Flower Power: Blooms that Go Heavy on the Karats
Always on trend and in season: peace, love, and gemstone-embellished floral jewelry. With the official first day of summer just a couple of weeks away, it’s hard to resist fresh bouquets—especially when they arrive in the form of diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Am I right? With that said, I’m a little bit over ornate inspiration right now, and much more into modern designs that elevate the look. Whether it’s a zap of color, an abstract interpretation, or a reimagined retro throwback, I’m in!
Each and every varietal can bring a different meaning to a room or, in this case, an outfit. For instance, the sunflower conjures joy and longevity which matches up perfectly with the 90s, a decade it so brilliantly and perfectly helped define. And the classic camellia is similar in meaning, representing passion. There’s so much more, so come along with me as I take on a new kind of flora foraging.
From one of my favorite African-sourced brands, VANLELES, comes this glorious pair of oversized emerald cuff earrings. Crafted with Zambian emeralds that have been ethically mined, the designs contain a total of 10.6 carats with the addition of diamonds. It’s easy to see just how serious the designer, Vania Leles, is about giving her native stones and the anatomy of a flower the justice they both deserve. Awards season needs more of these in its life.
And if you keep up with Bulgari, you’re already familiar with its joy-inducing “Fiorever” collection, a trove of fine four-petal flower creations evocative of Roman beauty and tradition. This particular 18k white gold statement necklace is comprised of about 8.8 carats of brilliant-cut and pave diamonds, paying stunning tribute to the city’s forever charm and splendor.
Now on to the camellia. The illustrious Chanel has been utilizing the iconic flower ever since Mademoiselle Chanel herself became enraptured with it for its simple beauty and scentless quality. Since then, it has taken on many forms to enhance the maison’s luxury accessories and clothing, but today, it has been marvelously scaled down via the new Extrait de Camélia line of jewels. I would honestly wear any of the pieces any day of the week, especially this triple transformable ring made of 18k pink gold and diamonds.
For a tropical feel, this Le Vian pendant designed especially for a Hawaiian Jeweler, displays some serious exotic glamour. The 14K rose gold Aloha Collection piece contains 1.75 carats of pink sapphires and .11 carats of diamonds for a colorful mashup which—quite frankly—makes me want to jet set it out of here right now and head for paradise. If it’s earrings you want, then go for this pair of 14k plumeria-style earrings from MJJ Brilliant. It looks to pave diamonds and smooth yellow gold for a glitzy ode to paradise. I can see these on vacation with a slicked back bun and a maxi dress.
Finally, the flower of the 1990s. Seen on everything from baby doll tees to chokers, the golden sunflower is still going strong. Its robust presence and delightful color make it perfect for jewelry design, and this pretty, understated pair of earrings proves that. Offered in either 14k or 18k yellow gold, the studs use diamonds for the center and of course can be stacked with other earrings. I love how they are a classic tribute!
About The Author
Debbie Azar is the Co-Founder and President of Gemological Science International (GSI), one of the largest gemological organizations in the world, and a distinguished leader in the global diamond and jewelry industry. As an executive with extensive knowledge of the jewelry and gem lab industries, her entrepreneurial skills and vision have helped GSI achieve rapid and continuous growth worldwide, establishing 13 leading-edge gemological facilities on four continents. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Responsible Jewellery Council, and Jewelers for Children, and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York. She has been featured in Forbes, Daily Mail, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fox Business, Fox5, CBS2, BOLDTV, Varney&Co, The Street, and NASDAQ, among others.
