These new jewelry designers are worth a place in your jewelry box—shop our favorite pieces here.
Thirteen Contemporary Jewelry Labels To Invest In Now
During the pandemic, it seems shoppers headed the advice to invest in gold. This past year, the jewelry industry managed steady sales because jewelry (unlike bags, shoes, or even trousers) has been viewed as a worthy investment. And it’s not just the big names in jewelry that are finding success—a younger, contemporary crop of designers and brands are making a name for themselves. We’re familiar with the dazzle of Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels, and we know to shop independent jewelry brands like Jennifer Fisher, Foundrae, and Allison Lou for their hoops and medallion necklace parts, but, as of late, other labels are catching our eye.
Below, we introduce you to some names worth knowing in the jewelry world; from Panconesi’s gravity-defying earrings to Marlo Laz’s new heirlooms, these thirteen jewelry brands are worth a closer look.
Bea Bongiasca
Image courtesy of Bea Bongiasca
Milan-based Bea Bongiasca launched her namesake brand in 2013 shortly after graduating from Central Saint Martins. Her colorful enamel and stone pieces are fun, stackable, and full of personality.
Bea Bongiasca asymmetrical vine baby hoops
$920MODA OPERANDI
Bea Bongiasca double octagon tendril ring
$1,500BROKEN ENGLISH
Bea Bongiasca baby vine tendril enamel, gold and peridot ring
$675NET-A-PORTER
Bea Bongiasca 9-karat gold, sterling silver, and enamel earrings
$500NET-A-PORTERPanconesi
Image courtesy of 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.
Panconesi gold vermeil layered hoop earrings
$295BROWNS FASHION
Panconesi gold zircon drop earrings
$260SSENSE
Panconesi gold xxl Colonnato upside-down hoop earrings
$525SSENSE
Panconesi silver-tone crystal body chain
$480BROWNS FASHIONCompletedworks
Image courtesy of Completedworks
Completedworks is a modern and self-described “reductive” line of demifine and fine jewelry founded by London-based Anna Jewsbury. Jewsbury’s “golden scrunchie” earrings became a celebrity favorite last summer and her stark and simple designs—using primarily recycled materials—have earned her a spot on this year’s shortlist for the British Fashion Council’s Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Completedworks gold scrunch earrings
$475SSENSE
Completedworks gold topaz flow earrings
$275SSENSE
Completedworks thread earrings
$271FARFETCH
Completedworks Delights of an Undirected Mind earrings
$345FARFETCHAgmes
Image courtesy of 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.
Agmes sterling silver and lapis earrings
$450MODA OPERANDI
Agmes small sculpted heart pendant necklace
$250SHOPBOP
Agmes Luna earrings
$440MODA OPERANDI
Agmes Cara silver onyx ring
$250MODA OPERANDIMarlo Laz
Image courtesy of Marlo Laz
New York-based Jesse Marlo Lazowski founded Marlo Laz in 2014 after years honing a fascination and understanding of jewelry stemming from an inherited brooch and extended trip to India to work with local artisans. Lazowski’s pieces are modern talismans with plenty of brightly colored fine gemstones.
Marlo Laz mini Porte Bonheur coin 14-karat gold, enamel and sapphire necklace
$1,800NET-A-PORTER
Marlo Laz open spiked heart earrings
$3,600MARLO LAZ
Marlo Laz baroque pearl drop earrings
$2,300OLIVELA
Marlo Laz JPB Cuff
$4,400OLIVELAMarie Lichtenberg
Image courtesy of 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.
Marie Lichtenberg baby lucky star diamond and 14kt gold charm
$2,160MATCHESFASHION.COM
Marie Lichtenberg Sari cord and 9kt gold charm bracelet
$1,835MATCHESFASHION.COM
Marie Lichtenberg short African beaded necklace
$885TWISTONLINE
Marie Lichtenberg candy heart garnet, beads, and 14kt gold necklace
$4,267MATCHESFASHION.COML’Enchanteur
Photographed by Nadine Ijewere, Vogue, December 2020
Identical twin sisters Dynasty and Soull Ogun create L’Enchanteur as an eclectic way of illustrating their childhood: “[Our upbringing] really inspired the way that we look at the world,” Soull told Vogue last year. “We design telling our story of growing up.” Their—mainly gold—pieces are celebrity and editor favorites.
