Jewelry Brands to Wear in 2019, Part 2

Lapis/White/Lapis Lovebird Earrings, by EraGem Post's Jewelry Brands to Wear jewelry artists at Of Rare Origin. Photo courtesy Of Rare Origin.   In Part 2 of our debut series Jewelry Brands to Wear in 2019, I present Of Rare Origin and Eden Presley. Of course, both of these brands create exquisite art jewelry which will stand the test of time. I'm confident that 50 years from now, vintage pieces from these two jewelry brands will command the attention of collectors.  

Why These Jewelry Brands?

For inclusion in part 2 of this series, I looked first of all for beautiful jewelry artists whose techniques and craft would stand the test of time. Indeed, I expect to see pieces from these jewelry brands come through our inventory in 10 to 20 years. Second of all, I looked for jewelry brands which promoted a love of family and a passion for working at what you love. Finally, I looked for brands who approached jewelry with a spirit of individuality.  

Of Rare Origin

As you can see in the photo above, Of Rare Origin truly lives up to its name. I have never seen anything quite like the jewels created by Leslie, Octavia, and Thea. These ladies have taken jewelry art to a whole new level with their exquisite sculptural designs in bold and brilliant hues. In addition to their Aviary collection, they also offer their Forget-Me-Not collection, which features hand-held bouquet and hand-held tassel earrings which are out of this world. Leslie Tcheyan launched Of Rare Origin with her daughter Octavia Giovannini-Torelli in March 2016. Their Aviary Collection led the way, garnering the brand global attention. In May 2017, Octavia's sister Thea joined the team. Together, they work in their design studio on Madison & 66th in New York City. Strictly designers, they outsource the manufacturing of their jewelry to an Italian atelier. With a global approach, they fashion jewelry with a lyrical nature. Each design carries the symbolism of birds and blooms, as well as the meaning of the stones themselves. As an example, their Forget-Me-Not collection features sculpted hands holding forget-me-not flowers. These delicate blossoms represent admiration, love, celebration, and friendship. Their collections come in a variety of precious and semi-precious stones. My favorite are the lapis and ruby designs. Lapis lazuli carries the universal symbolism of wisdom and truth. Ruby represents love, passion, energy, and power. Now even I understand why I'm drawn to these two stones over all the others. The whimsical, lyrical, and sculptural nature of every jewel represent entirely the personalities of the three ladies behind Of Rare Origin. Even the name suggests the heart behind their vision - playfulness, curiosity, elegance, and intrigue. When you enter a Shop of Rare Origin, I promise you a world of delight and beauty. Photo courtesy Gwen Myers of Eden Presley Jewelry.

Eden Presley Jewelry

Gwen Myers launched Eden Presley Jewelry when her daughter Eden was born. It began with a simple bracelet she made bearing Eden's name. Soon, her friends began to ask for similar bracelets with their own children's names on them. Other friends asked for bracelets with single words or meaningful phrases. As she made these custom bracelets, she dabbled with other design concepts. Eventually, an entire collection of inspiring word bracelets emerged. She even designed several rings with unique features. On the front, a ring might feature a set of diamond initials. However, when flipped, the design revealed a hidden engraving. Eventually, Gwen began experimenting with gemstones. As a self-taught jewelry designer, Gwen experiments with extraordinary color combinations, nontraditional design elements, and unique cuts. Named after Gwen's two daughters, Eden Presley Jewelry caught my attention with its bold color palette. As one writer commented, Eden Presley Jewelry offers a "magical kaleidoscope of color." (source) The way Gwen pairs polished rough  with finely faceted gemstones delights the eye. Furthermore, she offers the opportunity to mix and match earrings. A person could potentially wear a different combination nearly every day of the year. With her Fine Jewelry Collection, she offers an assortment of classical pairings. Of course, diamonds abound, as do rose and yellow gold. Finger rings form the foundation of her Fine Jewelry Collection. However, she also offers earrings, necklaces, and bangles. Not surprisingly, my favorite is Eden Presley collection is Rock. Bold color, raw and refined all at once. An exquisite combination of precious and semi-precious gemstones. Gorgeous statement pieces. I love it. Click here to find your favorite jewel. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews