As you start to think about the jewelry trends, themes and collections to bring in for fall/holiday 2021 (yes, that time is almost here), meet 10 designers you should have on your radar as you plan your buys. Some of these designers have recently joined the ranks of emerging independent designers, while others have been designing for a number of years but have recently reworked their brands.

Photo credit: Kathryn Giarratano, designer for Layla G (a selection of Kathryn’s pieces worn on model.)

STORY BY BETH BERNSTEIN

Kaylin Hertel

“While in college, to make extra money, I worked at the most amazing local fabric store. I fell in love with prints and patterns. I have always gravitated towards Japanese textiles in particular. It is the high level of craft and refinement thoughtfully mingled with whimsy and the delicate and natural world that attract me,” says Kaylin. These are the same characteristics that she strives to incorporate into her own work — a balance between the feminine elegance and a tactile feeling of engraved floral designs and small creatures as well as the more graphic three-dimensional fan shapes that define her collection. “Until I made the decision to launch my collection in 2017, I thoughtfully and patiently worked on the designs in the evenings and on weekends and whenever I could eek out time to develop my voice,” she says. During the pandemic, Kaylin refined her minimal aesthetic. “I saw my line slowly starting to reflect me and my personality. As an artist, I think that is the ultimate goal,” she says.

From left to right, top to bottom: 14K gold large petal pendant, striped petal band with diamonds, large open fan earrings, diamond striped fan pendant, all in 14K gold.

kaylinhertel.com

Jennifer DeMoro

“I had been designing for a while but never seemed to find my niche or my true voice,” says Jennifer. “But I finally feel like I found myself and my sensibility.” Jennifer’s new collection is inspired by the aesthetic and culture of California in the 1970s: the arresting artwork, the laid-back fashion, and the free-spirited cool beachy lifestyle. She loves playing with the natural beauty of colored gemstones, and she’s not afraid to experiment with specialty cut stones and to mix bold colors to bring the magic of sunsets in different phases to her jewelry designs.

From left to right, top to bottom: Solara Pendant with emerald, blue topaz, amethyst, pink sapphire, orange sapphire baguettes; Sundown Bar Earrings with emeralds, garnets, citrines, orange sapphires, pink sapphires, amethysts and blue topaz; Sundown Swing Earrings with hand cut pink sapphires, orange sapphires, garnets, amethysts, blue topaz, emeralds; Chroma Illusion Swivel Ring with four baguettes of blue topaz, amethyst, citrine, and pink sapphire, all in 14K gold.

jenniferdemoro.com

Sig Ward of Sig Ward Jewelry

Sig’s style has evolved over the years to simpler yet more meaningful jewelry. She used to design more opulent diamond statement pieces. However, she listened closely to what her clients had been asking for in style and symbolism. Sig is inspired by antique/vintage jewelry.

A group from Sig Ward’s Domed Gypsy Ring collections, pictured here with tourmalines and available with fancy-colored sapphires or diamonds in 14K gold. Two horseshoe pendants from the “Manifest” collection. Top with enamel, bottom with emerald clovers in 18K gold.

signwardjewelry.com

Kathryn Giarratano of Layla G

Kathryn believes that the best jewelry is ageless. She grew up around a lot of women. Her mother is one of five girls, and her dad has two sisters. She is one of three girls and has two daughters; therefore, she believes she has a good handle on what women want to wear. Her philosophy is to create a core wardrobe of pieces that are staples but not basic. “We all have our favorite fashion pieces that are seasonless and we know will look good whenever we wear them. These are the pieces that we reach for first. I have tried to achieve the same feeling with my jewelry collection with pieces that act as jewelry wardrobe essentials yet also hit an emotional chord with the wearer,” says Kathryn.

A group from Layla G’s 14K gold Here Comes The Sun collection includes studs, ear climbers, pinky ring, pendant and necklace.

laylagjewelry.com

Alex Fitz of Alex Fitz Jewelry

Alex’s pieces are inspired by a love for symmetry, clean lines and sustainability. The collection is made by her bench jewelers in 100 percent recycled gold and traceable diamonds from mine to collection. It’s also part of Alex’s aesthetic to be able to wear your jewelry and not save it for an occasion — therefore it’s designed with a chic go-anywhere and wear-with- anything sophistication. “Most important for me is to give something back. The line helps support youth that can’t afford the mental health counseling they need,” says Alex.

