Style Savvy

Forces of Nature Nature has inspired designers throughout history, but our recent fascinations with our planet and our growing concerns for its future have placed a greater focus on the natural elements of our world. From floral and fauna to wind and rain to landscape and sky, today's hottest jewelry designers draw inspiration from the motifs colors, textures, character and moods of Mother Earth. You don't have to be a treehugger to love these styles, but it wouldn't hurt.
Buggin' Out Put that can of Raid away, you won't need to exterminate these bugs. Mysterious, graceful, whimsical and powerful, bejeweled insects and their eight-legged arachnid friends are actually quite beautiful. Among our favorites are jewels by Jamaican designer Anna Ruth Henriques, like her signature amulets that contain painted images of insects on mother of pearl sealed under faceted quartz crystal or her chunky web rock rings in carved opaque stones like malachite, hematite, carnelian, and tiger's eye with a delicate gold spider resting on top. We also love the new bug-ridden designs by Brit Stephen Webster, from pavé-encrusted flies to giant cabochon super creepy-crawlers. And, Paula Crevoshay of New Mexico conjures up outstanding one-of-a-kind insects from gemmy butterflies to dragonflies.
		Wild Thing Many cultures believe that channeling the spirit of our animal friends can give us super human strength to combat adversity and summon our best and brightest potential. Most aptly answering the call for help from the wild kingdom is California designer Katey Brunini, whose latest Spirit Animal collection pays homage to the animal spirit guides revered in the Native American and Mayan cultures. Wear her turtle pendant to foster good planning and creativity, or her snail ring to be more self-sufficient and adaptable. Other designing firms like Brazil's Bruner portray animals found in the Rain Forest like the ocelot, fashioned from wood, 18k gold and diamonds, or a gold and diamond snake a top a sparkling citrine by Hollywood's favorite Erica Courtney. Cats like the ocelot represent instinctive power, grounded simplicity and quiet dignity, while the snake signifies transformation and wisdom.
Weathering the Elements Weather like wind and rain both delight and terrify us, captivating our imagination as to how we can harness the beauty and power of nature's force. Emulating the movement inherent in these forces are designers like Brazil's gem artist Manoel Bernardes, who carves gems such as rock crystal to appear as if it is trapping water droplets in mid air or emulates wind currents in gold and diamond earrings that flutter with every move. Italian manufacturer Vendorafa also catches raindrops in diamond pave atop textured splashes in 18k gold, while the famous pearl house of Mikimoto captures the colors of a desert sandstorm in golden South Sea pearls mixed with satin-finished stone shapes in 18k yellow gold that can move on chain. While Brit designer Shaun Leane captures the fusion of colors from the natural phenomenon the Aurora Borealis in his latest collection Aurora—blending gems like rhodolite, morganite, pink tourmaline, and purple sapphire with white diamond or champagne quartz, orange citrine, and smoky quartz with cognac diamond in 18k gold.
		Flowers & Foliage Plants and flowers give designers so much to emulate in the way of shapes, textures and colors, why not let art imitate life? From calla lilies to daisies to roses, the Arizona-based designing firm, NAFCO, takes nature's most beautiful gemstones and sets them in jewels that are as breathtaking as the most abundant and colorful gardens. The Italian brand, Graziella, also has a stunning collection of gold flowers set with gems in bursting bouquets for cuff bracelets, earrings, rings, and grand necklaces. The Brazilian jewelry house of Bruner takes many of its design cues from the Rain Forest. Inspired by the tropics, Bruner recreates a variety of leaf formations in uniquely cut gemstones like smoky quartz, black jade and peridot and special textured 18k gold. While the Italian manufacturer Torrini crafts delicate golden lily pads into earrings and other jewels.