Tomasz Donocik

Award-winning fine jewellery designer Tomasz Donocik creates unique pieces that blur the boundaries between art and jewellery. Born in Poland and raised in Austria, Tomasz now lives and works in London where he founded his eponymous brand in 2008. Tomasz graduated with a BA from Central Saint Martins in London, followed by an MA in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing and Jewellery Making from the Royal College of Art in London. Immersed in these culturally rich surroundings, Tomasz has developed a life-long passion for art, film and literature, which continuously inspire his award-winning designs.

Text above from Tomasz Donocik’s ‘About Me‘ section on his website

Lovely jeweler with even lovelier designs.
This post a long time coming; the lilypad ring is something of a marvel and something that keeps the eyes busy. Donocik does a great job playing with color and geometry of stone shapes.
Here are a few of his stunning pieces I particularly like. His styles range from sharp geometric to ethereal nature pieces.

Shaun Leane

British designer hailed for his work while at Alexander McQueen has been on my list of folks to write about for a bit.
I’ve eyed his hook/ sabre lines for a while but never quite got to writing or getting remotely close to jumping the gun on purchasing a piece. I don’t think these statement earrings work well with my style!

Anyways, always happy to see his pieces evolve over time. His newest creations on stackable transformative interlocking pieces really caught my eye.


More pictures than words with this post.
I love a good stackable ring and even more when stackable rings aren’t symmetrical and can be flipped up and down to make a different look!
I especially love set rings that look good by themselves in addition to with their set pair. I pass by only a few engagement sets on social media that do this very well (without the engagement wedding band being the commonly seen eternity bands- quite boring in my opinion). If I ever get married, I’d wish for an eye catching set that is a feast for eyes separate and together.
Shaun Leane has one such example: Ariana set.

Again as most of my posts go:
$$$ – expensive!
Mixed metals, mixed stones but also lots of love for these pieces!

Toi et Moi

Toi et moi.
Translation: {French} You and me

Today’s post is a little different from the usual: hey look at this type post from this x jeweler.
New year coming up, new me. Thought I’d switch up my posts.
My obsession with shiny things have brought my attention to ring styles like the Toi et moi. This design first caught my attention when a famous style influencer I follow on instagram received one as an engagement ring.

So what exactly is a Toi et moi ring?

Napoleon’s Toi et Moi

The style rumored to come about in the Napoleon era. History (and a quick google search) reveals that the earliest mention of such a ring was a gift from Napolean in the 1700s to his love Joséphine. This particular ring sported 2 pear cut stones (diamond and sapphire) on a yellow gold band. A ring made of 2 stones touching each other in semblance of his love for her and of true love.


In today’s world toi et moi rings have evolved from from the side by side look to vertical touching, diagonal touching, and even open rings. Stones vary based on every color or size and shape precious gemstone under the sun. What’s classic and what I truly love about the style is that theres more than one shiny thing if you get my drift…
I love how each couple can build their own toi et moi ring based on what they like.
If a couple is all about equality : I can imagine 2 equal 1 carat diamonds side by side.
If a couple wanted to display their differences: I can image a pear shaped fancy colored diamond in a diagonal with a pink heart.
I’ve seen a few examples where the gold band takes on a fancy flair in the shape of the infinity sign around the 2 gems (I’m not particularly a fan of this but the sentiment is there). Skies the limit.
Some newer jewelry houses have a few pieces that give a heavy nod to toi et moi rings but with their own added modern flair. I’ll share a few pieces below.

My take on the toi et moi style: two souls united and intertwined with each other; a token and display of one another’s’ love for each other, shining brightly however dark it is.
I do love more antique toi et moi designs. Sometimes I feel like the modern edges just don’t capture the essence of the style. Jade Trau created a custom one which I did enjoy looking at….I’ll see if I can whip up a photo of that.
Over the years, I’ve had ideas of what type of engagement ring I would like and I think the toi et moi style is what I crave.
Now, all I need to do is find a nice fella to propose to me with it …hehehehe.

Eva Fehren

I’ve had my eye on this particular jeweler for quite a while. Words escape me every time I try to write about her work. Something about her brand aesthetic just captivates me. Hailing from my very own city of New York is Eva Fehren.


Her designs speak a mixture of minimalism, geometric, high shine and glam. Simply complex yet stunning in equal parts precision craftsmanship, all pieces are a joy to online browse.

This from her website:


EVA DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE CITY’S GEOMETRIC URBAN PATTERNS AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS, LIKE THE CHRYSLER BUILDING, THE CRISSCROSSING OF POWER LINES AND THE INTRICATE PATTERNS OF CRACKED SIDEWALKS.

EvaFehren.com

Her style and aesthetics are simply gorgeous. I can’t wait to own one of her pieces in the future. I just love how she plays with black/ white and shadow colors. Fahren also makes use of uncommon diamond shapes to celebrate their uniqueness; each piece a showstopper on their own.

