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Jewelry is always an investment worth making and now more than ever, there has been an influx in sales, especially across major online retailers and through social media platforms like Instagram, that have found new ways of interacting with contemporary jewelry customers. And it’s not just the big names in jewelry that are finding success—a younger crop of designers and brands are making a name for themselves. We’re familiar with the dazzle of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and we know to shop independent jewelry brands like Jennifer Fisher, Foundrae, and Alison Lou for their hoops and medallion necklace parts, but, as of late, other labels are catching our eye.
- Lauren Rubinski
- Rainbow K
- Boochier
- Her Children
- Panconesi
- Completedworks
- Kloto
- Agmes
- Marie Lichtenberg
- Eéra
- Francesca Villa
- Almasika
- Harwell Godfrey
- Jia-Jia
- Uniform Object
Below, we introduce you to some of the buzziest names (and their designs) in the contemporary jewelry world, from Panconesi’s gravity-defying earrings to Lauren Rubinski's new heirlooms.
Lauren Rubinski’s eponymous style is defined by bold silhouettes, wheat-chain links and uniquely-shaped gold lockets. Inspired by her grandmother’s jewelry box in the South of France, her pieces are made to feel like family heirlooms kept for generations.
Rainbow K
This Parisian-based jewelry brand was founded in 2019 by gemologist Kelly Souied and antique jewelry tastemaker Kelia Toledano. With vintage and art deco influences in mind, their opulent designs make for modern, cool girl jewelry.
Boochier
In 2019, Chinese-Ghanaian designer Melinda Zeman launched her brand which successfully merges fine jewelry and playful nostalgia. Her signature style—named the Slinkee—is a set of spiraling rings, bracelets, and necklaces reminiscent of childhood memories.
Her Children
In 2021, New York-based designer Jack Broadnax launched his brand after identifying an opportunity in the market for men's jewelry at an accessible price point. His collection features chains, pendants, rings, bracelets all crafted in sterling silver and 14-karat plated gold. Since its inception, he’s expanded his range into unisex pieces, each with a modern, versatile design ideal for everyday wear.
Her Children
Essentials 3mm Knife Edge link chain necklace
Panconesi
Paris-based Marco Panconesi launched his eponymous line after cutting his teeth designing accessories (for Givenchy and Balenciaga) and then jewelry (for Fendi, Peter Pilotto, and Fenty). He launched his modern sculptural line in 2019, and his collections are a mix of gravity-defying swirling hoops and colorful crystal climber-esque ear cuffs.
Completedworks
Completedworks is a modern and self-described “reductive” line of demi-fine and fine jewelry founded by London-based Anna Jewsbury. Jewsbury’s “golden scrunchie” earrings quickly became a celebrity favorite, and her stark and simple designs—using primarily recycled materials—have earned her a spot on the 2022 shortlist for the British Fashion Council’s Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Completedworks
The Temporal Anomaly recycled gold vermeil, pearl and cubic zirconia necklace
Kloto
Turkish designer Senem Gençoğlu captures fluidity and sculptural shapes in her mixed metal designs. Made by traditional handmade methods in tandem with local artisans and environmentally-conscious materials, her line is well-informed with craft and sustainability top of mind.
Agmes
Sister-founded jewelry brand Agmes features mainly silver and gold pieces inspired by art and architecture. The simple yet bold forms are made of mostly recycled materials and scrap metals, resulting in a collection that is impactful without being overpowering.
Marie Lichtenberg
Longtime Parisian fashion editor Marie Lichtenberg left the magazine world to start her own jewelry collection inspired by her Creole heritage. Dainty chains and colorful lockets evoke 18th-century pendants, while her collection of colorful thread pieces can be traced to a trip she took to India.
Eéra
After a chance find of a vintage snap hook in a market in Tokyo, two friends—Chiara Capitani and Romy Blanga—transformed the item into jewelry and started their brand Eéra. The Milan-based duo took the minimal original design and morphed it into pavé diamond-encrusted links for bracelets or fluorescent dangles on earrings.
Francesca Villa
After years behind the scenes in fine jewelry, Italian Francesca Villa started her eponymous label. Each piece of her jewelry line incorporates a found vintage artifact: poker chips, intaglios, bingo numbers, and so on. Her collection is full of elements that are equal parts charming and eclectic.
Almasika
Paris-born Catherine Sarr’s fine jewelry brand Almasika is inspired in part by the body’s soft curves and flowing lines. The collection is full of undulating timeless gold and diamond pieces that defy trends.
Harwell Godfrey
California-based designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey was an award-winning art and creative director before she decided to launch her own brand. Her fine jewelry line is inspired by ancient textiles and patterns of the African diaspora, seen through handcrafted jewelry made from 18-karat gold with ethically-sourced diamonds and precious gemstones. Most recently, she was nominated by the CFDA in the “American Emerging Designer of the Year” category for 2022, and took home the 2022 Gem Award for Jewelry Design.
