Experiencing the creations of independent jewelers at the Couture Jewelry Show in Las Vegas this past week was nothing short of inspiring. Though there were many microtrends on offer, these five stood out as the ones to shop this year. After meeting with so many designers and artisans, I felt inspired to up my jewelry game yet again.
Leather Cords
With gold prices at an all-time high, designers have shifted toward using stones and alternative materials, sparking a renewed wave of creativity. Leather cord necklaces provided a place to hang playful pendants and substantial gems, like the diamond solitaire from Dezso.
Bea Bongiasca Black Leather Maxi Vine Necklace
Beck Jewels Scuba Choker
Sea Motifs
As summer approaches, sea motifs become omnipresent, and Violette Jewelry makes some of my personal favorites. Though the brand has been around for several years, this was its Vegas debut. A staple of the collection is the hand-carved fish made from the many shades of tourmaline. The attention to detail, like the delicate scales and fins, makes each pendant one of a kind.
Violette Tourmaline Fish Pendant
Dezso 18K Gold Clam Necklace
Francesca Villa The Mermaid Has Her Cherries Ring
Organic Shapes and Materials
Ron Anderson and David Rees of Ten Thousand Things travel to Jaipur, India, every year to source stones and work with artisans on beautiful, organic creations. This year was no exception—some of the standouts to me are were multi-tiered gold pendants surrounding smooth aquamarine and citrine stones.
Jacquie Aiche Multi Shape Prong Gemstone Bracelet
Joelle Kharrat Tow 05 Totem Pendant
Ten Thousand Things Triple Victorian Pendant Necklace
Shoulder-Duster Earrings
Renna Jewels crafted elegant shoulder-duster earrings from multicolored stones, featuring faceted rock crystal backed by luminous layers of mother-of-pearl, chrysoprase, labradorite, and lapis lazuli. Each strand is encircled by diamond-studded sunbursts, creating a radiant, ethereal effect.
Jenna Blake Drop Earrings
Renna Galaxy Earrings
Francesca Villa Luchadores The Mankind of Long Earrings
Saturated Color
Bold pieces and saturated colors were everywhere as well. Selim Mouzannar enhanced the vibrancy of his pieces by layering seven coats of enamel over 18-karat gold, making each piece burst with rich, luminous color.
Anita Ko Hepburn Bracelet
Selim Mouzannar Mina Red Snapper Ring Aquamarine