Fehren’s got an amazing new ‘Nova’ line based off nova stars. A lovely collection that gives a head nod to the stars we see in Chanel’s COMÈTE line, though absolutely 100% different. Fehren’s Nova line showcases stars as glowing triangular diamonds arranged in the most artistic way.
At a whopping $39.75k, you can have you very own nova star earrings.

Find these amazing jewels here: https://evafehren.com/

Currently Listening to:
 第六感 / The Sixth Sense
By: Reol

Spinelli Killcollin

SK LOGOA simple yet intriguing jeweler is Spinelli Killcollin. His works mesh the simplest of ideas with the finest of jewels. Quite literally rings on rings on rings!

This jeweler meshes different sized rings in interlocking patterns to create unique pieces. Simple edits of gemstones, diamonds, different interlocking ring sizes, metal color, metal grade, and quantity of ‘rings’ combine to generate endless possibilities while remaining similar in concept.


Pro: its all or nothing! If you wear these pieces on separate fingers, you probably won’t lose the ring or shall I say rings (?)
Con: these pieces probably won’t look flattering to those like myself who have small hands, short fingers, baby hands. It’ll just look lost!
Mix
Absolutely love and would like to own a piece in the future!

Cost: $$$

Messika Paris

Messika LogoMessika Paris is a french jewelry brand founded about 12 years ago by Valeria Messika. Their signature design plays upon movable diamonds (Move). Other notable collections are their ‘skinny’ technology diamond pieces. These pieces are advertised to meld with all different body types.

Interested in the brand’s history? Attached here is a lovely article written by the New York Times : https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/fashion/jewelry-messika.html

Honest Confession: Messika has not been very high on my list.
When I first glimpsed at their trademark pieces a few years ago, I’ll admit I wasn’t very impressed. I tally-ed Messika in my list of jewelry brands to watch as it would be a hit or a miss. I will say that with time and the additions of new design pieces, Messika Paris is most definitely one to watch. Their modern take on jewelry fit the mark in luxury with the times. Attached below are are few pieces I especially love running my eyes over.
Furthermore, I can definitely see one of their bracelets sitting side by side the iconic Cartier Love bracelet in a lovely arm stack.

One small thing I will mention that continues to leave me perplexed is:
How on earth do you keep these jewelry pieces clean?
Closer inspection of the mechanics between movable pieces and main pieces include so many tiny little crevices... with which dead skin cells can linger and flourish… I mean… have you ever taken a multi stone pronged ring under a microscope and seen like grey/ brown stuff caked within the tiny little nooks and crannies ???

That aside, actually really obsessed with the new collaboration My Soul collection with Gigi Hadid.

Currently Listening to: 
Zombie 
By: The Cranberries

Kat Kim

Threaders.
Pearls.
Put them together and you get the most gorgeous pearl ear threaders to adorn your lobes.
Kat Kim crafts something a little extra with her eye catching threaders that are both bold and demure.
kat kim logo
Piercings have been making a comeback as recent trends show. Quite a few brands are picking up on the trend and creating their own body jewelry/ piercing lines (much needed and undersaturated to be quite honest). It is often extremely hard to find quality piercing jewelry (non stainless steel/ plastic). As someone who is allergic basically all the alloy metals with the exception of gold/ platinum, I find it refreshing to increasingly be able to find quality piercing jewelry from upcoming brands that display some artistic flare.


Kat Kim does three things for me.

  1. Picks up and adds to the current modern pearl jewelry trend
  2. Provides piercing jewelry pieces for those of us who are bored of the normal diamond studs
  3. Meshes diamonds and metal lines in a beautiful minimalistic way

    Pictures for proof:

    ear pinear pin collectionthread pin earring

Need I say more?
Price Range: $$$
Bespoke: Yes
Custom Metals/ Stones: Yes

Note:
First post of 2019! I’ve made it one of my New years resolution to post more. I’ve got quite a bit of brands/ things I would like to share.
I will change it up a bit; I’ve noticed how I basically rave about all the jewelers/ brands in posts which can get boring and repetitive.
NEW CONTENT SOON!

Noor Fares

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!

Jessica McCormack

Bringing up a post from my drafts collection (I have quite a few unfinished pieces).

Confession: fairly positive there’s a direct correlation with snow days / cabin fever/ and me searching for shiny baubles on the web. Every time it snows, I find myself browsing hashtags on instagram of sparkly baubles.

Bringing me to this posts’ star: Jessica McCormack.
Jessica McCormack
Hailing form land of the kiwis, native New Zealand. As her website states, her love for antiques propelled her career move to Sothebys in London. The rest is history. Her passion and exposure to exquisite priceless pieces naturally directed her in starting her own jewelry line.  I fell in love with this jewelers’ eye and talent in taking antique heirlooms and transitioning those same exact pieces into timeless modernity.


Key and point (large pic below) an antique brooch turned ring pair to match her client’s engagement ring! Full-sized picture for full-sized shock and awe. Is that not the most gorgeous match made?
Vintage

This jewelry artist has an eye for transformative pieces. She has quite a few collections out, but in my opinion her ring jackets are to die for.

David Yurman

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.