The necklace in question, by Gerard Yosca.

I picked up a lovely piece of Gerard Yosca while on my recent trip to New York City (thanks, Gerard!). And it’s getting all the love. With coral, pale turquoise, and faceted aventurine green, it surprisingly goes with almost everything I’m wearing these days.

The colors and length of the necklace go with everything I am wearing for Spring/Summer 2012.

I’m not bitter. In fact, it is a good reminder for me of the power of jewelry to transform. Jewelry can elevate, not just your outfit, but your SPIRIT. One piece, carefully chosen or just thrown on, can make your day. Jewelry given as a gift, or received, can change your attitude. Jewelry is emotional, personal, significant, meaningful.

If this sounds frivolous, forgive me, but I think you should try it.

What’s your favorite piece of jewelry right now? What makes you happy?

(Of course, if you really like my necklace, I can ask Gerard Yosca about the exact one (contact me: monica at idazzle dot com), or see a nice selection of current items from favorite retailers Charm & Chain and Greenwich Jewelers.)

View this post on idazzle.com: One Perfect Piece: How to Accessorize with Jewelry

The husband and wife team behind Luna & Stella has been creating personalized jewelry to commemorate significant relationships since 2009. Founders Suzanne Ellis Wernevi and Erik Wernevi wanted to honor the unique relationships between families and friends with totally customizable jewelry. Precious gems are set into modern settings that suggest classic style. With a variety of styles in their namesake of moon and stars, the possibilities for customizing are almost endless with chain lengths, metal types and 12 different birthstone gems. They are especially proud of their personalized customer service, and hope to create a unique experience for each customer.

Luna & Stella Moon & Stars Birthstone Charm Necklace, totally customizable, starting at $115.

Mother’s Day would be a big holiday for Luna & Stella under any circumstances, but this Mother’s Day is especially important: Suzanne and Erik are expecting their first baby, and is due to arrive any moment, making this Suzanne’s first official Mother’s Day!

The Jewelry of Luna & Stella

Their clean and simple website guides you through their offerings of rings, earrings, bracelets, cufflinks, and pendants. There are ways to add on and build for any category. You can choose an initial design, like a pendant with stars or the very current wing design on a specific length of chain, then add more birthstone charms as needed in the future. I like the idea of combining their eternity band design with the bezel-set stacking rings to create a unique look that represents important dates, but in a way that looks like fashionable stacking rings in a very affordable price range. Going beyond necklaces and rings, their bangle bracelet with birthstone charms is totally unique, and their cufflinks provide an interesting way to personalize a gift for men. This is significant, stylish jewelry that just happens to be deeply personal.

Luna & Stella designs are all made of natural gemstones and precious metals. They recently relocated the company headquarters from New York City to Rhode Island, which has a rich history of being a jewelry manufacturing base in the US.

Luna & Stella Crescent Moon Stacking Ring, totally customizable, starting at $48.

Luna & Stella Interview

idazzle.com: 2009 seems like a challenging time to start a new company. What made you feel that this jewelry genre needed your attention?
Suzanne Ellis Wernevi, Luna & Stella founder: Birthstone jewelry has been around for a long time (I remember my mom buying my grandmother a Christmas tree pin in the early 80s with her children’s and grandchildren’s birthstones for ornaments!), but we felt it could use a fresh approach. There has been a growing trend in symbolic jewelry for moms over the last few years, particularly styles with initials and names, but we liked the more subtle look of gemstones. Most of what was on the market in birthstone jewelry was frankly pretty tacky, and we thought there was an opportunity for a more sophisticated, modern look. We found that despite the recession, people were still willing to buy gifts for their loved ones, particularly ones that were symbolic and meaningful to the recipient.

Where did the original inspiration come from for the designs that you launched with?
The name Luna & Stella means “moon and star” in Italian — we like to say that like the relationship between moon & star, our jewelry symbolizes the connections between ourselves and those we love. Our first designs were all inspired by celestial iconography.

Luna & Stella Moon & Stars Birthstone Necklace, totally customizable, starting at $205.

Luna & Stella Crescent Moon Birthstone Charm Bangle Bracelet, totally customizable, bangle bracelet is $98, and charms start at $45 each.

Do either of you have specific jewelry experience that helped you launch Luna & Stella?
Prior to starting Luna & Stella, I headed merchandising and design for RedEnvelope, which had a sizable jewelry business. I have held a variety of merchandising and product development roles for J.Crew, Bally, and Victoria’s Secret. I’ve worked in nearly every category, from swimwear to apparel to leather goods, but have always loved jewelry and accessories best.

