JANET FITCH
TREND-WATCH
Earrings jump through hoops
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Tomasz
Donocik ’ s beautiful Dune earrings were showstoppers at the 2016 Goldsmiths ’
Craft and Design
Awards when they won the IJL Gold Award , and at Couture 2016 where they won two Couture Design Awards
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The popularity of earrings has swung throughout history , from being important in antiquity to times when they were not worn at all , but last year saw a resurgence of earrings of every variety , matched or mismatched , and the momentum continues now , with statement chandelier and hoop earrings as well .
Demand for ear embellishment has spawned new pieces like ‘ earcuffs ’ and crawlers extending up the lobe and for a personal mixand-match , no-rules ‘ ear stack ’. Or the equally eye-catching alternative is to wear one striking statement earring .
Evidence of the trend is the success of Maria Tash , designer and retailer of jewellery for 20 years in the USA , who opened a branch of her New York piercing studio in Liberty London jewellery hall in July 2016 , offering expert advice , piercing and jewellery for ‘ enviable ears ’. ( www . libertylondon . com )
British jeweller Dinny Hall launched The Singles Bar in 2016 to focus on ear embellishment and in June opened their fourth standalone store in Covent Garden , selling her signature style staples : hoops , single studs , stacking rings and directional new collections . ( www . dinnyhall . com )
Maria Black Jewellery ’ s collections including earrings in silver or solid gold that ‘ adorn the ear in a contemporary but unconventional manner ’. The latest collection , Disruption , interestingly launched on social media , offers newly invented
Ana Verdun
Jacqueline Cullen
Beau Han Xu features like a hoop-lock on earrings , creating a seamless look , and chunky and versatile hoop earrings that are encouraged to be mixed , not paired , Many earrings also accommodate those who only have one piercing , by cleverly emulating , for example , the look of three piercings . ( www . maria-black . com )
At GFG Jewellery by Nilufer , founder Nilufer KIzilkaya aims to create timeless beauty using precious metals , with bespoke cut gemstones , diamonds and pearls . To celebrate the current Year of the Red Rooster , the Seraphina collection features responsibly sourced rubies , with 18ct gold , in partnership with Gemfields . Ruby is the birthstone of this month of July , but looks set to be in fashion for the next A / W season . The outstanding earrings , designed to adorn multiple holes , include Seraphina studs , drop earrings , ear climbers , long wing earrings and Seraph Halo studs , as well as the Claire Huggie diamond hoops and Ellie beaded gold hoops . ( www . gfgjewellery . com )
Tomasz Donocik ’ s beautiful Dune earrings were showstoppers at the 2016 Goldsmiths ’ Craft and Design Awards when they won the IJL Gold Award , and at Couture 2016 where they won two Couture Design Awards including the prestigious Editor ’ s Choice . Part of the Stellar collection , inspired by the vivid paintings of 1970s artist Frank Stella , Donocik has created a ‘ utopian landscape of precious opaque and translucently invisibly
16 JEWELLERY FOCUS
July 2017 | jewelleryfocus . co . uk