You can transform your summer wardrobe with intaglio pieces, stackable rings and enamel charms.
Seal & Scribe’s Lates Line Solid Gold Draws on Intaglios
Shari Cohen She decided, on a random hunch in 2017, to make a mould of a special seal. “It was one that I knew I would likely never see again – so, I created a mold of it ‘just in case’ but had no real plans as to what I would do with it.” It so happened that a client came to her; she was about to have very serious surgery and the seal spoke to her situation. “She was very busy preparing for the surgery and on the day of her operation, the seal she loved sold online.” A few months later, the client reached out to Shari asking about the piece. Shari still had an idea, even though the seal had been sold. “I explained about the mold I had made and how I could create a solid gold version of the same necklace.” This happy client inspired Seal & Scribe’s new Solid Gold collection.
The latest collection, which is hand-cast in 18k yellow gold, features a design in mixed metals, with the motif etched into gold in a similar style to intaglios. Solid Gold consists of 17 pieces – necklaces, rings, and earrings. Shari will add pieces to her collection over time. According to the designer, the majority of the line can be ordered as custom-made items. She explains that clients can choose the color of gold in which they want their seals to be cast. The client can also choose the color of the chain and setting. “The Solid Gold collection is customizable to each client’s tastes and needs,” she adds.
For the Solid Gold pieces made in California, Shari mainly used “the highest quality diamond melee,” which she was able to source. “I want the diamonds to have a lot of fire and scintillation, but also pop in their patinated settings,” she says, alluding to the patina underneath the diamond elements that she employs as a “nod to the Georgian and Victorian eras, which are the time periods from whence most of Seal & Scribe’s antique seals come from.” Gem accents in sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other stones are always possible with this collection, adds Shari.
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Aurelia Demark’s Drip Drop Rings with Bright Colorful Gems
Aurelia Demark Since she was in college, Aurelia has designed jewelry. Growing up in the 80s, she recalls her mother “accessorizing with fabulous jewelry.” As Aurelia got older, she realized accessories and jewelry could really pull together a look. “Jewelry makes you feel beautiful and it’s easy to wear and fun to wear too. And then you think about how fine jewelry is made – there’s so much artistry that goes into it from start to finish. Both the process and product are stunning. I’m drawn by the beauty of it all,” says Aurelia, who founded her namesake brand in 2017, and now works out of her studio in Palm Beach, Florida.
The fluid, abstract form of a raindrop inspired the new capsule line Drip Drop rings. “Wrapped around a finger as a ring, the design becomes quite architectural and striking, especially when you wear two of them,” she adds. Currently, the collection only consists of rings. However, the designer plans to expand it into other shapes such as earrings and bracelets.
The form of the Drip Drop rings allows it to be ‘nested,’ or stacked; the idea to do so came about as she was designing the pieces. “I discovered that if there was a slight curve to the design, it would lend itself to layering another ring that would fit into that space. I think it’s important to give clients options and it’s also fun to wear them in different ways. These rings can be worn in three different ways,” says Aurelia, whose jewelry is manufactured in New York.
Rings with blue topaz, pink sapphires or orange sapphires are finished in high-polish. “This makes the surface very smooth and shows the subtle curves and knife-edge detail well.”
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Summer Fruit from The Fête Is Charming and Fun
Architect-turned-designer Elena Howell began designing jewelry as a “fun side project.” She soon realized that it was something that she wanted to pursue full-time. “While I do continue to be captivated and inspired by architecture, I have found that I love the smaller, more intimate scale of jewelry design,” says Elena, who started her brand, The Fête, offering charm-styled pieces in 14k gold as well as vermeil.
What made you choose charms as the focus of your jewelry line? “I decided to design a charm-based collection because I found there to be a true gap in the market when I was searching for charms with a more minimalist vibe. Charm bracelets, on the whole, tend to be very maximalist or over-designed.”
Elena initially produced all of her jewelry in Los Angeles. However, as her business expanded, she began moving more and more production to Thailand. “Thailand has a long history of producing beautiful and meticulously crafted jewelry,” she adds.
What else will we be seeing soon besides 14k gold peaches and avocados, strawberry and cherry fruit enamel charms? “Pineapples and Watermelons are on the horizon.” The charms are all attached to the necklaces and bracelets in-house; meanwhile, Elena and her team are working on chains with the functionality to open and close. The hope is that her pieces will become more versatile.