You have gotten some great press from The Today Show, People Magazine, and others. How does it feel to have some national press spotlight on your company?
We’ve been lucky to be covered in many national news media outlets, such as The Today Show, People, UsWeekly, Oprah, Real Simple, and Esquire. We are grateful for the positive attention, but the best feedback we get is from our customers. We love hearing client’s individual stories about the people our jewelry represents, and what they mean to them. Last mother’s day, after our appearance on The Today Show, we got a call from a woman who wanted to buy our moon and stars charm necklace for her granddaughter. The woman’s husband had recently passed away, and she wanted to give her granddaughter a gift with her grandfather’s birthstone to remind her of him. Granddaughter and grandfather loved to look at the stars together, so our design spoke to her in a very special way. We love to hear these very personal interpretations of the meaning of our jewelry to our customers.

Are there some challenges with having an all-custom jewelry model?
A custom jewelry model is definitely more labor intensive, but we believe that creating individual pieces makes them more meaningful to our customers. Most of our pieces can be easily added to over time, in celebration of a special occasion, or with the addition of a new member to the family.

Luna & Stella Birthstone Locket Cufflinks, totally customizable, starting at $150.

Have you been asked to create items outside of what you offer on your website?
We do get requests and try to accommodate them as much as possible. We just created a brooch inspired by our moon & stars birthstone necklace for a customer that wanted one as a birthday gift for her mother.

Can people return something they have ordered?
We accept returns on all items, with the exception of the moon & stars birthstone necklace.

Luna & Stella Heart Birthstone Charm Necklace, totally customizable, starting at $70.

It sounds like it has been an exciting couple of years! What’s next for Luna & Stella?
We look forward to expanding our collection and bringing the Luna & Stella brand to a growing base of customers, both in the US and overseas. We also hope to set up a small manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, and to increase the number of styles we offer in 14K gold per customer requests.

We are so excited for your new arrival! Do you think that you will be even more inspired once you are parents yourselves?
We are too! Its hard to anticipate the ways that parenthood will change our lives, but we imagine that it will bring new ideas and opportunities that we never expected. We look forward to the adventure!

Thank you, Suzanne and Erik, for the opportunity to get to know you and your designs better! You can see more and purchase Luna & Stella designs at their website here. You can also email me at monica at idazzle dot com to inquire, and I’ll get you in touch with the right people.

View this post on idazzle.com: Jewelry Designer Spotlight: Luna & Stella Personalized Jewelry

Selena Gomez wearing IPPOLITA Modern Rock Candy Jewelry at the 25th Annual Kid's Choice Awards

The earrings are from IPPOLITA’s Modern Rock Candy Collection, in faceted and polished gemstones and pearls. Here’s a close-up, you can find them on the IPPOLITA website here.

IPPOLITA Modern Rock Candy Hoop Earrings in Silk Color, worn by Selena Gomez at the 25th Annual Kid's Choice Awards.

Making a gorgeous statement, the Modern Rock Candy Party Ring Selena was wearing looks a little like a painting. I think this palette could go with every single piece in a wardrobe. You can find the ring on IPPOLITA’s site here.

IPPOLITA Modern Rock Candy Ring in Silk Road Color Story, worn by Selena Gomez at the 25th Annual Kid's Choice Awards.

For more information, contact IPPOLITA here. The good news is that the green slime that gets dumped on attendees of the Kid’s Choice Awards Show should just wash right off of these gems. Not so sure about the clothes.

View this post on idazzle.com: idazzle.com Close-Up: Selena Gomez Wears Ippolita Jewelry

Colette Jewelry Draco Earrings from the Galaxia Collection, 18kt black gold with diamonds and moonstones, Retail $9980.

The Jewelry of Colette

Born into a French-Mexican family, Colette’s life has straddled both cultures and geographic locations. She manages to marry the more colorful, flamboyant imagery of Mexican and ancient native cultures with a more restrained French aesthetic. In Colette’s skillful hands, snakes are serpents from Eden, tempting rather than repelling us. Swords are bejeweled daggers whose charm doesn’t completely bely their danger. This is conversation-piece jewelry.

Colette Jewelry Excalibur Ring from the Azucar Collection, in 18kt black gold with white diamonds. Retail $4600.

Each design starts with a premise, an idea of inspiration. Then she works through the process of detailed drawings and wax models, until finally the finished piece of jewelry is set and polished to Colette’s exact specifications. Then she physically wears the piece, living with it for a while until she deems it is perfect, covet-able, and ready to weave into her collections.

