ACCESSORIES

The Diamond Life

Vintage inspirations and whimsical touches lighten some new collections.


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Photographer: Thomas Iannaccone Stylist: Talya Cousins

Carla Amorim has always loved accessorizing. “My first allowance was given to me on a family trip to Buenos Aires, when I was nine. All my siblings spent their money on candies and toys; I spent it all on plastic bangles,” recalls the jeweler, who’s been designing for many years and has six stores in her native Brazil. “They were enough to fully cover my two arms.” Since then she has upgraded considerably from plastic. November marks the U.S. launch of her first diamond collection. Though the Oscar Niemeyer architecture in Brasília, her hometown, and religious symbols are frequent inspirations, everything seems to “turn into feminine and sexy pieces,” says Amorim. “But I guess that is part of being a Brazilian girl. You just can’t help it.” —Jessica Iredale

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Photographer: Thomas Iannaccone Stylist: Talya Cousins

“We wanted to keep it a secret,” whispers Gaia Repossi of the nascent neo-baroque jewelry line that she codesigned with her childhood friend, the stylish Greek heiress Eugenie Niarchos. But once they began wearing the prototypes on the Young Monaco social scene, word was bound to get out. “Fortunately our friends liked it, and I’m happy [about that], as they’re the right generation for the stuff,” says Repossi. Dubbed Czarina, the line marks the first endeavor for Repossi’s brand, Ere by Repossi. Cuffs, rings, pendants and earrings come in four different shades of gold, with prices running from $500 for gold lace studs to $50,000 for a gold and rose-cut diamond bracelet. Along with Russian iconography, Niarchos’s love of vintage jewelry also flavored the creative process. —Katya Foreman

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Photographer: Thomas Iannaccone Stylist: Talya Cousins

For some, growing older means getting more frequent Botox touch-ups, but at Kwiat it’s a cause for celebration. The company’s design director, Janice DeBell, has combed through the archives to create modern interpretations of antique pieces for the Vintage Collection. “Vintage jewelry is so appealing,” says Greg Kwiat, chief financial officer of Kwiat, which was founded by his great-grandfather Sam in 1907. “It strikes a chord with people wanting a piece that looks like their grandmother’s.” The earrings, filigree rings, intricate pendants and line bracelets have an Art Deco flair with geometric cutouts and rose-cut diamond details. The collection will also include special one-of-a-kind pieces. —Sophia Chabbott

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Photographer: Thomas Iannaccone Stylist: Talya Cousins

New York jeweler Sharon Khazzam picks stones the same way a painter chooses color, selecting the shade that is just right for her delicate yet offbeat gems. “It’s almost like I’m blindfolded to what the value of the material is,” she explains. “It has to be something that works designwise first, and then the material will play a part in it.” That sentiment held true even for pieces from the Rare Collection by Sharon Khazzam, a grouping of 10 one-of-a-kind colored diamond jewels debuting this month at Barneys NewYork. Highlights among the precious—and pricey—gems include a gold and platinum bracelet sprinkled with multicolored diamonds ($850,000) and a pair of pink and blue diamond earrings cushioned by tiny white diamond baguettes ($689,000). “I call it a scattered design,” she says of the earrings. “[Because] it looks as if someone took a handful of stones and threw them down. It adds a little bit of whimsy.” —Jamie Rosen