Prestige Promenade pearls and sweets
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/208347
Bernstein's sense of style may be intuitive, but her historical knowledge of jewels and antiques is studied and deliberate. As a longtime member of ASJH (American Society of Jewelry Historians) and a one time antique dealer who learned hands-on from some of the top antique experts in NY and London, Bernstein brings an intellectual and historical perspective to current trends. And, quite excitingly for the industry, through this lens she sees us perched on the edge of another exciting phase of cultural shifts…and these designers are the vanguard. b o o k re v ie w j e w e l r y ' s s h i n g s ta r s As the art nouveau movement was a response to the industrial revolution, Bernstein sees a similarity in the current trends of these new design stars as a response to the mass market jewelry production coming from different parts of the world and all starting to look the same. But more than this she sees a similarity in the spirit of innovative and provocative, inspiring, daring design. jamiejoseph.com Like the celebrated creations of one proponent of the Art Nouveau movement, Lalique, who mixed precious and non-precious materials, creating wearable works of art, or the early 20th century's Van Cleef & Arpels "zip necklace" and the invisible "mystery" setting, Bernstein has identified a group of designers who are doing what feels right for them and collectively creating a new movement. This group is culturally challenging the way materials are used, their own artistic ability to combine, and using established techniques in order to create fully modern pieces. "What a woman wants to wear today," says Bernstein. "Innovation is more about how things are being combined right now," says Bernstein. "It is also about pushing boundaries of what is precious." If there is one common theme, the freshest and most inspirational designs come from experimentation with traditional materials being used in unexpected ways – industrial diamonds, stones with inclusions, the use of organic, uncut shapes. These are rule breakers who are, quite possibly, inventing the new rules. "All of these designers have very, very strong identities," explains Bernstein. "And each of these designers is at a tipping point – in some way – on their career path. They are either new and becoming more well-known, or growing in leaps and bounds at new levels of success." They are also influencing today's buyers, who more than ever are women purchasing jewelry for themselves. Avon 68 W W W.theWeddingringbook.CoM