This has been a year full of twists and turns for me in terms of jewelry design. I started 2018 with an unusual custom job and ended the year feeling increasingly excited about my decision to phase out my silver collection to focus on my gold designs. Here are the pieces I highlighted on the blog during 2018. Click the photos to read the original posts.
The unusual custom job that became January’s Jewel of the Month was a garnet man brooch, created with an ANZA Gems stone for Dave, the husband of ANZA Gems founder Monica Stephenson.
Click for the first of two posts about this piece.
There have been eras during which men commonly wore extravagant jewelry. During those periods, it would have been enough to call this piece a “brooch” because anyone could and would wear it. But because men’s socially acceptable jewelry choices are so limited now — only recently have male celebrities started wearing brooches on the red carpet — I feel I have to go with the gendered “man brooch.” That makes it much more exciting for people: Everyone wants to know about the guy who is interesting enough to wear a brooch!
I combined February’s and March’s Jewel of the Month posts in order to feature both wedding bands commissions by my right-hand woman Eryn and her right-hand man Donnie.
This is his, click for hers!
April is such a charming month, isn’t it? I love the spring. So it was a good time for an ANZA PURE x Wendy Brandes charm ring.
Give back to mining communities by buying an ANZA PURE x Wendy Brandes jewel!
Can you believe the Met Gala theme this May was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and no one wore my Jonah and the Whale Maneater ring? Good God! What an oversight.
I had some other good options too! Click to see them.
June featured something you don’t come across every month … week … or day. A black diamond carved into the shape of a skull and set in a “Carpe Diem” medallion.
It’s not onyx. It’s a diamond!
And there was a bonus jewel in June to celebrate the BEST! HOLIDAY! EVER! Click the photo to learn more about how the Latvians par-tay on the summer solstice.
I’m all about Jāņi now.
One of my last new silver styles came out in July. This NASTY signet ring has two diamond accents, and if you buy it, I’ll make a donation to Planned Parenthood in your name.
Be NASTY and help out Planned Parenthood.
In August, I finally designed a bracelet to complement my Cleopatra earrings and necklace.
Made to order! Email info@wendybrandes.com to inquire.
The final, final silver designs came out in September and I ended on a sex-ay note with the peach and eggplant emojis. Those are sold, but if you want them in gold, holla at me at info at wendybrandes dot com.
Believe it or not, they went to separate homes!
October is a good month for swords …
October Jewel of the Month, Part I.
… AND skulls, don’t you agree?
After I did the post, I changed these black-diamond skull earrings to drops from studs!
In November, I reminded you not to screw around when I put gold pieces on sale — you gotta act fast to get what you want.
One of my personal favorite mixed pairs.
The swans a-swimming that were featured this month are still available on 1stdibs.com. When they’re gone, I might not do them again as I focus on new designs for 2019, so this is your moment to secure your swan.
The last of three that I made.
I plan to kick off 2019 with a new pair of earrings. Stay tuned!