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Of the hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their jewelry at the recent JA show in New York, we discovered some creative new jewelry designers whose interpretations of diamonds, gemstones and precious metals really dazzled us. In addition to their stunning designs and craftsmanship, we also wanted to shine a light on what inspired their collections. We were fascinated by their stories. As retailers, you know how important it is for a piece of jewelry to have a good story behind it. Many customers today, especially millennials, are looking for more meaningful connections to the products they buy, whether it’s locally grown food or ethically-sourced gemstones. So bottom line: As taken as were with the beauty of these pieces, each one lingered with us a bit longer because of the story behind the workmanship.

 

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Dana Bronfman: Practicing green jewelry design

Quietly bold, delicate-yet-edgy is how Bronfman, a trained metalsmith, describes her collection of fine jewelry. Each piece is handmade in New York City, where she finds inspiration in the buildings, tunnels, and bridges she sees everyday—or we should say the panels, rivets, and bolts that hold them together. We love the strong, modern look of her designs, which use reclaimed precious metals, grainy and matte finishes, conflict-free diamonds, and ethically-sourced gemstones. For example, to obtain the polka dot effect of the ring, shown left above, she teamed reclaimed gold with blackened silver and gave it a hand-hammered finish. We also applaud her sense of social responsibility: Bronfman donates some of the proceeds of her sales to charities that support green jewelry practices, natural resource conservation, and scholarships for at-risk youth.

 

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Pinar Soylemez: A global brand celebrating the female spirit

Soylemez, the Istanbul designer behind PS One Jewellery, told us her dream is to make every customer feel as unique as the woman she is. Her inspiration, she says, is the feminine spirit, and the names behind her collections, such as “Happy Spirit” and “Wonders of Nature” seem to bear this out with delightful motifs—birds, flowers, stars—that climb up the ear lobe, wrap delicately around the neck, and embrace wrists and fingers to highlight a woman’s body. She 210384 copyThree-Birds-Ringworks primarily in yellow gold and diamonds.

 

 

 

 

 

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Alan Anderson: Evoking the glamour of old Hollywood

Now that the Trudeau’s have put Canada on our fashion radar, Alan Anderson is a name we want you to remember. This Toronto-based designer creates stunning statement pieces from vintage crystals and gemstones he’s collected from around the world. It’s hardly surprising that his inspiration is borrowed from watching old films from the golden age of Hollywood. What is surprising is how Anderson got his start: “I taught myself and learned to solder at my kitchen table,” he told us. His collections, which range from vibrant jewel tones to soft pastels and clear crystals, have adorned magazine covers and Hollywood A-listers alike. Elizabeth Taylor, who commissioned a favorite amethyst bracelet, was a fan. “I went to see it when her estate was auctioned off, and you could tell it had been well worn,” he says. A fitting tribute to a Hollywood-inspired jewelry designer!

 

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Daniel Bass: A jewelry star is born

How does a gemologist, with a design education from the Fashion Institute of Technology and two decades of experience in the couture and  fine jewelry   industry, suddenly get discovered? When Bass, an occasional film producer, accepted a small part in “Desert Dancer”, a 2014 film starring Freida Pinto, he wore his own jewelry—and the rest, as they say, is history. The designs—handsome diamond accented dog tags—developed a celebrity following, which launched his eponymous collection of fine jewelry. The women’s pieces have been featured in such luxury publications as Town & County and Harpers Bazaar. We especially love his lacy yellow and white diamond cuffs and stunning statement earrings. And the “star is born” story always makes for a great plot!