Her collections are somewhat prolific, and cover a range of themes: flies, flowers, skulls, even the celestial is inspiration. I could spend at least a day browsing through everything. Made of gorgeous materials, every single piece receives the same amount of exacting scrutiny. Colette is especially skillful at incorporating the mechanics of the item into the design: the sword wraps effortlessly and becomes the band. Of course, the real stars here are the stones. With Colette, it always comes back to the stones…

Colette Jewelry Fly Pendant from the Bestioles Collection, 18kt black gold with black and white diamond pave and carved Labradorite, Retail $20,600.

The Interview with Colette

idazzle: It sounds as though your initial inspiration came from coaxing color and light from stones that hadn’t been seen before. Have you moved away from that or is that still an inspiration?
Colette: I have always been in love with color, especially the colors you find in nature like the blues, greens and turquoises of the ocean, land, animals and their intricacies, rainbow sunsets and flowers. You can find the most special color combinations. I love to play with different color palettes, tones and hues. I like to work with stones that have amazing color saturation and then combining them with neutral colors such as diamonds. I am so inspired by colors and what surrounds me – especially when I travel. My latest collection that is currently in the works is largely inspired by the color of the sea in Italy and the magnificent dragonflies that buzz around – their wings are just sensational.

Colette Jewelry Taipan Ring from the Eden Collection, 18kt black gold with diamonds and emeralds, Retail $8520.

Can’t wait to see those! What does your creative process look like? Do you begin with the stones, or with sketches?
Once I have in mind what I want to create I start with a simple sketch, then I move to the real sketch which means a full drawing in color with all the specifications for stone sizes and type of stone. Usually when I get the inspiration of a collection, I already know which stones I am going to work with. It is a simultaneous process. After the proper drawing is finished, then I move to the CAD design, and once everything is perfect, I print a wax and it goes to casting. After that you finally get to see exactly how the design is going to look which gets me really excited! Then, I proceed to setting and finally polishing. The piece is ready. After I make sure everything is made to perfection including the setting, the gold, finish and polish, I wear the piece for a little while. With photography being one of my hobbies, I like to take the pictures of my pieces myself, which I do in different positions and with varying backgrounds. If I want to put the piece in my jewelry box, then I know it is perfect and ready to show!

Colette Jewelry Green Camelot Ring from the Azucar Collection, 18kt black gold with white and black diamonds and emeralds, Retail $12,100.

You have a number of different collections, each with a central theme underlying. Do you have a favorite collection, something especially close to your heart?
The closest one to my heart is “feuille” because it involves so much of my personal life; it is the foundation of my business and thus my logo. The motif is a leaf that I found many years ago on Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris. I have always collected leaves and have a beautiful collection of leaves that I have found over the years. I love leaves because of their beauty and because they mark the seasons and that they fall from trees that represent life. Their structure also seems so elegant. And I want to immortalize leaves by making them into jewelry, setting them with different colored diamonds to represent each season of the year.

Colette Due Bracelet from the Feuille Collection, 18kt black gold with white and black diamond pave, Retail $12,150.

How does your heritage affect your designs?
I have lived between France and Mexico my whole life and I think that this cultural background absolutely has had an impact on my work. In Mexico, there is a great tradition of mysticism that comes from the ancient Azteca culture and a very vivid use of color that one can see in everyday life. My French sensibility I think has made me very in tune with elegance in design and simplicity of lines.

How do you decide when a piece is finished, complete?
I think that a piece is finished when I see that its design truly expresses the idea that I started with and after I have worn it and am confident that it is something that I would like to have for myself.

Colette Jewelry Dominica Ring from the Mar Collection, 18kt yellow gold seastar legs hold a faceted rose quartz, Retail $7500.

Do you have a current muse or obsession?
My current obsessions are insects and wings. These structures are so intricate and many times we look at them and do not really see them and to me they represent different sorts of mysteries.

Out of curiosity, what were the stones you worked with originally, that started it all?
The stones that I worked with originally are Peridot, Tanzanite, and Apatite.

Colette Jewelry single stud earring with attached cuff that wraps around the ear, 18kt black gold with white diamonds and moonstone, Retail $3900.

Thank you so much, Colette, for a glimpse into your magical world!

To see more of her collection, or to contact Colette and her staff about a design, you can visit them at www.colettejewelry.com. You can also see her designs at several stores in the USA and Mexico, including Fragments at 116 Prince Street, New York, New York, or call 212.334.9588.

View this post on idazzle.com: Jewelry Designer Spotlight: Colette Jewelry Interview

The BaubleBar Anniversary Sale begins Monday, January 23rd, and extends through Sunday, January 29th. Here’s how it works. Go to www.BaubleBar.com, and become a member (it’s free and definitely worth it for their special offerings and Buried Bauble treasure hunts) or log in if you already are a member. Then click on the “One Year Shop” and you’ll enter the sale page where you can find a best-selling piece for a price that will make your week!

BaubleBar Blue Drop Earrings, Original Retail $32, Sale $22.

BaubleBar Crescent Moon Necklace, Original Retail $38, Sale $24.

BaubleBar Erickson Beamon Necklace, Original Retail $250, Sale $175.

View this post on idazzle.com: BaubleBar Turns One with Style: BaubleBar Anniversary Sale!

3 Wishes from Greenwich Jewelers

One of my favorite retailers, Greenwich Jewelers in NYC, is featuring a campaign this Holiday season that warms my heart (and makes my pulse race!). The store, which normally features a finely-curated selection of designer jewelry from $100 to $1,000,000, is promoting 3 very special one-of-a-kind jewelry items, and will donate a substantial portion of the selling price to the purchaser’s charity of choice! This is a win-win-win for everyone, so please, consider the following exceptional items for your special someone.

This extraordinarily rare necklace by award-winning designer Todd Reed represents a literally once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to assemble 36 carats of Canadian-sourced (non-conflict) diamonds, set into the 18kt and sterling silver necklace in their natural state. Priced at $190,000, a full $10,000 will be donated.

18kt gold and sterling silver necklace with 36 carats of diamonds by Todd Reed, Retail $190,000.

Also stunning, this necklace by GURHAN features rose-cut midnight blue sapphires set into hand-hammered 24kt gold bezels. It should grace someone’s neck this Holiday season, and send $7500 of the $75,000 purchase price to the charity of your choice.

24kt gold and Sapphire Necklace by GURHAN, Retail $75,000.

It would be hard to choose, but I could see myself wearing this particular bracelet, custom made by Greenwich Jewelers. It features 27 carats of beautifully matched black, near-colorless, and natural cognac-colored diamonds, in a sophisticated palette. $5000 of the $50,000 purchase price will be donated for this bracelet.

18kt white gold bracelet by Greenwich Jewelers with 27 carats of multi-color diamonds, Retail $50,000.

Dreaming in Color

Want to own a piece of jewelry with a red-carpet provenance (and a ridiculously reasonable price)? These lovely drop earrings from Shamila Jiwa feature a mesmerizing shade of green onyx (seems to curiously glow from within) and an accent of diamonds in 14kt and 18kt signature tulip design.

14kt and 18kt Earrings with Diamonds and Green Onyx by Shamila Jiwa, Retail $675.

This ring reminds me of a luscious Klimt painting, all shimmer and subtle color. Different shades of sapphires are bezel-set into signature-textured 18kt gold by Alex Sepkus, available from Fragments.

18kt ring by Alex Sepkus with Sapphires and Diamonds, Retail $7825.

I love literally everything from Ippolita, but I’m especially intrigued by this ring. With 4 organic, yet geometric gems in a loose cluster, I like the way skin shows through and the bands are substantially delicate. In the “Starry Night” palette, the dusky-hued blues are somehow versatile.

18kt yellow gold Starry Night ring by Ippolita, Retail $2500.

Just Sparkle

Sometimes, a girl just has to have some sparkle. Of the rare, carbon type. Jemma Wynne creates some luxurious, yet infinitely wearable jewelry in NYC. I think a couple of these bangles (okay, you could start with just one) would get you some serious points.

18kt gold Black and White bangles by Jemma Wynne, click image for more details.

If you love pearls, but don’t love the traditional designs that usually accompany classic pearl jewelry, this necklace from Vibes could be the one. Gorgeous South Sea pearls in shimmery hues of peach, pistachio and apricot are selected in shapes with a lot of character. Refined polished gold and some subtle sparkle from diamonds make this a truly stand-out piece, available from Fragments.

18kt gold, South Sea pearl and diamond necklace by Vibes, Retail $33,340.

And finally, for a gasp-worthy gift of diamond jewelry, I don’t think much can top these exquisite earrings by Irene Neuwirth. Substantial rose-cut diamonds in subtle shades of cognac are artfully framed in pave diamonds in a complementary shade of rose gold.

