These designers have gone beyond the ordinary, from a pearl-focused capsule to bands featuring ancient Syrian symbology
Words by ANUSH J. BENLIYAN and LILA VANDENBERGHE
Cool and Collected
In addition to custom designs, Los Angeles-based Milestones by Ashleigh Bergman offers a curated assortment of exquisite modern-classic bridal and fine jewelry by both established and unsung designers, among them Ariel Gordon and Eriness. Mark your calendars for Nov. 1, when The Ashleigh Bergman Collective capsule debuts (available exclusively online and priced from $340 to $3,200), encompassing rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces co-designed with even more coveted brands, such as Charlie & Marcelle, Eden Presley, Maya Brenner, My Story Jewelry, Nina Segal, Samira 13 and Walters Faith.
Pearl Crush
After a chance meeting at a mutual friend’s Mexico City wedding, Los Angeles-based jewelry designers Maya Brenner and Sarah Hendler teamed up for a union of their own: a modern, minimal, four-piece pearl-centric capsule collection perfect for those who love delicate, timeless styles.
Marine Life
When Southern California-bred designer and gemologist Renna Brown-Taher — formerly a jewelry specialist at Sotheby’s — launched her eponymous line last year, she found inspiration in a bracelet her mother once made for her out of shells they collected together. With spiral shell motifs aplenty and maritime materials like Tahitian pearls and nacre, the Renna collection “is a visual representation of the childhood memories I have of weekends in Malibu and Laguna,” Brown-Taher says.
Tokens of Love
For her handcrafted and ethically sourced talismanic pieces, British jewelry designer Pippa Small — whose background in anthropology and human rights activism informs her eponymous brand — works with master artisans around the globe who mentor young craftsmen and craftswomen. The embossed gold and silver rings in her new Syrian Wedding Bands collection incorporate ancient Syrian motifs, including that of Atargatis, the goddess of fertility. “These rings are universal symbols of vitality, abundance, rebirth and growth,” says Small, who has outposts in London and Los Angeles. 225 26th St., Santa Monica, 310-260-9222.
Feature image: RENNA Dazed and Mused 18-karat gold necklace with mother-of-pearl and diamond drop pendant, $2,400.
This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of C Weddings and has been updated as of Nov. 5, 2019.
