At the end of the year, I tend to feel like I didn’t do as many new designs as I wanted to …
… so it’s good to take a look back and appreciate everything that has been accomplished!
While my Jewel of the Month posts usually feature my newest designs, I also highlight older favorites that are particularly relevant at the moment. That’s how I started 2017 when, in January, I celebrated the Chinese Year of the Rooster with my chicken-in-egg locket.
For a limited time, this locket is at Hummingbird Jewelers in Rhinebeck, N.Y. If you’re in the neighborhood, go check it out!
February’s birthstone is amethyst, so I needed to remind everyone about these luscious stud earrings. They are shown on my website with an earring jacket, but you can buy them alone. Holla at me at info at wendybrandes dot com to inquire.
Click to shop. If you’re a cat lover, I’ve got a kitty earring jacket that works well with these.
Signet rings are hot, pinkie rings are hot … and women are fed the fuck up. That’s why the Jewels of the Month for March were my new feminist signet rings. I can make them in larger sizes to wear on any finger you choose, of course! I’m all about choice.
Click to shop. Photo by Tanya Dukes.
The Jewel of the Month for April has stayed close to home: It was my right-hand woman Eryn’s engagement ring! I redesigned her great-grandmother’s diamond ring to Eryn’s specifications, yet she was STILL surprised by her proposal. Dudes, seriously. Listen to me when I give you proposal advice. I fooled my own employee!
Click for more about the design process and the proposal.
I added two more rebel-women signet rings to my line in May, including a Venus symbol with cat ears. Cat ears on everything!
Click to purchase.
My Mary Queen of Scots snake ring — June‘s Jewel of the Month — was a design I wanted to get to for years. I’d say it was worth the wait.
Click to purchase.
The matching Queen of Scots snake tiara progressed from concept to completed piece in seven short months, in time for a bride to wear it in July. Seriously, seven months is lightning-fast for an important fine-jewelry design like this.
I’ve been working with my friend Monica Stephenson’s ANZA Gems venture for a couple of years now. ANZA is all about providing a transparent journey for colored gemstones from mine to jewelry customer. To do this, Monica personally sources gemstone rough from miners in Tanzania and Kenya; brings the rough back to the U.S. for cutting; and collaborates with a number of designers. She sends 10% of the proceeds from the retail price back to schools in the gem-mining communities. August‘s Jewel of the Month was a toi et moi (or “bypass”) ring featuring two ANZA tourmalines from Kenya.
Click for more information.
Opal is October’s birthstone, but because my new opal ring, lariat necklace, and stud earring designs are all made to order, I unveiled them in September. That way, orders could be filled by the time an October birthday rolled around.
Click to purchase.
When October did arrive, my mind was still on opals — ones that haven’t been set yet, like the stunner below. Email me at info at wendybrandes dot com if you’re interested in a one-of-a-kind custom design!
A safety pin earring in 18K gold with diamonds joined its platinum predecessor in November. I like to have a yellow gold option for all of the designs in my Punk Platinum collection.
Click to purchase.
December‘s Jewel of the Month was another engagement ring made with the bride’s involvement yet still presented with a surprise proposal. I’m the Yoda of proposals: Strong am I with the surprise!
Click to read Abigail’s guest post about her relationship, engagement, and ring.
Another surprise ring didn’t fall into any Jewel of the Month posts, timing-wise. This was my first “mangagement” ring — or at least the first one given by a woman to a man. (I’ve done jewelry for male couples before.) Look at this amazing 2+ carat brown diamond set in 18K yellow gold!
A whole collection that missed being a Jewel of the Month post is the recently announced ANZA Pure x Wendy Brandes. But I’ve got new styles already in the works so you can expect to see an ANZA Pure Jewel of the Month post early in 2018.