Come on Spring: Fun, Fabulous Necklaces Under $500

I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but Spring seems to be taking its sweet time getting to us.  I thought it was time for a little pick-me-up without breaking the bank.  If you’re in the mood for something luminous, check out these necklaces that are meant to make a statement and lift your mood:

Under $100:

Pretty-in-pink Ruby cluster necklace from Catherine Weitzman:

Catherine Weitzman Ruby Seed Pod Necklace, $80 Retail

 

Natural wood and bone neck by R.J. Graziano would be a very affordable update:

R.J. Graziano Long Wood and Bone Necklace, $42.99 Retail

 

A lovely lavender glass necklace from Marc by Marc Jacobs:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Lavender Glass Necklace, $99 Retail

 

Kenneth Jay Lane long gold necklace, love the shimmery coins, should be just long enough to double up:

 

 

Kenneth Jay Lane Hammered Coin Necklace, $75 Retail

 

Rachel Leigh short golden nugget necklace has nice texture:

 

 

Rachel Leigh Golden Nugget Necklace, $58 Retail

I’m not normally a huge fan of Juicy Couture, but this necklace hits just the right notes with multi-chain layered look and a touch of turquoise:

Juicy Couture Layered Necklace, $98 Retail

From $100 to $250:

Very pretty Rachel Reinhardt “Cleo” Fringe bib necklace, sea green and seed pearl:

 

Rachel Reinhardt "Cleo" Fringe Bib Necklace, $131 Retail

Frothy Freshwater Pearl “Twist” necklace by Iridesse, love the colors (click through for larger image):

Multicolor Freshwater Pearl "Twist" by Iridesse, $225 Retail

Alexis Bittar “Klimt” necklace, just the right mix of texture , graceful, and still makes a statement:

 

Alexis Bittar "Klimt" Necklace, $195 Retail

 

Craving coral?  Here’s a well-priced necklace with just a touch of it (Btw, I love the stuff on this site, but Vivre doesn’t have enough details for the jewelry—length, materials, etc.):

Coral and Vermeil Necklace, $147.50 Retail

 

From $300 to $500:

I really like this artist’s aesthetic on Etsy.  This is her “Greta” necklace, with a lovely mix of Carnelian, shell, wood, pearls, citrine, and fossil coral crocheted onto gold wire:

Jraejewels "Greta" Necklace on Etsy, $352 Retail

 

Here is another one of jraejewels’ designs, a collar of woven semi-precious jewels: multi-hued freshwater pearls, seaglass, crystals and wood (OK, it’s over $500 but I like it so much I have to squeak it in, plus it’s REAL jewelry so you can justify it!):

jraejewels "Kate" Collar Necklace, $650

Here is a fine silver necklace with pearls and crystals, also found on Etsy.  Very pretty floral design:

"White Ophelia" Fine Silver Necklace, $375 retail

 

Jamie Joseph Labradorite pendant has gorgeous hues of blue/green/brown with an oxidized silver chain, you’ll have to click through to see the image: Jamie Joseph at Ylang Ylang.

Also, this Jamie Joseph pendant in ultra-simple White Onyx, also at Ylang Ylang.

Very nice Nancy Cohen necklace, I like the way the gems are drilled and mounted irregularly through the chain:

Nancy Cohen Peruvian Chalcite Briolette Necklace, $330 Retail

 

And finally, here is the reason that I wanted to do this post, after seeing this designer’s Spring Collection.  This is a silver, gunmetal and steel chain necklace with a bullet-faceted lemon quartz:

Gemma Redux Erin Necklace with Lemon Quartz, $398 Retail

And a very cool Mauve Quartz necklace that manages to be feminine and industrial at the same time:

Gemma Redux Mauve Quartz Necklace, $354 Retail

 

 What is your favorite necklace design this season?  Comment and let me know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jewelry Essentials for Every Woman

There are a few items that should be on every woman’s jewelry wishlist.  In addition to an engagement ring or wedding band, here is my list:

Pearls.

I love pearls: they are classic and stunning in a quiet, glowing sort of way.  With some recent advancements in technology, there are some really amazing colors, shapes and designs that are quite affordable.  A complete list would be white 7-8mm Akoyas in about a 20 inch length, an 18 inch strand of Tahitian South Seas, and something really fun in Chinese freshwaters (pinks, copper, pistachio-green), like this strand from Pearlparadise.com.

Multi-color Freshwater Pearl Necklace by pearlparadise.com

Diamond solitaire earrings.

These are a must for those days you can’t think of anything else to wear, they are always appropriate.  Size depends on your personal taste and budget.  I prefer large, because I am tall and wear mine almost every day.  I think a perfect place to start for most people would be 3/4 to 1 carat total weight (.33 to .50 carat each diamond), H-I color, SI1-SI2 clarity, in a simple basket mounting, like these from Blue Nile.

1 ct tw Diamond Solitaire Earrings by Blue Nile

A great watch.

Sorry, your cellphone clock will just not cut it as an accessory.  You need a nice watch, just how serious is up to your personality and budget.  You can go for something rugged enough for everyday use that you can still dress up, like Rolex, Tag-Heuer, or Omega.  Or go straight for the luxe, like Jaeger LeCoultre , or the Patek Philippe Twenty-4:

Patek Philippe Twenty-4 in Steel with Diamonds

Diamond bracelet.

Ever since Edwardian-era intricate cuffs or Art Deco designs stacked up the wrist, diamond bracelets have been a classic jewelry wardrobe item.  You can go for vintage glamour with an original straight-line, or for a modern interpretation of the ubiquitous tennis bracelet.  My choice would be an original from an estate dealer with a pedigree like Tiffany or Raymond Yard, or a new number in white gold or platinum, 2-12 carats, G-I color and SI1-SI2 clarity.  I love this half-bezel mounting design available on Amazon.com (there are many other styles, sizes, and price ranges available) :

Bezel-set Diamond Bracelet from Amazon.com

Hoop earrings.

Every woman needs a pair of gold or white gold hoops for every day, and if you’re really lucky maybe something with diamonds.  I would love something delicate and beautiful like these from Nicole Landaw,

18 Karat gold and diamond hoops by Nicole Landaw, $2800 retail

and then maybe something bold and sparkly like these:

Diamond Hoop Earrings by Gabrielle Diamonds, 2.25 ct tw

There are so many amazing jewelry designs out there that it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  This list is a place to start.  Happy Shopping!