Paper City Article

Bang, Bang Bling

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:47:41 GMT

Pow, pow, pow! Bullet Girl has made her way into the room, and she%26#8217;s taking no prisoners. Houston designer Jessica Meyer makes an impact everywhere she goes, laden with jewelry of her own design, created from bold, gun powder%26#8211;free bullet casings from her grandfather%26#8217;s ammo plant in Mexico. (Small wonder, then, that she%26#8217;s been dubbed %26#8220;Bullet Girl.%26#8221;) When friend and fan Heather Davis spied the sleek .22 millimeter and .223 Remington ammo strung across Meyer%26#8217;s chest, dangling from her ears and around the nape of her neck, she became positively obsessed, too. Now Meyer and Davis have teamed up to put a glittering edge on the sinister side of the bullet by embellishing it with silver, brass, copper, 18K gold and rhodium metals %26#8212; not to mention diamonds, pearls, rubies and onyx. Not your mamma%26#8217;s costume jewels, these stylish projectiles (which range in price from $150 to $2,800) make a statement that doesn%26#8217;t say %26#8220;fashion victim.%26#8221; Cattle Baron%26#8217;s Ball, anyone? Caution: Sold only by the brave hearts at V.O.D., 214.754.0644; vodboutique.com.

Image: Jessica Meyer and Heather Davis; example of Bullet Girl's licensed-to-thrill craft

Bang, Bang Bling

Wed, 26 May 2010 04:29:06 GMT

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Image: Jessica Meyer and Heather Davis; example of Bullet Girl's licensed-to-thrill craft

Queen of the Ball

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:02:47 GMT

J%26#8217;adore these stretchy bracelets from Marni Rocks in yin-and-yang white jade with CZ ball $65, and frosted black onyx with rubies $245. 1415 S. Voss, Second Floor, 713.533.0550; marnierocks.com.

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Image: Marni Rocks. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Queen of the Ball

Wed, 26 May 2010 11:44:31 GMT

J%26#8217;adore these stretchy bracelets from Marnie Rocks in yin-and-yang white jade with CZ ball $65, and frosted black onyx with rubies $245. 8413 Preston Center Plaza, 214.369.1200; marnierocks.com.

B.zero1 Celebrates 1Zero

Wed, 26 May 2010 11:51:49 GMT

Bulgari rounds out the 10th anniversary of its iconic B.zero1 ring, designed around the cylindrical motif of the famed jeweler%26#8217;s logo, with three new sparkling interpretations. Internationally renowned contemporary sculptor Anish Kapoor fashioned a sleek steel and pink-gold design, while Bulgari has produced two in-house ceramic versions, one in refreshing white and the other in black; both display Bulgari%26#8217;s Roman epigraphic logo in polished pink gold. From $890, at the Bulgari boutique.

Ring for a Cocktail

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:20:11 GMT

As the temperature rises, we%26#8217;re drawn to the cool colors of Elsa Peretti%26#8217;s new sun-drenched jawbreaker cabochon cocktail rings. Simply set in 18K gold or sterling silver, they%26#8217;re the perfect things to raise with an icy gimlet. From $1,900, at Tiffany %26amp; Co.

Paloma Rings in 30 Years with Tiffany %26 Co.

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:11:11 GMT

Designer Paloma Picasso has created three collections to commemorate 30 beautiful years with Tiffany %26amp; Co. The most opulent is Marrakesh %26#8212; a vibrant mix of semiprecious stones and black-onyx pendants and cuffs encased in graphic gold, recalling the mosaics of Middle Eastern architecture, while Hammered Circles forms yellow-gold, rose-gold and sterling-silver circles into necklaces and hoop earrings. Tr%26#232;s charmant, however, is the Dove collection of pendants in sterling silver, gold and diamonds, inspired by the dove drawn by Picasso%26#8217;s famous father, Pablo, for the 1949 Paris World Peace Conference. There%26#8217;s a personal connection for his daughter, who was born that year. %26#8220;My name, %26#8216;Paloma,%26#8217; means %26#8216;dove%26#8217; in Spanish,%26#8221; she says. %26#8220;And it stands as a symbol of peace and purity. There are many romantic songs about %26#8216;La Paloma Blanca.%26#8217; One of them used to bring tears to my eyes when I was a little girl. I%26#8217;ve designed the dove to be your guardian angel.%26#8221; At Tiffany %26amp; Co.