Studs, pendants and rings in 18K yellow gold with round and baguette diamonds.

alexfitz.com

Kate Hubley of K8 Jewelry

“I launched my collection with pieces that were strong and would appeal to confident, independent self-purchasing women,” says Kate. “Although I still create jewelry inspired by empowerment, I have expanded and moved into the bridal arena, from engagement rings to pieces women can wear at the wedding to pieces she can receive as gifts from the groom.” The bridal collection is created with softer, more fluid lines, which is a departure from the angular, structured shield shapes of the original collection. Kate finds magic in the vibrancy of colored gemstones, and from there, the rings are inspired by the most captivating of fantastical goddesses and fairy tales from faraway lands. “Designing these pieces that represent one of the most significant times in a woman’s life gives me an abundance of joy, which then translates in the collection,” Kate adds.

Vive rings and earrings with grape garnet (on left). Earrings are Kasumiga pearls set in18K gold, VS diamonds with pink sapphires. Stack of rings from top to bottom: Montana sapphire, Ceylon sapphire Padparadscha pink sapphire, South Sea pearl ring, all in 18K gold with diamond accents.

k8jewelry.com

Nan Fusco

Nan’s background in graphic design resonates in each piece she creates, always with an emphasis on color and composition. She is drawn to anything that is prehistoric, ancient, or organic, and she has a deep appreciation for stones that come out of the ground and look like awe-inspiring paintings of landscapes of the earth, sea or sky. “The stones themselves are so compelling that they are the palette that inform the shapes and silhouettes of my settings for pendants and rings,” says Nan. “It always amazes me when a piece is finished with a stone that is centuries old, and it looks completely contemporary and of the moment, yet will transcend time and trends.”

Top left: Morrisonite picture jasper with diamond bezel, wrapped fringe pendant necklace. Right: rare Morrisonite picture jasper with diamond bezel. Bottom left: hand carved 10,000-year-old woolly mammoth ivory staurolite signet ring in 18K gold.

nanfusco.com

Dale Hernsdorf

“My designs are first and foremost inspired by the raw materials I work with, the natural world’s most precious, spiritually charged elements,” says Dale. “It’s only when I hold a rare gemstone in my hand that I begin to understand how it might collaborate with high-karat gold and best be worn. Each piece features one-of-a-kind, ethically sourced stones and is hand-wrought in my Los Angeles studio.”

A group including the Harness Necklace with tanzanite, choker with Helix Toggle, Halo Charm with tourmaline and Quint Ring with iceberg diamond in 22K gold.

dalehernsdorf.com

Aisha Baker and Hoonik Chang of Aisha Baker

A dash of whimsy and bold colors offer a fresh perspective on the familiar themes that are translated with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. The entire collection from the Dubai-based duo of Aisha Baker and Hoonik Chang plays on cultural aspects of different time periods as well as childhood fantasies. “We reflect back on the mysterious and bewitching fairytales of our childhood for our designs and to add a touch of escapism to our daily modern lives,” says Aisha. The collection is elevated with its superb craftsmanship and artfully placed enamel and stones in this limited-edition collection. No two designs are exactly alike, which adds to the uniqueness and collectability of the pieces.

From left to right, top to bottom: All You Need Is Love ring with enamel and gemstones, Alcazar bracelet with multiple gemstones, Lucky You necklace with emeralds, gold Cupid heart earrings with rubies in 18K gold.

aishabaker.com

Jean Basse

“As a woman designer, I am intrigued by the way in which different women perceive and connect to the same piece,” says Jean. For this reason, the pieces in Jean’s collection are easy to wear and relatable, yet they possess a distinctive sensibility in multi-level and dimensional silhouettes. They are expressive and are designed to take on the personality of the wearer. “The pieces look best when women mix rather than match their pieces,” says Jean. “The more women personalize, the more it will radiate their energy and become part of them.” The collection incorporates 14K gold and white gold, precious and semi-precious gemstones as well as high-quality diamonds. Jean concentrates on every detail in the collection. “Even the smallest nuances can have a big impact on a design,” she adds.

From left to right, top to bottom: Double Petal earring, Gypsy Band rings, London blue topaz and aquamarine, moonstone Swirl earrings, Blue Moon Vapor Drops in moonstone with diamond accents necklace, Blue Moonstone Stud and Diamond Earrings, all in 14K gold.

jeanbasse.com