Jia Jia
Founder Jia-Jia Zhu conceived her namesake jewelry line during a meditation after moving to Bali following a long tenure in the fashion industry. The line focuses on the use of crystals and stones with symbolism throughout, making each piece not only extremely unique, but also one that possesses a distinct meaning.
Uniform Object
David Farrugia designs conceptual, modern pieces that fuse precious gemstones with unique shapes like hand-carved ram and hippo skulls from Siberian artisans. His distinctive style is characterized by the integration of pavé links and champagne diamonds. Farrugia's innovative perspective breathes new life into fine jewelry, making each piece feel like investment art.
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Contemporary Jewelry Brands
The article highlights several contemporary jewelry brands that have gained attention recently. These brands offer unique designs and cater to modern tastes. Some of the brands mentioned include:
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Lauren Rubinski: Lauren Rubinski is a jewelry brand known for its bold silhouettes, wheat-chain links, and uniquely-shaped gold lockets. The pieces are inspired by the founder's grandmother's jewelry box in the South of France and are designed to feel like family heirlooms [[1]].
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Rainbow K: Rainbow K is a Parisian-based jewelry brand founded in 2019. The brand draws inspiration from vintage and art deco influences, resulting in opulent and modern designs [[2]].
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Boochier: Boochier is a jewelry brand launched in 2019 by Chinese-Ghanaian designer Melinda Zeman. The brand combines fine jewelry with playful nostalgia, featuring spiraling rings, bracelets, and necklaces reminiscent of childhood memories [[3]].
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Her Children: Her Children is a New York-based brand that focuses on men's jewelry at an accessible price point. The collection includes chains, pendants, rings, and bracelets crafted in sterling silver and 14-karat plated gold. The brand has also expanded into unisex pieces with versatile designs for everyday wear [[4]].
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Panconesi: Panconesi is the eponymous line of Paris-based designer Marco Panconesi. After gaining experience designing accessories for Givenchy, Balenciaga, Fendi, Peter Pilotto, and Fenty, Panconesi launched his own modern sculptural line in 2019. The collections feature gravity-defying swirling hoops and colorful crystal climber-esque ear cuffs [[5]].
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Completedworks: Completedworks is a modern jewelry brand founded by London-based Anna Jewsbury. The brand focuses on demi-fine and fine jewelry, using primarily recycled materials. Completedworks is known for its stark and simple designs, including the popular "golden scrunchie" earrings [[6]].
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Kloto: Kloto is a jewelry brand created by Turkish designer Senem Gençoğlu. The brand captures fluidity and sculptural shapes in mixed metal designs made by traditional handmade methods in collaboration with local artisans. Sustainability is also a key consideration in Kloto's production process [[7]].
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Agmes: Agmes is a sister-founded jewelry brand that features mainly silver and gold pieces inspired by art and architecture. The brand's designs are simple yet bold, made mostly from recycled materials and scrap metals [[8]].
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Marie Lichtenberg: Marie Lichtenberg is a Parisian fashion editor turned jewelry designer. Her jewelry collection is inspired by her Creole heritage and features dainty chains, colorful lockets, and thread pieces influenced by a trip to India [[9]].
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Eéra: Eéra is a jewelry brand founded by friends Chiara Capitani and Romy Blanga. The brand started with a vintage snap hook found in a market in Tokyo, which was transformed into jewelry. Eéra's designs include pavé diamond-encrusted links for bracelets and fluorescent dangles on earrings [[10]].
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Francesca Villa: Francesca Villa is an Italian jewelry designer whose pieces incorporate found vintage artifacts, such as poker chips, intaglios, and bingo numbers. Her collection is known for its charming and eclectic elements [[11]].
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Almasika: Almasika is a fine jewelry brand founded by Paris-born Catherine Sarr. The brand draws inspiration from the body's soft curves and flowing lines, resulting in timeless gold and diamond pieces [[12]].
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Harwell Godfrey: Harwell Godfrey is a California-based jewelry designer whose line is inspired by ancient textiles and patterns of the African diaspora. The brand uses ethically-sourced diamonds and precious gemstones in its handcrafted 18-karat gold jewelry [[13]].
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Jia Jia: Jia Jia is a jewelry brand founded by Jia-Jia Zhu. The brand focuses on the use of crystals and stones with symbolism, creating unique pieces with distinct meanings [[14]].
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Uniform Object: Uniform Object is a jewelry brand by designer David Farrugia. The brand combines precious gemstones with unique shapes, such as hand-carved ram and hippo skulls, resulting in conceptual and modern pieces [[15]].
These brands offer a diverse range of styles, materials, and inspirations, catering to different preferences in contemporary jewelry.
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!