You know those “best friends” heart-shaped necklaces that you’re supposed to split with your closest gal pal?
This one is from Walmart. Click for source.
If you and your BFF like the idea of a jewelry connection but crave an edgier design, Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich Jewelers has a sassy solution. She split a pair of my middle finger emoji stud earrings with her friend.
From Jennifer’s Instagram. Click for source.
Birds of a feather flip people off together! I love it!
I met Jennifer in Las Vegas at the JCK jewelry trade show. Today’s WWD has a story on JCK and the simultaneous Couture show, saying that the industry is getting bold and going for new looks. Because I operate on the premise that “Never Is the Next New Thing™,” I’m always happy to read that retailers and customers are feeling open-minded. For instance, writer Marcy Medina noted that mismatched and asymmetrical earrings were strong at the shows, and I’m all about that style. The emoji earrings split by Jennifer and her friend are designed to be purchased singly and mixed with other earrings in my collection. But, if you don’t feel like picking out your own mismatched pair, I have plenty of ready-to-go options, ranging from punctuation …
18K gold. Click to purchase for $450.
… to “screw you” …
Sterling silver. Click to purchase for $70.
… to a pig’s worst nightmare.
Sterling silver. Click to purchase for $70.
If you’re looking for a singular statement earring, check out my 4 1/2″ Cleopatra earring in gold with over half a carat of diamonds.
The earring can be seen on me in this 2012 photo with MrB.
The WWD story said double and triple rings were also well-represented at the trade shows. Hmmm. I’m not sure if that means rings that go across multiple fingers; regular rings worn with midi rings; or basic stacking rings. Well, I have all styles, so it’s all good! I do feel like it’s been a minute since I mentioned my 18K gold mini Siobhan perma-stacked stacking ring with four bands.
18K yellow, white, rose and green gold. Click to purchase.
If your policy is go big or go home, the original 18K gold Siobhan perma-stacked ring has 10 skinny bands.
Great for everyday wear. Click for more photos.
My double-stone Clemence rings offer another way to get a stacked look.
One-of-a-kind 18K gold Clemence ring with citrine and amethyst.
Add a midi ring or two to any of those options, and you’ll have rings for days, like I did here.
For peeps who want layered jewelry that’s a little more punk, here’s a sneak peek at the barbed wire rings that I’ll be adding to my WENDYB by Wendy Brandes diffusion line later this month.
Matching earrings will be coming!
The barbed wire rings come in two sizes — large with a straight band, and small with a twisted band. Sterling silver rings are $80 and gold-plated sterling silver are $90. Email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com if you want to pre-order.
Another thing I enjoyed in the WWD jewelry story was a paragraph about an open letter to the industry written by Andrea Hansen, founder of fine jewelry show room and brand consultancy Luxe Intelligence. WWD wrote that Hansen called on “brands, manufacturers and retailers to take a more proactive approach to help nurture independent designers.” Cheers to that! As Hansen said, “If a store feels they have to buy the same five big brands then every store starts to look the same …” Mmmm. Yes. I have noticed that.
In addition, I related to designer Irene Neuwirth, who said to WWD that her customers required “a mental adjustment, for a woman to want a $100,000 necklace that didn’t really look like a $100,000 necklace. Now clients have faith in the brand and stores take the risk.” I’ve had the same experience with my customers. It takes a little time to change the traditional mindset about luxury fine jewelry and realize that a top-of-the-line piece doesn’t always involve a 10-carat solitaire diamond. Sometimes the value lies in the art and intricacy of the design. My Maneater rings exemplify that.
Click the Bull and Bullfighter Maneater ring to read about the design process.
I was so pleased when people I met in Vegas called the Maneater rings “little sculptures” and “museum-worthy,” because I’ve been aiming for museum-worthy work for years. Now I just have to wait for a few retailers to have the same reaction. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to see my pieces in person at your local stores? I’ll come out for trunk shows and we’ll all drink Champagne together. Promise!