… definitely jewelry made for the luxurious.

Currently: work, work, working hard ~ but not on jewelry things….
Music: Too Good at Goodbyes by Sam Smith

David Yurman

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DY logoLet me be quite honest. I am not and never was an avid fan of David Yurman and his signature cable designs. Something about it being sterling silver and pretty much done just never appealed to me.
But here I am, writing a post about David Yurman. Fancy. That.
Anyways, I digress. This post comes about me stumbling across a fellow soba lover while at date night with my significant other. My keen eyes always pick up on unique jewelry/ bags/ accessories when crossing paths with a person of good taste.
Here goes a little something different; prose and story behind this gem of a find designed by David Yurman.

A cool wind swished through the restaurant, bringing sweet relief to warm diners in the quaint dimly lit noodle establishment. Mid height with long locks down to her waist, she hung up her jacket at the coat check and sashayed her way to the bar (the noodle bar to be exact – because thats how I roll on a Saturday night. Noodle Bars over BAR Bars).
She sat down at the stool next to R (my very significant other), accidentally elbowing him causing him to drop a mouthful of delicious soba back into the steaming bowl below him. As she propped her black Chanel bag on the counter, R glanced over to her with a death glare, and scooted his stool closer to me. As she raised her left hand in apology, thats when I saw it.
One left hand glint caught my eye, on her pointer finger was one hell of a unique ring.
Black onyx glinting and gleaming in the dim light encased in threads of twisted silver adorned by a string of bright diamonds.
Now that story time is over. You might wonder exactly how I wound up figuring out this was a David Yurman ring. The answer, of course was in the context clues. You see, typically when a person sports Chanel, or any other type of known brand they naturally would purchase other name brands. Luxury consumerism. To be honest, I thought this ring was one of a kind or atleast custom made given wire wrapped rings are mostly found on etsy. (I just thought this was a really well made one).
Petite Onyx Wire Wrapped Ring
After literally creepily staring at this woman’s other accessory details, I grimaced at the sight of a stack of signature David Yurman bangles sighted on her left arm. Thats when a eureka moment hit- after an internal debate of whether or not David Yurman brand could produce two almost oppositely attractive things in my book. Theory in point: in a person buys a specific brand, most the time they would also buy other things within that brand. A quick search on my phone and handy dandy never fail Google image search engine produced the the results I was looking for: David Yurman’s black onyx petite cable wrapped ring.

David Yurman’s Black Onyx Petite Cable Wrapped ring is sadly only available in sterling silver (as white metal). Dainty and intricately intwined thin metal strands are crisscrossed around a hexagonal rock high set with a smattering of diamonds. Retail values will set you back roughly $500. Note the black onyx is no longer available on Yurman’s website, other colored stones are (amethyst etc). You can however find discounted worn onyx rings on ebay.


For those of you who love the design and have longer fingers, there is also the onyx cable wrapped ring in the same line. This ring however sports an elongated rectangular stone with thicker band. Yellow gold options available, an obviously price is elevated to match. In general I love Yurman’s Cable Wrapped Line.

So there it is. Look at her. Isn’t she a beauty? I almost want to say she is top of the list, but Chaumet’s Bee My Love ring set along with iconic Cartier are definitely top 2.

 

Fernando Jorge

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Fernando Jorge is Brazilian born based in the UK jewelry designer to watch for. The following is an excerpt pulled from his website

“Fernando’s pieces are imbued with sensuality, energy and movement – his aesthetic is inherently Brazilian. He often uses locally sourced gemstones and minerals, giving them his signature finish, including unique cuts and the use of delicate gold snake chain. The result has a distinctly sculptural feel that is both elegant and modern.”
Very, very accurate and perfect description of his work. Hard metals, molten into fluid shapes both flexible and sculptural.

I’ve been recently eyeing fine jewelry that resemble art work. I’ve also been looking at artists’ designs on a whole. I particularly love Fernando Jorge as he plays with almost all the colored stones out there. He is unafraid to use and abuse all the colors of the rainbow to portray his work. In all of his past/current collections, all sorts of stones are used from diamonds to opals to chalcedony and rubies. And I just love that it speaks about where he comes from as a person with all splashes of color.
Furthermore, as a whole all his collection names are similar and yet different- all and adhering to mother nature and at the same time modern. fresh. new.

High jewelry, high fashion, high price.
*Barney’s + Harrods is a fan; and also a stockist. I mean if its available on Net-a-Porter, its

Tilda Biehn

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Been super busy and lots of things of my plate as of late. Everything just seems to bunch together in stress factors and I haven’t had the time to go out for my daily jog around the park much less post something short here!
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Anyways, here is Tilda Biehn, a fine jewelry line founded in 2014 by jewelry designer Andrea Lipsky-Karasz. Featured below are a few of her designs that are worth mentioning.
I was on the look out for a new pointer ring and stumbled upon her Aurora band; which is a play on the simple chain investing in it a smattering of shiny shiny glittery rocks we call diamonds.


What also captured my attention were her Stratus line earrings which kind of remind me of Bibi Vandervelden’s use of baroque pearls to depict cloud shapes! I mean, just look at the similarities!
But I digress. Lipsky-Karasz’ Comet line is absolutely beautiful. The half cuff/ wrap style is very much in and this designer does not seem to miss it. Lovely wrap style “comets” with subtle geometric aspects ingrained with options for colored stones make everything just rainbow.

Pricing wise, as I do love the ability to customize with engravings/ stones/ types of metal, still out of my budget.

Northskull

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Logo.pngLong time no post! Featuring Northskull, a men’s jewelry fashion brand based in London.

