California Archives | Page 2 of 2

So many lives for Andy Lif

Published on September 6, 2021

Brooklyn (New York), Rome (Italy), but also San Miguel De Allende (Mexico), and then Los Angeles and a Buddhist center in California, the state where he lives and works. Andy Lifschutz’s life includes different points of view, stimulating experiences, travels. From all this Andy Lif was born, jewelry in 18-karat gold, often with plique-à-jour combined with diamonds or colored gems. The designer’s jewels are sculptural and refined, elegant in their subtlety, bold in their creativity.

Andy Lifschutz, married to a dancer and actress, studied with William Thomas King at Sterling Quest School of Jewelry Design and Creation, graduating in 2008. The designer now creates orders for selected clients and uses only salvaged metals, mainly 18K gold and enamel. Not only that: gems often combine with rough elements such as wood, bone and stone. Each closure is handmade and every single object has a story.

Italian lazo, collana con pendente in oro e pavé di diamanti

Orecchini Perfect Huggie in oro, smalto e diamanti

Jennifer Mayer, turquoises for tan skin

Published on August 25, 2021

Showroom/bracciale/Rings/COLLANE

Anello a goccia in oro con turchese taglio marquise e diamanti

The turquoises from California by Jennifer Mayer, perfect for tanned skin ♦

The turquoise sea of California inspires Jennifer Mayer’s turquoise jewels. They are easy jewels, perfect for the tan of surfers and visitors to Venice, a town near Los Angeles. Jen founded his eponymous brand over a decade ago, with the idea that jewelry can be more than an accessory. Necklaces, bracelets and rings are as cheerful as California, and they often also add a message, a written symbol.

After working in communication for Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani in 2005, Jennifer Mayer began to do what was her passion since the age of six, encouraged by her grandmother, the Californian artist Edith Meyer. Her jewelry debuted on the US national scene when a Hollywood designer chose one of the designer’s pendants for Jennifer Aniston, who wore it in The Break-Up, in 2006. After many awards and winning an affectionate audience, the designer continues to offer jewels with the light-heartedness of beach boys and girls, who may also attend the Coachella festival. Free and without too many formalisms.

Orecchini in oro con turchesi e diamanti

Dale Hernsdorf, 22-karat creativity

Published on August 5, 2021

Rings/Showroom

Collana in oro 22 carati e tormalina verde-blu

There are many jewelers who, like Dale Hernsdorf, studied painting (and in this case, also photography) before turning to earrings, rings and necklaces. A sign that sensitivity to the visual arts is a spice that gives something extra when it comes to designing a jewel. And, indeed, Dale Hernsdorf also has a job as an illustrator and graphic designer in her curriculum. Of course, before moving on to the side of the jewelry makers. The jewels of the brand that bears her name, in Santa Barbara, near Los Angeles, are all handmade.

The designer has chosen to work almost always with 22 carat yellow gold, therefore very yellow, as was used in the past. In addition, she prefers large colored stones, such as tourmaline and rubellite, to create large rings, ruff necklaces or dangle earrings, but also pendants. But in Dale Hernsdorf’s activity it is also right to remember her commitment as a teacher, after UCLA, she now dedicates time as a volunteer at the non-profit organization A Place Called Home.

Ciondolo in oro 22 carati, rubellite e rubini

Anello in oro 22 carati, rubellite e diamanti

Orecchini Snug Hoops in oro 22 carati, tsavoriti e zaffiri

Anello in oro 22 carati, tormalina paraiba e diamanti

Jennifer Dawes, queen in the animal Kingdom

Published on June 24, 2021

Showroom

Collana libellula in oro giallo 14 carati, con diamanti, smeraldo, iolite, tormalina

The world of jewelry has set out on the green road, at least in words. But there are those who have encouraged environmental sustainability for years, to the point of making it a distinctive feature. This is the case of Jennifer Dawes, a designer who works in Sonoma County, California. Jennifer has always been a supporter of nature and ecological balance. A concept that she reiterates now with the Kingdom collection. The kingdom you allude to is that of animals, from the butterfly brooch made with watermelon tourmaline to compose the wings, to bees with rutilated quartz bodies.

