Look Book

o n t h e c o v e r 15 www.thejewelrybook.com t a p further." Todd constantly remains awed by the accounts and designer boutiques that seek out his jewelry. "I'm surprised by how much I love working with retailers and being the wholesale manufacturer of our own line," he explains of the more than two dozen galleries and stores throughout the United States that carry his earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bridal wear for men and women and custom-made jewelry. "Boutiques and customers really appreci- ate the entire creative process, and many times we're in good company with other designers who have their own fingerprint aesthet- ic. That has been very rewarding." To illustrate how rapidly TAP has achieved widespread recognition, in 2014 Todd took home the coveted Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award from the JA New York Summer Show. Recently, Todd and his team developed an aesthetic that further distinguishes their line. By drilling through marquise or round diamonds and put- ting them on platinum pins, they have created a look where the diamond magically seems to float over the finished piece. These designs also create greater texture and more reflection of light bounc- ing around. One set of long marquise-shaped ear- rings, which are pin-set on the surface, seem to float in clusters, like waterfalls. "We've worked hard to pioneer a new type of setting in the field," Todd exclaims, "and it represents an exciting new direc- tion for us that's been well received." TAP's most prestigious pin-set piece is undoubt- edly the Glacier II necklace, which former tennis pro Mary Joe Fernández wore to this year's Met Gala and which is currently on display at the Ornamentum Gallery in Hudson, New York. Crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, 14-karat white gold and 900 platinum, the necklace boasts 133 drilled marquise diamonds set inverted and held with platinum pins on the surface of individual links encircling the neck. The piece also has seven briolette diamonds that dangle on platinum rings in front of the necklace; the total combined dia- mond weight of this masterpiece is 39.75 carats. By igniting the innate qualities of the metals and stones with which he works, TAP by Todd Pownell has created sophisticated jewelry that reflects the light and dark spaces of the wild he loves. "We've worked hard to pioneer a new type of setting in the field."

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