Diamond Collection Cognac Earrings by Irene Neuwirth, Retail $49,260.

So, which of these gifts would you choose?

View this post on idazzle.com: Luxury Jewelry Gift Ideas

Give someone special these cushion-cut crystal earrings in a warm and unexpected shade of peach. From my favorite secret weapon for fashion-forward jewelry, BaubleBar.

Cushion-cut Crystal Stud Earrings in Champagne Peach from BaubleBar, Retail $40.

Also from BaubleBar, this bracelet makes a statement all on its own, or could layer with other arm candy. At just $20, it’s easy to justify.

Crystal Pop Bracelet from BaubleBar, in leather, crystal and acrylic, Retail $20.

This is a great example of affordable fine jewelry from GURHAN, a designer whose distinctive hammered finish is instantly recognizable. This ring coordinates with other pieces from his collection, and could stack with other rings.

Blackened sterling silver and high karat gold ring with blue topaz by GURHAN, Retail $175.

These studs by Nicky Hilton have a fierce silhouette, and just the right amount of sparkle, for under $50.

Stud earrings by Nicky Hilton in 18kt gold plate over sterling silver with CZs, Retail $46.70.

One of my favorite independent jewelry designers, Shamila Jiwa, has some fabulous options for gifts. These talisman necklaces feature dozens of full-cut champagne colored diamonds set into black sterling silver, for beautiful sparkle and contrast. They would be perfect for everyday, and look great layered up (I love the evil eye marquise design), prices range from $350 to $480 for beautifully executed fine jewelry.

Pave diamond layering necklaces by Shamila Jiwa in rhodium-plated sterling silver, and rutilated quartz earrings, Retails $275 to $480.

This earth-friendly pair of earrings by design duo Aroc Urtu would be perfect for someone who appreciates natural beauty. Smooth white beach stones, collected from all over the world, are matched organically and set with small pink sapphires and hung on simple silver wires.

White Beach Stone and Pink Sapphire Earrings in Sterling Silver by Aroc Urtu, Retail $232.

If you want to make it memorable, Dalla Nonna has a fresh spin on personalized jewelry (check out a comprehensive gift guide for personalized jewelry here). Their little letters bracelets ™ are hip, sweet, and reasonable enough to get one for all your girlfriends.

A stack of the little letter bracelets by Dalla Nonna, starting at $98 for single letters in silver.

And finally, for some serious holiday sparkle, we turn to (legendary) fashion jewelry designer Gerard Yosca. The design of these drop earrings manages to be modern and vintage at the same time.

Sapphire Rhinestone Drop Earrings by Gerard Yosca, Retail $200.

View this post on idazzle.com: Great Jewelry Gifts under $500

Don’t see what you’re looking for? I have a previous post on personalized jewelry that you can read here, with more ideas.

Note: Keep in mind that most personalized jewelry requires customization that takes some time. I have tried to note lead times when I could find them.

Vintage Elegance

Charm and Chain carries a line of amazing designs from Soixante Neuf. There is a look and feel to these pieces of a cherished heirloom that has been handed down.

This unique glass locket would make a beautiful gift. Clear glass can be engraved with initial(s), then the hinged case can be opened to store some treasure: photo, lock of hair (Victorian-style), maybe sand from a special vacation? I also love the long chain. Allow up to 3 weeks for delivery.

Glass locket from Soixante Neuf with 14kt vermeil setting and 32 inch chain, Retail $320.

This oval ring by Soixante Neuf is vintage in style, but modern in scale. Up to 3 initials can be carved into the top. Order by Dec 3rd, 2011 to guarantee delivery by December 23rd. Or you can always wrap a photo–it’s worth the wait.

Oval Monogram ring by Soixante Neuf in 14kt vermeil, Retail $295.

Modern Sensibility

There are some great emerging designers putting their own fresh spin on personalized jewelry. I especially like the direction of Dalla Nonna, a newly minted jewelry design team that approaches modern design with a dose of tradition. Since all their items are made by hand, allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. Gift notification can be sent immediately.

Little Letter pendant by Dalla Nonna, available in silver, yellow and rose gold on a 16 inch chain, Retail starting at $110.

I also really love their bracelets, featuring one or more of the little letters above. They would make a stylish gift for a girlfriend, and look great layered up with other bracelets. Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.

A stack of Dalla Nonna little letters bracelets, available in a wide array of colors and silver, gold and rose gold letters, Retails starting at $98.

Truly customizable, the Dalla Nonna calendar necklace ™ is a unique way to mark (literally) a significant date. You can choose your month and day, metal, sapphire color to mark the date, and shiny or matte finish to make it your own. Allow 3-6 weeks to create this individual work of art (a gift notification can be sent immediately).

The Dalla Nonna calendar necklace in gold with a red sapphire on 18 inch chain, Retail $675.

Minimalist

If modern design is what you have in mind, consider this cigar band ring from Max & Chloe. At 3/4 of an inch wide, it could work for a man or woman. You can choose up to 3 initials to carve out of silver or 14kt gold. Allow 2-3 weeks to craft this to your specifications.

West Avenue Cigar Band ring in silver, Retail $210.

Also from Max&Chloe, here is a fresh take on the single initial idea. Allow up to 3 weeks for delivery.

West Avenue cut out initial necklace in sterling silver, Retail $98.

This bangle incorporates very clean, modern design with sentimental birthstones. The jewelry from Luna&Stella allows for quite a bit of customization, and is a favorite of new celebrity moms. You can start small and stack more gems over time with many of their designs.

Sterling Silver Crescent Moon Birthstone Charm Bangle Bracelet, Retail starting at $98.

I’m in love with these number rings by Lulu Frost. The number styles are inspired by the iconic room numbers at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. What a clever little way of referencing your special number! Allow up to 4 weeks for delivery, as all are made to order.

14kt yellow gold Number Ring by Lulu Frost CODE, Retail $440.

Feminine Mystique

For something unapologetically feminine, consider one of the designs below. I love the amazing negative-space cut outs, that are intricate without being fussy.

For the ultimate luxe expression, this pendant from Max&Chloe traces the delicate curves with pave diamonds in 14kt yellow, white or rose (sigh!) gold. Allow 2-4 weeks for each handmade creation.

14kt yellow gold Initial Monogram Necklace with Diamonds from MaxandChloe, Retail $2500.

If you love the idea of the above necklace, but prefer something a little less precious, this option from BaubleBar is a pretty amazing price point. The pendants are available in sterling silver or 14kt gold plating over sterling silver, and a Medium or Large size, pictured below. Each necklace is custom made to your specifications and takes about 4 weeks.

14kt plate over sterling silver Monogram Pendant, Large, by BaubleBar.com, Retail $115

There is something old-school sweet and charming about the full name spelled out in script. In addition to choosing silver or gold plated, you can really customize by choosing your length of chain. Allow 4 weeks to get your necklace.

14kt gold plate Nameplate Necklace by Bauble Bar, Retail $88.

Last, but not least: Guy Ideas

Finally, a decent accessory for men, that is subtly sentimental. He can literally wear his heart on his sleeve with these ingenious cufflinks by Luna&Stella. Made in clean, simple lines in sterling silver, you can unscrew the tops and put something significant inside. You can get birthstones in any combination from Luna&Stella, or provide your own photos or mementos. It’s like a locket for guys.

Sterling Silver Cufflinks from Luna and Stella, Retail starting at $150 for cufflinks, plus birthstones.

I also love these slightly geeky cufflinks from CuffArt.com. You can commemorate any significant location in latitude or longitude: where you met, your first place together, childhood memories, etc. Allow 2-3 weeks to custom make.

Latitude and Longitude Custom Engraved Cufflinks, $120 Retail

For more cufflink ideas for guys, you can check out a previous post here.

View this post on idazzle.com: Holiday Gift Ideas: Personalized Jewelry

Charm & Chain

Jewelry specialty retailer Charm & Chain offers a carefully curated selection of fashion and fine jewelry. With a stable of designers such as Gerard Yosca and Dori Csengeri, they represent a trusted place to buy jewelry online.

Charm & Chain Cyber Monday Offer: 25% off all purchases with code Cyberweek25, 30% off all purchases over $400 with code Cyberweek30…both expire Friday, December 2nd.

Beyond next week, you can still receive a very nice 20% off through December 31st with this link:

Endless.com

Endless.com is Amazon.com’s accessory site, with many high-end fashion and fine jewelry designers. You can find extensive collections from Alex Woo, Nicky Hilton, GURHAN, Gemma Redux, Heather Moore, and many more. It’s an easy shopping experience: you can log in with your Amazon ID, most shipping is 2 Day for free, and a VERY customer-friendly return policy.

Endless.com Cyber Monday Offer: $30 off $100 orders, $60 off $200 orders, and $100 off $300 orders*. Click for the direct link to the offer page ans start shopping: endless.com – 20 off $100 or 30 off $200 Accessories and Suns

*There are some designers that are not included in this special offer, click here for a list of exclusions for the discount.