Spilla in oro giallo 18 carati e tormalina watermelon

The butterfly, among other things, has a symbolic meaning because a species has been included among the endangered species in the California area, news that upset the designer, so much so that it took action to protect the insect. Another feature that concerns the collection is the presence of pieces with moving parts. The butterfly, for example, can move its wings. They are almost all unique pieces, except for the dragonfly and the lucky eye, which can be produced in different copies.

Spilla in uro giallo 14 carati con quarzo rutilato, zaffiri neri e diamanti bianchi

Collana Evil Eye in oro giallo 14 carati, quarzo verde e spinello nero

Spilla scarabeo in oro 18 carati con iolite, ametista, topazio e morganite

The beaches of Mr Ward

Published on May 29, 2021

Rings/Showroom

Grew up on the beaches of Tel Aviv and then landed on those of Manhattan Beach, which however are located in California: it was destiny that Sig Ward lived near the sea. And she with an all-female philosophy: her mother, she tells her, she loved to collect jewels, which she bought herself. Not only aesthetic pleasure, but also empowerment. This is how Sig Ward’s career began, drawing inspiration from her mother’s jewels, to create new ones. Until she felt good enough to turn her passion into a full-time job.

Each stone, often with an unusual cut, is hand selected and set in 14 or 18 carat gold, alongside colored enamel. Unfortunately, Sig Ward is part of the group of people who are under the illusion that stones also have energetic or healing properties, as well as aesthetic. But who is blameless, etc. Also because, the positive aspect is that 20% of the proceeds of some jewels go to the Malala Foundation created to support the right of every girl to 12 years of free, safe and quality education.

The good deeds of Āzlee

Published on May 10, 2021

Rings/bracciale/Showroom

Fashion, photography, the glossy pages of Glamor and Allure Magazines in New York. But, then, a dive into the reality of Guatemala, on the shores of Lake Atitlan: for the designer Baylee Ann Zwart, who grew up between Colorado and California, the change of atmosphere was radical. But, from that experience in the Central American country, in an organization that produced accessories for fair trade with women artisans, the idea of her jewelry brand, Āzlee, was born: a word that is a combination of her middle name, surname and name. In any case, in Guatemala she experienced the thrill of making her first jewels together with local artisans. And Baylee Ann fell in love with jewelry.

She describes her production of her as inspired by Art Deco, quite vaguely, alongside the shapes of ancient jewelry, as evidenced by the ring with the owl that represents the goddess Athena according to Greek mythology. Another source of inspiration for Āzlee is the sea, indeed, the ocean. Perhaps this is why her 18-karat gold and platinum jewels are made in Los Angeles with fair trade gold and, above all, 100% recycled. The same solidarity program for the stones, with vintage and already used gems, to limit new extractions. Her clients include Emma Watson, Rihanna, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Zoë Kravitz and Scarlett Johansson.

Anello in oro con diamante taglio smeraldo

Anello in oro con il gufo simbolo della dea Atena

Irene Neuwirth bohemian chic

Published on January 2, 2021

bracciale/Showroom/COLLANE

Anello fiore in oro con opale rosa e tormalina verde

The bohemian chic jewels of the Californian designer Irene Neuwirth, the favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow and … ♦ ︎

She has a dream house on a canal in Venice, a small town near Los Angeles, ended up in the pages of glossy magazines like Vogue and Elle. And in her boutique in the big city of California she put a pink sofa, a beautiful kitchen-stove Lacanche, portraits of dogs. In short, nothing suggests that the Irene Neuwirth flagship store is a favorite of many Hollywood stars, such as Naomi Watts, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julianne Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Paulson, Busy Philipps and Ruth Negga. Instead, Irene Neuwirth, next to the air, a bit like a Coachella fan, is a very appreciated jewelery designer, present all over the world.

