Jewelry Trends

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York highlighted the work of two amazing designers: fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo and jewelry designer Hera Arkarakas. And while Arkarakas admits her jewelry is meant predominantly for casual wear, any audience member could see how her designs paired nicely with Valvo’s more glamorous outfits.

And those cuffs! Simple yet urban chic…and infinitely wearable.

Arkarakas teamed with fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo for his runway show, creating a limited edition line of cuffs, which were paired with his spring 2013 collection. Made in oxidized sterling silver, onyx and coral composite, models wore Hera jewelry with Valvo’s cocktail dresses, swimwear and ready-to-wear looks.

A model wears a Hera cuff while walking the Carmen Marc Valvo runway show at Mercedes-Benz fashion week.

A model pairs Hera jewelry with a swimsuit.

Hera jewelry is designed with wearability in mind, and is meant to be layered and easily transition from day to night, which was illustrated in the variety of outfits worn by the models that were paired with Hera cuffs.

Hera cuff created specially for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Designer Carmen Marc Valvo paired Hera cuffs with a variety of runway looks.

Source: 10x

In our pre and re-cycling era, it’s no surprise that the common nail can be put to uses other than, say, holding your house together. Here are a few nail inspired pieces of jewelry that look surprisingly sleek and functional, with just that hint of urban chic.

BELOW:

Cartier

The brand recently re-released Juste un Clou, designed by Aldo Cipullo. The designer has created magic for the house of Cartier since 1969; he turned a simple nail into a symbol of strength and beauty. “My jewelry is both functional and touchable, sleek and warm. It can be worn 24 hours a day without any problems in change of clothes.”

Cartier

Pair of 18k Yellow Gold Jabot Pins, signed A. Cipullo, $7,350; Available at Camilla Dietz Bergeron, LTD.

Photo: Courtesy of Camilla Dietz Bergeron, LTD.

Source: Elle.com

Pantone creates a semi-annual color palette that gives designers (and jewelers) an indicator of what colors we’ll be seeing in the next few months. And while we expect to see the color combinations most dinstinctly in fashion, jewelry and accessories too have their color contribution. First here’s the palette:

Now sit back and take a look at this beautiful video that displays pieces containing the palette’s colors. If any of these pieces suit you, remember: we can create a piece similar to it, but personalized just for you!

At our jewelry store in Scottsdale, we gets a wide array of requests when it comes to custom jewelry. But interestingly, traditional wedding and engagement rings still remain the top choice among couples. Even more so than ever before.

Why, we ask? Perhaps it’s because people don’t want to take chances with their wedding or engagement rings; they want to play it safe with a tried and true design. But we think it goes beyond that.

When you choose a traditional engagement ring, you are choosing generations worth of smart choices. You want to rely on the heritage of those before you, in love and married for life. Tradition runs deep and carries us all with it. We want that historical undercurrent when we make a purchase. We want the history of love!

We can’t say we were surprised when we saw this article. At our Scottsdale studio, we’ve seen a substantial increase in non-traditional engagement ring purchases. This article attributes it to celebrities who have thought outside of the box when it comes to engagement rings, but we also see that more modern couples naturally gravitate toward an engagement ring that speaks to their particular aesthetic. Whatever the reason, we carry gorgeous non-traditional engagement rings, including a collection of Barkev rings, mentioned in this piece:

 

A nontraditional engagement ring from Barkev’s (Photo according to Barkev’s)

Diamonds may be forever, but the traditional diamond engagement ring is not for everyone.

Jennifer Lopez made headlines back in 2002 when she wore a pink diamond engagement ring from then fiancé Ben Affleck, inspiring others to copy the trend. In a recent rom-com, The Five-Year Engagement, Jason Segel’s character proposes to his girlfriend with an antique ruby ring.

Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg chose a simple ruby stunner for his bride, Priscilla Chan, following in the footsteps of football player Eric Johnson, who proposed to Jessica Simpson last fall with a Neil Lane engagement ring centered on a cushion-cut ruby flanked by diamond accents.

In part because of these celebrity ring choices, nontraditional engagement rings have risen in popularity. “While about 95 percent of people come in looking for classic diamonds, there is always that 5 percent that go for something different,” Bob Swanson, owner of Swanson Jewelers in Arlington, Mass., says. “Sapphires and rubies have been popular recently.”

Read on…

Take a look at a few of our our non-traditional engagement rings below or view our full collection here.

Style 10702 Barkev’s Cathedral Style Solitaire Engagement Ring Starting from $1,385.00 Style 10703 Barkev’s Solitaire Engagement Ring Starting from $1,129.00 Style 10733 Barkev Split Shank Engagement Ring With Diamond Side Stones Starting from $2,155.00 Style 10752 Barkev Engagement Ring With Diamond Side Stones Starting from $2,649.00 Style 10764 Barkev Channel Set Engagement Ring With Round Side Diamonds Starting from $1,699.00 Style 10759 Barkev Prong Set Engagement Ring With Diamonds And Matching Plain Wedding Band Starting from $1,999.00 Style 10736 Barkev Engagement Ring With Round Diamond Side Stones Starting from $2,225.00 Style 10780 Barkev Four Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring Starting from $979.00 Style 10795 Barkev Curved Design Four Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring Starting from $715.00

Architecture and jewelry design seem distinctly related. Both require bold, imaginative thinking, a sense of structure and flow and a final result that should wow the viewer. So it’s no surprise that world-renowned architect Frank Gehry could combine elements of his work and create amazing, distinctive pieces that usher in a new world of jewelry design. Undoubtedly we’ll see jewelry making continue in this vain, where artists are inspired by more accessible, eco-friendly or urban material as their source and the look breaks aesthetic boundaries.

Frank Gehry takes one giant leap in this direction and continues to earn his reputation for creating “beauty without rules” with a collection of jewelry constructed of concrete.

According to Pursuitist:

The collection comprises bangles and rings in Gehry’s signature torque design that echoes the twists and gently curved surfaces of his architectural triumphs. In a light gray hue and lined with sterling silver that is ridged like “rebars” which reinforce masonry structures, the jewelry takes on dynamic new expression, reflecting the kinetic rhythm and spontaneity of Gehry’s sketches and models.

“For me, design is about the process,” Gehry said. “Sketching and shaping three-dimensional models and conceptualizing different possibilities—this is the essence of creating, whether in architecture or jewelry.”

Well, summer is almost here. (Well, in Scottsdale, Arizona, it’s been plenty hot already.) So what will you be wearing this summer? Have you treated yourself to a few new pieces? A new bathing suit? A floppy hat that provides tons of sun protection? How about some movie star sunglasses?

If you’re looking for tips on jewelry trends, this is what one expert has to say:

In 2011 the jewelry tendencies showcased big, bold and chunky pieces. In 2012 the top 10 jewelry trends are all about classic pieces for the spring as well as natural pieces for the fall collection. 2012 will be all about sustainability, recycled, raw pieces that will range from classic to exotic. We will also see that few trends that started out in 2011 that will continue to be hot fashion items in 2012, such as the big and bold rings as well as mix of vintage with a contemporary flair.

In addition bright colors will also be a huge within jewelry industry and you can expect to see bold / unexpected color combinations. Large gemstones and natural geodes and crystals will also be so in!

 

 

This just in! A one of a kind as the elongated cushion cut moissanites are no longer available. Call for pricing and info.

These rings stopped me in the tracks this morning. They are more like little works of architecture, designed to give a sense of flow and movement. Here’s what Hannah Conorton of 10x and designer Claudio Pino had to say:

“In this collection, I add meticulous mechanisms to give the stone set the freedom to follow the owner’s movements, reflecting the wearer in many small, intricate ways,” Pino said. “My rings come alive only when they find their owners.”

Pino’s “Infinity” ring is made in 14-karat gold and sterling silver with moonstone, diamonds and ruby.

I was skeptical when I first saw Pino’s rings–the rounded gemstones set into the bottom of the lower shank of the band and seemingly sharp edges of the design had me thinking it might be an uncomfortable piece of jewelry to wear. But I couldn’t have been more wrong; each ring was extremely comfortable and wearable, forming perfectly to the movements of my hand and fingers.

“During the creative process, I never forget that someone will be wearing the ring,” Pino said. “Therefore, rings first need to be very comfortable and belong to the hand.”

Pino’s “Metamorphosis” ring is made in sterling silver and 14-karat gold with moonstone, pearls, turquoise, prehnite and amethyst.

The designer also told me he draws from a wealth of inspiration for his creations, from the aurora borealis to ancient Egypt, carefully constructing which gemstones are paired with one another in each ring.

“I juxtapose cold silver to the warm gold, calm green emeralds to vivid red rubies, to the hue of the charm and freshness of whitewater pearls,” he said. “Each design portrays a slice of life.”

Pino’s Cereus ring is made in 14-karat gold with opal, tanzanite, blue diamonds and pearls.