Gurhan Ring

Amulet Ring by GURHAN in dark silver with 24kt gold, hand hammered finish, Retail $695.

Luna & Stella

Luna & Stella offers modern, super stylish birthstone jewelry. All of the jewelry is customizable, which gives it an extra special, personal touch. This site normally does not discount, so this promotion represents a very good value.

Luna & Stella Cyber Monday Offer: 10% off orders of $100 or more site wide, one day only. Promotion starts Monday, November 28th at 12:01am (EST) and runs through 11:59pm (EST).

Visit their site at www.lunaandstella.com.

Luna & Stella Stacking Birthstone Crescent Moon Rings, choose your metal, color, size starting at $48 Retail.

JEWELISTA

Jewelista.com is a new, innovative online shopping destination featuring collections from over 15 jewelry designers from around the globe, some of which have never been available to the U.S. consumer until now. This site does fashion+fine jewelry extremely well, and offers free shipping and an effortless return policy. This is another site that normally does zero discounting, so while the time window is small for the discount, it’s an amazing offer. The site is worth checking out for their selection of Lika Behar, Ken Lo, Sarah Graham, and Thistle & Bee, among others.

Jewelista.com Cyber Monday Offer: 20% off anything on the site from 11:00 AM (EST) until 3:00 PM (EST) on Cyber Monday, plus free shipping.

Visit their site at www.jewelista.com.

Vianna Pendant in 18kt Gold with Blue Topaz, Citrine, Green-Gold Quartz, and Prasiolite. Retail $1590.

LA NY Couture

LA NY Couture is offering up to 50% off of jewelry purchases on their site on Cyber Monday. This site offers the best of street style from both coasts at very reasonable prices.

Check out their site for details: www.lanycouture.com.

Feather Bib necklace with scrolled goldtone collar and teal feathers, Retail $35.

Aroc Urtu Jewelry

This design duo uses beach stones collected from all over the world, plus natural gems to create lovely, organic rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Collectible and versatile, this is a great gift idea for someone who appreciates good design.

Aroc Urtu Jewelry is offering 25% off the entire site (with the exclusion of rings) with the code CYBERMON. Visit www.arocurtu.com to see their collection and use the code at check out.

Aroc Urtu Rose Cut Black Diamond Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver, Retail $468.

Bauble Bar

Bauble Bar, perhaps my fav-o-rite online destination for fashion jewelry, is offering an escalating deal: for every $50 of regular price merchandise you order between now and Sunday (the 27th) evening, you will receive $10 Gift Card on Monday the 28th to use for yourself or a gift.

Updated Monday am: For every $30 you spend on the Bauble Bar site, they will send you an item from their gifting suite (most items around a $30 value!): www.BaubleBar.com offer.

Check out their site at www.baublebar.com to see their totally on-trend selection of fashion forward jewelry.

Bauble Bar Collaboration with Erickson Beamon, Dirty Glam Crystal and Rhodium-plated Necklace, Retail $165.

Any other deals out there? Leave a comment and let us know! I will be updating as I find out about other Cyber Monday discounts available.

View this post on idazzle.com: Cyber Monday Jewelry Deals

The jewelry of Fragments is plenty interesting, but the real story here is Janet. A serendipitous path led to success for this entrepreneur in fashion, from a background in art and design.

Rose Ring by Borgioni in 18kt Black Rhodium Gold with Rubies and Black Diamonds, Retail $7525

Starting Out

Janet’s first career was as a teacher. At heart, though, Janet was really an artist and eventually went back to school to become a pattern maker. This gave her a sense of true independence–a quality still very important to her–as she felt she could go anywhere in the world with that skill. After some success with her pattern design (Henri Bendel was the first store she sold to) she ran into some growing pains when trying to expand her business.

Miguel Ases Earrings of Swarovski Crystals, Miyuki, 18k Plated Beads, Retail $150

Starting Over

In 1984, Janet started over again, this time with Jimmy Moore, her then-business partner. To finance her new venture, she sold her home and moved into a small apartment. With a walk-up showroom space on Greene Street in SoHo, Janet and Jimmy launched Fragments with three designers: Gaetano Fazio, Steve Rosen, and Brett Lewis. (The provenance of these original designers live on: Gaetano’s lead designer was Miguel Ases, now a successful fashion jewelry designer in his own right). These artists were creating handcrafted jewelry that was glamorous, rock and roll, and “over the top,” Janet says. This was like nothing anyone had seen in the jewelry world up to this point. The legendary Joan Weinstein, owner of Ultimo in Chicago, walked up as they were unpacking the jewelry in the showroom. She became one of their first customers, and it illustrated to Janet that “It’s all about the product–it sells itself. It was really the beginning of Fashion Jewelry. It was whimsy and original, and each piece had it’s own soul. We were on to a new art form.”