Irene Neuwirth prefers colors, indeed, the mix of bright colors. Stones like tourmaline or chalcedony are combined with gold, emeralds or rubies.

Her jewels, which she started to create in 2003, by inserting simple glass beads, represent the opposite of those of the great Maison, which focus entirely on refined work and classic jewels. The Californian designer, instead, offers bright jewels, which can be worn with a sporty dress, jeans or an elegant dress to go to dinner. But it is always high-end jewelry: the necklace you see on this page, for example, costs 160,000 euros. Lavinia Andorno

Orecchini chandelier in oro giallo 18 carati

Orecchini in oro rosa con opale e diamanti

Orecchini a bottone in oro con crisoprasio e diamanti

Bracciale in oro rosa con calcedonio intagliato e diamanti

The rainbows of Suzanne Kalan

Published on February 29, 2020

Rings/bracciale/Showroom

Cerchi in oro giallo e zaffiri multicolori

Spring rainbow for Suzanne Kalan, designer born in Lebanon in the Armenian family of Kalandjian jewelers and now with life and work in California. Her jewels of the Firework line are, in fact, one of the collections with greater success, but also with continuous renewal: the colored baguette-cut gems are composed of lively puzzles, with a very cheerful effect. The new pieces in the collection follow the innovative style proposed at the debut.

Orecchini Rainbowin oro giallo 18 carati, diamanti bianchi, zaffiri

The jewels are also the result of a technical skill all in the family: Suzanne, in fact, worked with her husband Paul, who is an expert diamond setter. It was 1988. Now in the jewelry brand the founder was joined by her daughter Patile, who had actually directed her studies in the field of biochemistry. But the charm of gold and colored gems has prevailed.

Orecchini Rainbow Firework in oro rosa, diamanti e zaffiri

Suzanne Kalan also developed the concept of Vitrine, with precious stones cut flat at the top and bottom and assembled in brilliant clusters, including diamonds, sapphires, topazes and amethysts. Jewels that have convinced stars like Rihanna, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Mindy Kaling, Jennifer Anniston.

Anello della collezione Rainbow in oro e zaffiri

Anello in oro bianco, zaffiri blu e diamanti

Collana in oro giallo, diamanti, turchese

Anello in oro giallo, diamanti baguette, turchese

Mars + Love + Yoga

Published on January 16, 2020

bracciale/Rings

Anello di preghiera, oro rosa e diamante. Prezzo: 625 dollari

Jewels inspired by yoga from the new Californian brand Mars + Love ♦ ︎
From Los Angeles here is a brand newborn: Mars + Love. The combination of Mars and Love, ie the two poles, are actually inspired by the world of yoga. So much so that the proposed jewels, in yellow or pink gold and diamonds, have the stylized form of human figures intent on composing the classical positions of yoga, such as the tree or the dog. The classic poses of Indian discipline, transposed into earrings, necklaces and hanging rings, are the result of the creativity of the designer Shelly Litvak, who launched the brand at the end of 2017.

Litvak has been active in the design world for over a decade, in the field accessories as well as jewels. The Mars + Love brand, however, represents a turning point also from an aesthetic point of view, with jewels between minimalism and oriental philosophy. And, of course, the idea also derives from the convinced practice of yoga by Shelly Litvak, who for six years has been accustomed to taking a break dedicated to the exercises of this discipline. Margherita Donato

Orecchini a cuore in oro 18 carati e diamante

Orecchini a cerchio Sun Moon con oro 18 carati e 8 diamanti

Pendente posa meditazione, oro giallo e diamante. Prezzo: 875 dollari — Pendente posa meditazione, oro giallo e diamante

Orecchini posa meditazione, oro giallo e diamante. Prezzo: 730 dollari — Orecchini posa meditazione, oro giallo e diamante

Ciondolo con la posa «albero», oro giallo e diamante. Prezzo 875 dollari — Ciondolo con la posa «albero», oro giallo e diamante