I originally was not going to post about this brand simply because I was not too much a fan of their designs. But recently, Northskull of London released a new collection that upped its appeal. Northskull brand signature bracelets feature quality leather, fine metals on bracelets with two skulls head to head. I do believe they have a few stingray leather leather pieces as well as beaded bracelets aswell.

Their newest collection entitled Construct/Disrupt of SS16 features sleek new bangles and bracelets. I’m a crazy bangle/ bracelet fiend and Northskull delivers such beautiful minimal and simplistic pieces with subtle design flare! They have a few aged silver cuffs in a sort of matte finish as well as 18k gold plated brass rings etc.

As far as pricing wise, Northskull is a luxury men’s fashion jewelry line so pieces range usually $100+USD. In my opinion, if a guy is going to buy jewelry for himself he is not going to buy like a gazillion different bracelets like I would… so it is worth it(?) I mean… some of these pieces feel very unisex… so I would totally go wild if sales were in play.

** I could totally see myself stack Northskull’s newest The End Cuff in gold with a Cartier LOVE bangle or Vita Fede‘s Mini Titan for a lovely arm stack!

Bibi van der Velden

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BibiAbsolutely adore all that is Bibi van der Velden. Her jewelry pieces are truly wearable works of art. Another artist from the Netherlands and current favorite of mine. She creates luxurious one of a kind works of art to be enjoyed for years to come. Her materials list is off the charts! From commonly known precious metals like gold and platinum to rare finds like carved mammoth ivory, scarab beetles etc.. Each piece is definitely one of a kind piece of history in itself.


I particularly love her cloud series. Personally the pricing is not over the top for the delicate and intricate designs such as hers. I would love to own a cloud piece as carved quartz is very appealing to my eyes. I especially love the added dangling chains in her necklaces that make a great statement piece.

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Craftsmanship is stunning. Carving techniques are one of a kind; but of course she is a sculptor like her mother. I could rave on and on and all would be positive things to say about her work. Pictures speak louder than words so please feast your eyes on the following!

Right now: Third post @ 3am. – I hope my noisy neighbors do not wake me prior to 10am with their squealing toddler in their pool 5 yards from my bedroom. I will wreck havoc.

LUMO Jewelry

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LOGO.pngCurrently still obsessing over thread bare stackables! (mostly rings)
LUMO Jewelry is California based and features similar if not the same theme as Jennie Kwon Designs. (Pricewise again is around the same- pricey).
Noticeable difference in design keep LUMO and Jennie Kwon separate and yet similar in the thread bare minimalist hand, arm, and neck jewelry.
I especially love LUMO’s ‘cuff’ rings- offered in a varity of colored stones and designs.

Atria_Cuff_ring_crop_large.jpgThere is something about cuff rings that really catch my eye. I guess its a design that when stacked with a solitaire or statement ring, adds some sort of brilliance. I especially love LUMO’s atria cuff ring as the three cut diamonds just intrigue me! Not to mention the fact that this design sort of reminds me of Tiffany & Co.’s victoria line of star arranged diamonds. Absolutely love. LUMO Jewelry also stocks necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Thin cuff and thin chained bracelets are currently in (with the whole Alex & Ani craze still pretty popular with college students). Personally, my thin wrists would only allow for very few stackables (fingers included). Perhaps the reason why my eyes currently gleam over thin threadbares? But I digress. LUMO Jewelry has a thumbs up from me. A bit on the pricey side, but handmade designs warrant more TLC! A few snapshots below of some of my likes taken from google and LUMOs website.

Sidebar: LUMO jewelry makes their jewelery with either conflict free diamonds or Herkimer diamonds. Herkimer diamonds aren’t actual real diamonds- but double terminated (pointed) quartz known for their clarity and shine. Herkimer diamonds are legitimate herkimer diamonds if mined from upstate New York (Herkimer County). As wikipedia states, though double pointed Quartz can now be found in other areas, ‘Herkimer Diamonds’ only hail from Herkimer county!

The more you know. 

 

Meadowlark Jewellery

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Meadow lark.jpgI have a thing for rings. No, seriously I do. 
Meadowlark Jewellery, a New Zealand jewelry brand founded by the lovely couple Claire Hammon and Greg Fromont displays absolutely gorgeous statement pieces. Made popular mostly by young famous singer Lorde, but business is poppin.

One of my favorites from their various collections is their starburst ring. Alone, it stands proud and beatiful like a modified glorified chevron ring. Stacked, brings a whole new meaning to solitaire stone rings! Check out the images below- absolutely bring the burst of starlight to your fingers. LOVE.

Most pieces feature lets say non Christian ideals. In my honest opinion I see alot of skulls, pentagons, hexagons, car paws, bones, teeth, lightening thunder symbols and motifs– very… Paganistic? I don’t mean to bring religion into this but they have a ‘Ritual’collection and the newer ‘Zenith‘ collection that sports designs reminiscent of the Pokemon Unown. Talk about crop circles, aliens, other beings sending other messages. I have no beef against this. Simply divine. Oh and hey, hexagons are the new IN shape for solitaire rings now a days.

There’s something about customizable pieces that just attract me to jewellery brand/ company. Meadowlark Jewellery is no exception- so many customizable options including 9k white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, red gold, sterling silver, garnets, rodolite garnets, white diamonds, black diamonds, citrine, onyx, thai garnets, smoky quartz, rose quartz etc.

As Yoda would say, ‘Expensive, these are. Afford, you probably cannot. But treat yo self, you one day may.’ Over the top expenses for simple sterling silver (talk about equivalence of $100+ USD with no stone!)

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