The 7 Fine-Jewelry Brands To Know About In 2022

The LA-based brand burst onto the scene in 2016, instantly ruffling feathers among watch purists while delighting the rest of us with its cleverly customized, iconic timepieces. LaCalifornienne’s latest launch is a range of interchangeable leather straps for the Apple Watch, each one hand-painted in dreamy hues inspired by the “infinite color palette” of Californian skies. NET-A-PORTER’s exclusive capsule collection ranges from monochrome and tan stripes to candy-colored pastels and clashing primary hues, all crafted from vegetable-tanned leather. A wrist-party addition that’s guaranteed to spark joy.

Founded by fine-jewelry buyer Jennifer Koche, Storrow offers a contemporary take on Victorian keepsakes, with styles inspired by the antique jewelry she inherited from her grandmother. Star-studded pink opal hearts, color-pop enamel lockets and bold turquoise medallions are designed to be mixed, matched and, eventually, passed down generations. Replete with whimsical details and strung from 14-karat-gold chains or ropes of Akoya pearls, Storrow’s designs are the heirlooms your great-grandchildren will thank you for. In the meantime, style with everything from silk shirts to chunky knits.

Jewelry watches rarely come as sophisticated as those created by Charles Oudin, the Parisian house founded in 1797. An under-the-radar favorite among horology cognoscenti, the family-run watchmaker specializes in bejeweled timepieces inspired by the classical architecture of Paris’s Jardin du Palais Royal and the geometric elegance of the Art Deco era. With vintage-inspired square dials and satin straps in shades ranging from royal blue to raspberry pink, the brand’s diamond-edged designs are refined and dazzling in equal measure. The ideal feminine counterpoint to masculine tailoring.

For New Yorker Jade Trau, the most beautiful piece of jewelry is one that is worn – so a sense of effortless wearability is at the heart of her designs. There’s nothing casual, however, about the diamonds that sing from each piece. A former diamond buyer whose family has been in the business since the 1800s, Trau selects every stone for its inherent beauty. Matte-gold chains, signet rings and industrial-chic bangles elevate the simplest outfit, while her contemporary take on a diamond rivière is an instant classic.

Ananya’s jewelry is every bit as glamorous as the jet-setting designer herself – who is based between London, Miami and Chennai – and there’s depth behind the dazzle. She’s inspired by the flow of energy between the chakras: in the Scatter collection, gemstones float in ethereal formations around the earlobes, wrists and fingers, with multicolored sapphires creating a subtle ombré effect. Her signature ‘Chakra’ bracelets combine jade beads or pearls with diamond-set or quartz-crystal bars, each material selected for its healing properties. They’re best worn stacked for maximum impact.

Baylee Zwart became fascinated with gold craftsmanship while working for a non-profit organization in Guatemala. The country’s mountainous terrain inspired her earliest designs, while a sense of rugged beauty still infuses her work. Azlee’s rough-hewn, talismanic medallions feel like ancient treasure, while the designer’s nod to French Art Deco is evident in more geometric, diamond-set pieces. A keen surfer and scuba diver, LA-based Zwart donates a portion of profits to ocean-related causes. Sustainability is at the core of Azlee: every piece is crafted from recycled gold and ethically sourced gemstones.

Needing almost no introduction, Elizabeth Gage is a bona fide legend in the fine-jewelry industry. The octogenarian British goldsmith and designer began her career by creating a collection for Cartier in 1968; four years later, she received a De Beers International Diamond Award. Handcrafted in the UK, Gage’s distinctive textured-gold, enamel and colored-stone designs were collected by Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall and are exhibited in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Her iconic, Renaissance-inspired ‘Templar’ rings are on every serious jewelry-connoisseur’s wish list.