Orecchini posa arciere, oro giallo e diamante. Prezzo: 730 dollari — Orecchini posa arciere, oro giallo e diamante

Evelyn Huang, California dreaming

Published on July 27, 2019

Showroom

Evelyn Huang (brand EvelynH), a designer between East and West who exclusively makes custom-made jewelry. In California ♦

Better the frenzied creativity of New York or the flexible one of California? Evelyn Huang was born in the Great Apple, but grew up in the West Coast of America. Like many designers, she has an inheritance in the blood in the jewelry world: her father had a jewelry store, stones and diamonds. In short, she learned what is jewelery is from a baby. But, at the same time, she graduated in Economics.

After a period in Asia, to immerse herselves in Chinese culture, Evelyn returned to Los Angeles, she enrolled to Gemological Institute, graduated in one year and left the family business to go to work by DeBeers. In the autumn of 2006 she launched her Maison, EvelynH, and soon won a couple of prizes for the design of her jewels. An encouraging debut, which convinced her to continue. Still in California she improved her experience at Fashion Design Institute of Design and Merchandising to better understand what the public are asking for. Today she shares her business among collections and unique jewelery pieces, highly appreciated by industry experts. Alessia Mongrando

Africa Hope, orecchini con diamanti e smeraldi

Anello in oro bianco con zultanite e diamanti

Anello Ocean Lullaby, oro rosa, perla di Thaiti, diamanti e pietra luna

Centennial, orecchini in oro bianco, perle di Thaiti, diamanti, zaffiri

Bracciale Cometes, in oro bianco, perla di Thaiti, diamanti, zaffiri

Constellation, pendente din oro bianco e diamanti

Pendente Urchin, con perle opalescenti blu, diamanti su argento

Jacquie Aiche for the summer

Published on June 6, 2019

Showroom

Orecchini amuleti in oro con acquamarina e tormalina

The new jewels by Jacquie Aiche, Californian fantasy on free exit ♦

Jacquie Aiche represents the California that you imagine: sun, freedom, informality in clothing and, of course, also in the choice of jewelry. The 2019 spring-summer collection confirms the impression. The designer was inspired by Mother Nature, Earth and Heaven. All the elements within the collection, textures and shapes, the way in which diamonds and gold blend together, and precious stones, lead to a sense of new ease and freshness.

Anello in oro rosa con diamanti e tormalina intagliata

Raised with Egyptian and American parents, Jacquie Aiche adds diverse, opposite cultural and aesthetic stories. From this unlikely combination of heritage, she took an interest in the jewels of American Indians, pardons, Native Americans, fossils and gems, but also Middle Eastern influences with hammered gold, amulets and symbolic images. Her chains for the body and bracelets are in the classic Coachella philosophy, uninhibited, out of rules, but at the same time well accepted by those who follow them and, perhaps, establish them. Lavinia Andorno

Collane Shaker in oro con piccoli diamanti

Bracciale a forma di piuma in oro rosa e diamanti

In the seventies with Jacquie Aiche

Published on July 12, 2018

Showroom

Jacquie Aiche and her jewels inspired by the mythical Sixties of hippie culture ♦In the seventies with Jacquie Aiche

A jump in the seventies, in California, with Jacquie Aiche. The designer has become a cult in the homeland of the Hippy movement, with her own line of jewelry that has become a hallmark, the so-called JA Tribe. Its adepts are called Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Hudson, Miley Cyrus, in addition to 100 thousand followers on Instagram. The designer, based in Los Angeles, prefers a combination of precious materials and extravagant, like shark teeth, fossils, bear claws, coins or Afghan, abalone, tied together with gold and precious stones. Jewels light to wear almost layered, with chains, earrings and bracelets reminiscent of the forms in vogue 50 years ago, when it was a sign of rebellion. And in order to better understand this message, Jacquie chose a sexy communication, to remember the years of the Cultural Revolution in San Francisco and California. And now has expanded its production to clothing, with denim shirts and leather jackets. “I am selling a lifestyle”, the designer says.