Statement jewelry is the ultimate way to provide your outfit with personality and pizzaz. Pairing brilliant jade with casual jeans and a t-shirt or bold garnet with a little black dress immediately adds jazz and class to an otherwise average outfit. The key is to experiment with items that speak to you and reflect your individual sense of style. NOVICA has beautiful, handcrafted pieces, plus some tips to get you started.
Get Classic
Large sets of multi-layered pearls offer a timeless way to spice up an ensemble. For a modern touch, look for an elaborate pattern like the Cultured Freshwater Pearl Flower Necklace from Thailand. This veritable bouquet of iridescent white flowers is made in Thailand by Anusara, who has been growing and working with real flowers since she was a child. Her feminine, detailed style flows into these gems with the same elegance she gathers from the florals in her garden.
Be Bright
Show the world your free-spirit with a blast of color. From red garnet to turquoise blue to rainbow moonstone, the color options are seemingly endless. Best of all, you don’t have to choose just one. If you find a piece like this shimmering confetti gemstone cuff from India, you can sparkle with them all at once. Artisan Neeru Goel’s hobby is collecting jewelry and gemstones, so many of her designs combine a variety of hues.
Go Big
Large shapes and designs can be paired with just about any kind of ensemble, but it’s important to choose just one statement piece at a time for the most dramatic effect. An oversized gemstone ring like the Aquatic Allure made of sterling silver and crowned with a type of quartz known as chalcedony is sure to turn heads. Gemstones are Indian artisan, Mahavir’s specialty. Here he sets the checkerboard-cut stone in polished sterling silver and adds a halo of 18k gold to the bezel.
Be Meaningful
Do a little research to help find the gem that speaks to you. For example, did you know that aquamarine has long been a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity? It is also thought to positively affect and improve relationships, making it a great gift. This beaded, aquamarine necklace from Thailand also features pearls, which are believed to attract wealth and luck as well as offer protection. Artisan, Nareerat of Thailand, who derives inspiration from her materials, has a variety of styles adorned in aquamarine as well as amethyst and quartz.
In the end, it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself to find the perfect piece. Chances are you’ll know it when you see it. Jewelry is a personal choice and there’s no wrong way to go. When you feel confident, everyone around you feels it and showing off a unique statement piece handmade by an artisan in another corner of the world … well, nothing brings about confidence quite like that.
