Jewel of the Month: Arrowhead Thread Earrings

March’s Jewel of the Month is my arrowhead thread earring, seen here in platinum.

Arrowhead thread earrings in platinum. Click to purchase.

You got a sneak peek at these last month, when I wore them to the Vanity Fair Oscar party after realizing I’d left my diamond chandelier earrings at home.

Click for original post.

That turned out to be for the best. I watched the red carpet and then the Oscars while I was getting dressed for the party and — as I wrote for InDesign Jewelry — decided that traditional chandelier earrings worn by some celebrities looked too staid with gowns. I especially loved how my platinum threads looked when worn next to the 18K yellow gold threads. You can see that in the photo above and here too.

These work with jeans and a t-shirt, as well as with an evening gown.

Because so many people still hesitate to mix metals (even though they shouldn’t!), the platinum next to the gold gave the look even more of an edge that weekend.

Arrowhead thread earrings in 18K yellow gold. Click to purchase.

The arrowhead jewelry began as an extension of my Punk Platinum collection. I started the platinum line with barbed wire looks last year, after I was inspired to “dirty up” platinum’s image. I explained my thinking at the time:

“Even though some great designers have been making edgy, modern jewelry with platinum for years, the public perception of platinum seems to run to three categories: wedding jewelry, multi-million-dollar Oscar loaners, and blinged-out rap-star chains. I happen to enjoy wedding jewelry, over-the-top red-carpet pieces and big-ass chains. I design the first and last types of jewelry already, and I sure hope someone decides to order a 100-carat necklace from me soon.  But I also love a challenge, and the idea of doing a platinum line that didn’t fit the typical profile got me all excited.”

That led to designs like my hinged, full-finger, platinum barbed wire ring.

Click to purchase.

I always planned to expand beyond barbed wire style, and I started to do so last summer with an arrowhead Y-necklace. The rough-hewn arrowhead shape was based on an actual arrowhead I found in my backyard in New Jersey when I was a kid.

Arrowhead necklaces with their inspiration. Click for original post. From left: small platinum, small gold, large gold, large silver.

I think Y-necklaces are such a sexy look.

The silver sample of the larger arrowhead Y-necklace.

I’ve done all of the arrowhead styles — like the barbed wire pieces — in 18K yellow gold and silver as well because I like to have something for everyone. Here are the thread earrings in sterling silver.

Arrowhead thread earrings in sterling silver. Click to purchase.

If you’ve never worn thread earrings before, don’t be scared! You put the extra-long post at the end through your piercing, the same as you would with a regular earring. Then keep going until you like the way the earrings are hanging on you. It doesn’t feel as weird as you think it’s going to. Honest! And the earrings are very light and comfortable. You can wear them without any kind of earring back, but I’m going to include tiny, clear, rubber stopper-style backs to help you keep your earrings in exactly the position in which you want them all day. The style I have now is 4 1/2″ long from the tip of the post to the tip of the arrowhead, but I’m going to make longer versions that can be threaded through two lobe piercings.

More arrowhead jewelry styles will be on the website next month!