Jewelry Brands to Wear in 2019, Part 1

Bound for the Stars ring by Ella Stein, Jewelry Brands to wear in 2019. Photo courtesy Ella Stein © 2019.   I'm excited to debut our first ever Jewelry Brands to Wear series. I've chosen six jewelry designers whose craftsmanship, principles, and ethics I'm sure will impress you. In fact, I estimate that in fifty years these brands will top the list of vintage jewelry pieces to collect. To qualify for Part 1 of this series, I required that both brands design stunning works of jewelry art. In addition, I looked for jewelry brands that craft their jewels in ethically sound and ecologically-mindful ways. Finally, I looked for jewelry brands that honored women, promoted teamwork and collaboration, and supported their artisans with a culture of respect and honor. In Part 1, I introduce you to Ella Stein and Melissa Joy Manning. In Parts 2 and 3, you'll read about Shop of Rare Origin, Eden Presley, Emmanuel Tarpin, and Hanut Singh.  

Ella Stein Jewelry

Adi Choksi and Nicki Maher team up to present Ella Stein Jewelry. Adi Choksi grew up in India, where tradition dictates that a man passes his business on to his son. However, when his daughter Ella was born, a passion rose within him to challenge this cultural edict. To this day, in his state-of-the-art workshop and manufacturing facility in India, Adi hires local women to handcraft every single piece of jewelry he designs. Along the way, he discovered the marketing talent of Nicki Maher and knew she could help him expand his vision. Together, Nicki and Adi collaborated to create Ella Stein jewelry as a legacy and tribute to their daughters. With the highly skilled team of international industry leaders that Nicki assembled, the Indian operations expanded into the United States, taking the brand global. Women on two continents now work together to create a culture of respect, community, and conscious living. In keeping with their standards of conscious living, Ella Stein uses only ethically sourced diamonds, metals, and packaging.Where many in the industry discard up to 60% of a diamond's rough, Ella Stein discards only 10%. Furthermore, their packaging is made from 100% recycled materials. Ella Stein keeps its price point low, refusing to mark up their diamonds so as to allow more women the opportunity to own and wear this symbol of luxury and  beauty. The connections made between women around the world when you purchase an Ella Stein jewel are bonds made for a lifetime. As they say, "Like a diamond, when women unite we are unbreakable." To learn more, we invite you to visit Ella Stein online.   Earrings & Necklace by EraGem Post's Jewelry Designers to Wear artist Melissa Joy Manning. Photo Copyright © 2019, Melissa Joy Manning Inc.  

Melissa Joy Manning Jewelry

Headquartered in California and New York, Melissa Joy Manning (MJM) employs a skilled team of goldsmiths who create beautiful jewelry art in an ecologically sound manner. The brand crafts every one of their jewels from recycled silver or gold, sourced from a certified-green refinery. The team fashions every aspect of every jewel by hand, eliminating waste and pollution, and thereby reducing the company's carbon footprint. Not only does this benefit the earth, but it also infuses each jewel with the individuality, spirit, and energy of the artist who makes it. As such, Melissa Joy Manning jewels begin their life as treasured heirlooms, meant to endure the passage from one generation to another. In order to reduce their negative impact on the earth, MJM analyzes their manufacturing processes on a regular basis. Always searching for ways to reduce waste, they commit to the meticulous reuse of scrap metals and unused gemstone material. They use recycled materials for packaging, carbon offset their shipments, and reuse and recycle every possible scrap of material possible. Their California workshop and studio received the Green Certification from their state. They also use a Green-Certified refinery to source their recycled silver and gold. Finally, MJM ensures that every artisan they employ receives a living wage with competitive benefits and retirement. They recognize that their artisans spend the majority of their time at work. As such, they have developed a culture of honor, cultivating an atmosphere of support for every member of their team. To learn more, I invite you to visit MJM's website. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews