Here at the Jewelry Revelations jewelry blog, we love Elephant Heart. Elyse Graham, the designer behind this line, was kind enough to allow me to bring you background information on her and Elephant Heart jewelry. Enjoy!
JR: How did you come up with the name Elephant Heart?
EG: My family and I share a love for a very special type of plum—the Elephant Heart plum—which is only in season for a couple weeks out of the year. After years of frustration at missing the plums when they’re in the market, my family decided to plant an Elephant Heart plum tree in our garden, only to discover that squirrels are also terribly fond of this particular fruit.
I was thinking about changing the name of my jewelry business from Elyse Jeanne to something that would better encompass the community work I was also interested in. As I was walking through the garden, I noticed that our plum tree had fruit on it for the first time in years. As I picked a piece, I was struck by the sweetness and beauty of the red center of the plum and knew I had found my name! The plum as a whole is delicious, but its true beauty comes from its big sweet heart —it is this sweetness and beauty that inspires Elephant Heart Jewelry.
Stand out from the crowd with the beautifully bold ABS by Allen Schwartz “Bora Bora” Faceted Oval Ring. This brass ring features an oversized faceted blue glass stone surrounded by four tiny circular turquoise gems. This ring is a real statement piece that’s sure to stir up lots of conversation. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $85.
Egyptian-born designer Mina Hassan brings the influence of her heritage and culture into her MINU Jewels line. Her eclectic collections are reflective of the past yet still contemporary. MINU Jewels is sold in upscale stores and boutiques throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
Famed jeweler, Stephen Dweck, attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC where he started hand carving stone bangles; leading to his jewelry career. Dweck’s first luxury line launched in Bergdorf Goodman on May of 1981 and was an immediate success. Dweck is known for setting semi-precious stones to bold silver, copper, and brass accessories. This month Dweck launched a more affordable line named Garden of Stephen to appeal to a younger generation. This collection features colorful pieces using stones such as lapis, onyx, and turquoise.
The Heart Dangle Earrings with Charms from the Garden of Stephen collection are perfect to wear during the holiday season. A lapis crescent moon, turquoise spade, and malachite flower charm all dangle from a red carnelian heart. The Heart Dangles are bronze gold plated and are 1.95” long. These earrings will add a splash of color to any ensemble. Buy though Bloomingdales for $250.
Jewelry manufacturing has been in designer Caesar Azzam’s family since the 1800’s. At a young age, Azzam learned the art of jewelry design from his father, then in 1990 he went on to attend the Gemological Institute of America and became a Gemologist. After working for fine jewelry designers in Los Angeles, he decided to launch his own collection named Caesar’s Design in 1998. The Caesar’s Design collections are pleasantly unique, fresh, and contemporary.
The elaborate Gumball Butter Ring is part of Azzam’s Gumball Collection that uses traditional stones and organic materials to create an ultra-sophisticated style. A single perfectly round highly polished 12mm turquoise stone sits atop of a thick softly brushed .925 sterling silver band. The Gumball Butter Ring is custom made with each order. Buy through Chickdowntown.com for $575.
The Links of London brand was fully launched in 1990 after a local restaurant commissioned the design of a pair of sterling silver fish cufflinks as a gift to loyal clientele. The Harvey Nichols fashion store located in the UK got wind of the design and immediately placed the pieces on their shelves. Links of London offers an eclectic mix of men’s and women’s jewelry in sterling silver, 18kt gold, and leather. Today, this brand has stores in the UK, Hong Kong, US, and Canada.
The Turquoise Sweetie Starter Charm Bracelet is classically stylish with just the right amount of gems and silver hoop rings. Eight variously shaped turquoise stones are surrounded by clusters of dainty sterling silver rings. This expandable bracelet holds up to 5 charms of your choice allowing you to create your own unique style. Buy through Bloomingdales for $195.
Using bold gemstones to adorn the band of a watch can create a visually stunning effect. I adore these types of timepieces for their versatility as well as their creativity. The Tifton Watch by Chico’s contains two flexible rows of bright turquoisestones that are accented with bali and carnelian beads. Its metal face is delicately embossed with a scroll design to accentuate its flair. Buy through Chico’s for $54 $47.25.
I’ve recently noticed the explosion of Lucite being used in designing bags, shoes, and jewelry. Lucite is a type of durable resin that was discovered by DuPont in 1931. Alexis Bittar is one such designer that uses Lucite in his jewelry collections. The hand sculpted Lucite® Square Bangle Bracelet is vividly luminous and features faceted lines for a sleek effect. This bangle is hand painted in an effervescent light turquoise hue. It also comes in dark teal, matte gold, red, rich berry, and warm grey. Buy through Nordstrom for $75 $36.90.
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