L’Enchanteur Phoenyx Rising lapis lazuli cameo ring
$380NORDSTROM
L’Enchanteur Face Your Fears earrings
$155L’ENCHANTEUR
L’Enchanteur Scry amulet necklace
$168L’ENCHANTEUR
L’Enchanteur sunburst godhead earrings
$380NORDSTROMEéra
Image courtesy of 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.
EÉRA 18k white gold Chiara earring
$2,077MODA OPERANDI
EÉRA Lucy white gold silver diamond choker
$2,155NET-A-PORTER
EÉRA 18k yellow and white gold double-eye earring
$4,023MODA OPERANDI
EÉRA Carey 18k gold diamond earring
$2,380NET-A-PORTERKhiry
Photographed by Campbell Addy, Vogue, September 2018
Jameel Mohammed started his jewelry brand Khiry while studying political science at the University of Pennsylvania. His Brooklyn-based brand artistically tackles imagery of the African diaspora and incorporates contemporary design almost exclusively in gold. His most recent collection for Net-a-Porter is his first foray into fine jewelry and includes diamonds and fine gemstones in pieces in more petite sizes.
Khiry fine mask 18-karat gold diamond earrings
$5,000NET-A-PORTER
Khiry Nandi drops
$495GARMENTORY
Khiry fine Horus 18-karat gold, emerald and diamond bracelet
$5,000NET-A-PORTER
Khiry fine nude 18-karat gold cuff
$11,250NET-A-PORTERSVNR
Photographed by Ethan James Green, Vogue, May 2020
A Brooklyn-based colorful jewelry brand created by former public relations director Christina Tung, SVNR was born with two strong tenets: sustainable manufacturing and conscious consumption. Tung handmakes each piece with upcycled—and often colorful—materials, and the resulting work looks like the most fabulous keepsake found on holiday in a faraway locale.
Svnr Cinqueterre multicolored stone and shell necklace
$295BLOOMINGDALE’S
Svnr Sonora turquoise earring
$150GARMENTORY
Svnr Positano pearl and multicolored stone earrings
$240BLOOMINGDALE’S
Svnr Thimpu porcelain and pearl earring
$125GARMENTORYFrancesca Villa
Image courtesy of 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, etc. Her collection is full of pieces that are charming and eclectic.
Francesca Villa vintage yellow chip pendant necklace
$1,425TWISTONLINE
Francesca Villa Easy Living citrine & 18kt gold drop
$2,729MATCHESFASHION.COM
Francesca Villa vintage trinket charm bracelet
$2,350TWISTONLINE
Francesca VIlla What?! ruby and 18kt gold ring
$4,600MATCHESFASHION.COMSophie Buhai
Image courtesy of Sophie Buhai
Sophie Buhai’s clean and modern approach to jewelry essentials makes her a stylist-favorite. The L.A.-based designer’s minimal designs are mostly silver and gold with a few pearls and stones like malachite and lapis.
Sophie Buhai Barbara gold vermeil chain bracelet
$1,200MODA OPERANDI
Sophie Buhai gold ball drop earrings
$420SSENSE
Sophie Buhai silver Roman chain necklace
$1,495SSENSE
Sophie Buhai Everyday Egg pendant
$550MODA OPERANDIAlmasika
Image courtesy of Almasika
London-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.
Almasika Universum ruby cocktail ring
$3,950NORDSTROM
Almasika Universum 18-karat gold diamond earrings
$1,850NET-A-PORTER
Almasika Le Cauri shell tennis bracelet
$4,500NORDSTROM
Almasika Universum medallion 18-karat gold diamond necklace
$3,250NET-A-PORTERThis story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Daisy Shaw-Ellis