Wendy Yue Cuff Bracelet in 18k White Gold with Carved Jade, Sapphires, and Colored Diamonds. Retail $35,380

The Fragments Showroom

The Fragments showroom grew from three designers into its present day operation, which now usually represents 25-30 designer jewelry lines at any given time. The showroom sells jewelry at the wholesale level to jewelers, but more importantly, it is a way for emerging designers to get the word out, and to get feedback on their brand and marketing. For jewelry retailers, stylists and fashion editors, Fragments is an efficient way to discover talent. The sheer number of artists represented allows for a one stop shop for Buyers to place orders, and take notes on merchandising. In a way, it is very representative of Janet herself: “You can see what I’ve got. I wanted to show an entire collection right up front, instead of only seeing a few pieces, and then pulling from the back.”

The Fragments Store

In 1994 or 1995, with the Fragments Showroom becoming a successful entity, Janet felt the need to learn more and challenge herself. She enrolled in the Owner President Management program at Harvard Business School, and learned a lot about business, finance, and negotiating. These skills helped her as she started her new adventure: a retail space that would sell jewelry to consumers. She opened a retail store in the front 750 square feet of her showroom space on Greene Street; wholesale buyers had to walk through the retail space on their way to the showroom in the back. The idea was to have a place that was an incubator and test market for new designers. For merchandising and visual display, they had complete freedom to play and figure out what worked. This in turn greatly influenced the designers represented in the wholesale showroom. The retail store is now on Prince Street, “the best street in SoHo,” Janet says. Fragments retail store has become a destination market for customers and retailers alike. All are welcome, and her staff is loyal and long term; her store manager has been with her for 16 years.

Nam Cho Pendant in 18k with Diamonds and Blue Moonstone, Retail $9575

Inspiration

I asked Janet where her inspiration and influence comes from. She said that the art world influences the kind of jewelry artists she represents. She and her husband have been contemporary art collectors for many years. A project they are involved in, Wynwood Walls, a highly-regarded outdoor street art museum open to the public in Miami, Florida, is very inspiring: “by the artists, and colors, and such freedom! My life is involved in this,” says Janet. She embraces change and innovation wholeheartedly.

Ashley Pittman Bracelet Set, Approximate Retail $495

Style and Substance

When looking at a new designer’s work, there are a couple of consistent things Janet and her staff are looking for. “I look for spirit,” says Janet. “Not strictly commercial–it has to communicate and speak to me. I respect the art of the person who designs and creates jewelry as an art form. Good jewelry connects to the customer.” She has an employee who says that she doesn’t need a tatoo, as her jewelry provides a new opportunity each day for personal expression. At heart, Fragments is hoping to connect people with their own intrinsic style.

Suzanne Kalan's 18kt White Gold Earrings with White Sapphire and White Topaz, Retail $7175

I asked Janet which designers or trends are really speaking to her. She stated that it’s really all about innovation: what’s new, what stands out. She mentioned new jewelry designer Susan Kalan is using white topaz in a truly unique way, in price points that are collectible. Deanna Hamro is designing with a mix of materials that feels very fresh. And Jordan Alexander, profiled recently here, is creating pearl jewelry that is modern and wearable.

Jordan Alexander Peacok Pearl Twist Bracelet with Diamonds and Sapphires, Retail $2890

Here’s to the next 27 years of Fragments curating and incubating talented jewelry designers! Janet has worked hard her whole life and feels lucky that her work has given her–plus countless others–such pleasure. Fragments has a magic about it, and customers have the chance to take that magic home with them. Her parting advice: “Love what you do, find your own signature.”

You can reach Janet and her staff at their website here, or call 866-966-4688 for more information about any of the jewelry featured here. Customers can visit the store at 116 Prince Street, New York, NY or call 212-334-9588. Retailers can reach the showroom at 212-226-8878.

Deanna Hamro Pendant in Oxidized Silver with Swarovski Crystals, Retail $950

View this post on idazzle.com: Jewelry Icons Spotlight: An Interview with Janet Goldman of Fragments Jewelry