After taking an apprenticeship with a jeweler, Los Angeles native Mitchell Binder began designing men’s jewelry on his own. His King Baby line for men focuses on edgy motifs such as skulls and daggers. When Binder realized that women were buying King Baby jewelry for themselves, he launched Queen Baby in 2007. The Queen Baby collection uses chunky sterling silver, leather, precious stones and feminine motifs such as roses and crowned hearts.
Exuding a feminine yet edgy style, the Crown Medallion Earrings will have you feeling like royalty. These earrings are designed with a blackened sterling silver crown motif that hangs from a leverback closure. The Crown Medallions are 19mm wide and 28mm long. Buy through Zappos for $143 $100.
NYC born iconic designer Ralph Lauren began his career by selling ties to his high school classmates. In 1967 while working for Brooks Brothers as a salesman, he decided to open a necktie store where he began to sell his own ties under the renowned Polo label. By 1970 Lauren designed a menswear line, and later received the City Award for his exclusive collection created for actor Andrew McLean. Today, Ralph Lauren has over 35 boutiques in United States selling clothing for women and men, shoes, accessories, and home décor.
Twin sisters Ava and Eva Bai launched their Vale jewelry line in 2006. This exquisite line is versatile, glamorous, and exudes a vintage quality. Both sisters have long been fascinated with jewelry design, and both graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, then went on to complete post graduate studies in metallurgy and gemology. Throughout their collections the Bai sisters employ various types of stones set in vermeil, yellow, white, and rose gold. Their pieces are sold in fine boutiques such as Aura in Los Angeles, Searle in New York City, as well as other locations throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
The chunky Dark Amethyst 5-Rock Choker is glamorously edgy. Five glossy amethyst stones are tightly wrapped with an anodized aluminum chain. This necklace is just right at 16” long and fastens with a spring-ring clasp. Buy through Vale at 30% off for $175.
At the young age of 16, Danna Weiss was fascinated with crystals, which inspired her to launch her own jewelry line. Her collections immediately sold at Macy’s and were featured in Seventeen and Redbook. After graduating from Syracuse University in New York, Weiss had a successful career in fashion publishing as a trend forecaster and editor. Twenty years later she developed a serious illness and began using crystals and gemstones for healing. Her passion for jewelry then came alive again and she decided to launch Conscious Jewelry on the premise that stones can heal.
Carnelian, a form of chalcedony, is said to stimulate analytical capabilities, boost perceptiveness, and awaken its wearer’s inherent talents. This semi-precious stone ranges in colors from light brownish-red to deep transparent red.
The Carnelian Stone Necklace contains fifteen highly polished brownish-red carnelian disks that sway on a 36” gold plated link chain. This necklace can be worn long, doubled, or as a lariat. This stunning and versatile necklace can be purchased at Vivre for $462.
Hassan Bounkit embarked on his design career by studying fashion in Florence and then working for couture houses Ferragamo and Marella Ferrera. In 2006 he launched his own line, Bounkit, using vibrant colors in combination with an Art Deco design. Bounkit’s collections have been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Allure, Essence, Glamour, Town & Country, InStyle, O Magazine, and many others.
At a young age, jewelry designer Jessica Ricci had always been fascinated with using stones and crystals for healing. During a time when she lived in Italy, she stumbled upon a New Age store that carried such stones that are meant to be placed in your pocket or purse, and is said to enhance the flow of energy. These stones with their rough cut imperfections were so unique that she thought they were ideal to place on rings instead of being hidden away. Shortly thereafter, Ricci launched her jewelry line named Raw,which contains these healing stones. These cocktail rings have the supposed healing qualities attributed to them, yet they are stylish and beautiful!
Evelyn Knight jewelry is a collection of classic yet simple designs that are meant to be worn everyday and treasured for years to come. Connie Anthon launched Evelyn Knight when she discovered her passion of working with metals and stones. Anthon uses semiprecious stones, freshwater pearls, and cubic zirconium in her designs. Her pieces are all delicately handmade out of her San Francisco studio.
The captivating Almond Pendant Necklace is unique and dazzling. It contains an almond shaped pendant adorned with cubic zirconium accents that hang from a segmented chain. This gold necklace is adjustable from 16” – 18” long. With the use of tiny cubic zirconium accents, Anthon has the Almond Pendant Necklace glistening with sparkle! Buy for $100.
Italian born designer Francesca Belluomini realized her innate love of fashion at a tender age spending hours going through her grandmother’s armoire full of enchanting evening gowns and costume jewelry. As a young adult, Belluomini went on to pursue a degree in classical studies and sociology at the University of Cesare Alfieri in Florence. Thereafter, she traveled throughout the world finding joy in transforming objects from nature into extraordinary pieces of jewelry. She began creating handmade jewelry from her Florida home for friends and family who later encouraged her to launch her own line. Belluomini receives inspiration from nature and uses stones, shells, silk, cotton, paper, and vintage findings to create her designs. Her latest collection is inspired by her summer vacations on the Mediterranean.
The Blue Lace Agate Lariat is unique, bold, and elegant. I had the opportunity to view this lariat and was quite enthralled by its simple, yet lavish design. This necklace is embellished with vibrant agate stones in oval and almond faceted shapes. Both ends of the lariat contain a stunning jumbo blue silk tassel. This lariat is approximately 54” long and can be wrapped numerous ways to create different looks. Buy through Francesca Belluomini for $90.
Susan Hanover launched her first collection in the summer of 2005, after leaving her career as an attorney. Her designs were an instant hit in NYC’s Henri Bendel store. Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Intermix, and others added her collections shortly thereafter. Hanover receives her inspirations from the landscape and nature of her childhood years of living in South Africa. She is particuarly drawn to citrine, smoky quartz, and topaz faceted stones. Celebrities such as Beyonce, Paula Abdul, Sienna Miller, Kelly Ripa, and Molly Sims have been known to wear her collections.
The Assorted 3 Stone Cuff with its chunky gems is bold yet glamorous. Hanover adds these three overlapping stones to the front of the cuff to create a dramatic impact. The faceted stones are in hues of green/blue and white. Each stone is delicately fastened with gold wire to a polished goldstone cuff. This handcrafted bracelet is 2½” wide. Buy the Assorted 3 Stone Cuff through Chickdowntown for $130.
working for Brooks Brothers as a salesman, he decided to open a necktie store where he began to sell his own ties under the renowned Polo label. By 1970 Lauren designed a menswear line, and later received the City Award for his exclusive collection created for actor Andrew McLean. Today, Ralph Lauren has over 35 boutiques in United States selling clothing for women and men, shoes, accessories, and home décor. 
During a time when she lived in Italy, she stumbled upon a New Age store that carried such stones that are meant to be placed in your pocket or purse, and is said to enhance the flow of energy. These stones with their rough cut imperfections were so unique that she thought they were ideal to place on rings instead of being hidden away. Shortly thereafter, Ricci launched her jewelry line named Raw, which contains these healing stones. These cocktail rings have the supposed healing qualities attributed to them, yet they are stylish and beautiful!
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