Susan Saffron Fine Jewelry

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:10:19 GMT

Susan Saffron is no stranger to socialites and the precious stones in their jewelry boxes. After 25 years as one of Highland Park%26#8217;s most sought-after private jewelers, Saffron is taking all her diamonds, rubies and sapphires to her first store, at Inwood Village. Behind glistening glass display cases you%26#8217;ll find her extensive and ever-changing collection of estate pieces, as well as custom-designed bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings. When it comes to Saffron%26#8217;s carats and gemstones, the sky%26#8217;s the limit:%26nbsp;Earrings set with diamonds and Colombian emeralds, a white- and chocolate-diamond ring, and a green tourmaline pendant fill out the estate collection, while a bevy of loose stones %26#8212; amethysts, diamonds, tourmalines, emeralds, et al %26#8212; are available for bijoux that Saffron and her artisans will design and craft upon request. A visit here will quiet the voice of your inner, jewelry-loving Duchess of Windsor. 5550 W. Lovers Lane, 214.373.6602; saffronjewelry.com.

Image: Chad Allison at Susan Saffron Fine Jewelry

Style Watch

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:36:21 GMT

Classic American designer Ralph Lauren%26#8217;s first collection of timepieces, created in collaboration with luxury-goods group Richemont, is available%26nbsp; at the Ralph Lauren boutique in New York City. The collection is comprised of three watch suites, each drawing inspiration from a different facet of the brand%26#8217;s iconic heritage: Stirrup (equestrian style), Slim Classique (classic Americana) and Sporting (the worlds of polo, tennis and golf). The latter includes two distinct styles, the Chronograph and the World Time. The timepieces (there are 23 in total) come in gold and platinum finishes, many embellished with diamonds. Stunning. From $8,250, exclusively at the Ralph Lauren boutique, New York.%26nbsp;

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IMAGE: Ralph Lauren Stirrup Collection watch, at the Ralph Lauren Boutique, New York.

Alice's Ever So Mad Wonderland

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:22:07 GMT

Leave the mad hatters and talking rabbits to Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton: Our Alice dons vintage Balenciaga (well, hello) and goes on a far more glaaaamorous whirl %26#8212; no rhyme, no reason %26#8212;%26nbsp;wherein she tumbles through her Chippendale looking glass, discovers a rather erudite swami and comes face-to-face with a queen %26#8212; a very important queen. (All hail! All hail!) The icing on the tea cakes? The season%26#8217;s very important gems and jewels. Sparkle plenty!

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Click on "launch slideshow," above, to start the journey!

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Click here to go behind the scenes of the making of our Alice...

Model Gems

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:56:14 GMT

It%26#8217;s carats and catwalks on Wednesday, December 9, when Sotheby%26#8217;s offers up gorgeous gems from gorgeous Brazilian model L%26#250;cia Moreira Salles, the late philanthropist, muse to Valentino and exclusive house model to Chanel. (We loved her for her gift to The Morgan Library %26amp; Museum just before she passed away in January: rare, bound Oscar Wilde letters and manuscripts, their whereabouts unknown to scholars for 50-plus years.) During her highly stylish life, Salles amassed diamond and ruby rings from the unparalleled JAR of Paris, luminous pearl necklaces and rings, even a pair of Verdura onyx cuffs studded with emeralds and sapphires, all on the block as part of Sotheby%26#8217;s one-day %26#8220;Magnificent Jewels%26#8221; sale. If you happen to be taking Manhattan from December 4 to 9, preview it all at Sotheby%26#8217;s glittery headquarters %26#8212; or wave your virtual paddle from here at sothebys.com. Information 212.606.7000.%26#160;

Good Bones

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:40:35 GMT

Skeletons in the closet are a good thing when they%26#8217;re magnificent skeleton timepieces. See slideshow.

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Alice's Ever So Mad Wonderland

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:25:10 GMT

Leave the mad hatters and talking rabbits to Lewis Carroll and Tim Burton: Our Alice dons vintage Balenciaga (well, hello) and goes on a far more glaaaamorous whirl %26#8212; no rhyme, no reason %26#8212;%26nbsp;wherein she tumbles through her Chippendale looking glass, discovers a rather erudite swami and comes face-to-face with a queen %26#8212; a very important queen. (All hail! All hail!) The icing on the tea cakes? The season%26#8217;s very important gems and jewels. Sparkle plenty!

Bulgari Celebrates

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:53:54 GMT

Luxury jeweler Bulgari continues to celebrate its 125th anniversary with the launch of the Serpenti collection and a special Christie%26#8217;s auction this month. The new collection, inspired by the dynamism of the serpent, includes sinuous and flexible bracelets, rings and watches in pink and white gold, dazzling with diamonds and multicolored gemstones. Three exclusive Serpenti bracelets will be auctioned at Christie%26#8217;s in New York on Tuesday, December 8, along with eight one-of-a-kind Bulgari creations and seven limited-edition timepieces, a value estimated at $4 million. Bulgari will donate all proceeds from the auction to Save The Children%26#8217;s %26#8220;Rewrite the Future%26#8221; campaign, which provides education for 8 million children in conflict-affected areas. Bulgari Serpenti collection from $3,950, at the Bulgari boutique.%26nbsp;