By Laura Eckstein Jones By Laura Eckstein Jones | January 22, 2024 | Style & Beauty, Features, Watches & Jewelry, The Latest, Style & Beauty, Style & Beauty Feature, style and beauty, Community, Apple News,
TURN HEADS WITH A DAZZLING PIECE FROM ONE OF THESE FRESH-ON-THE-SCENE L.A.-BASED JEWELRY BRANDS.
Recess LA founder Marie Monsod’s new line features ‘80s-inspired jewelry, including, from top, the Thunderbolt, Nugget and Stick earring styles; PHOTO: BY ELENA PETROVA
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
“I love vintage costume jewelry and have always wanted to design my own line inspired by [it],” says Marie Monsod, who owns beloved luxury vintage boutique Recess and recently launched an eponymous jewelry brand. “My line was inspired by Richard Kerr earrings, which were made in the 80s,” the Hancock Park resident shares. “They are fun shapes—rhinestoned all around from front to back—bold and statement-making. They are [also] unique, amazing quality and designed specifically to be lightweight for comfort.” Monsod will introduce a new collection later this year and, further down the road, plans to debut small box bags. recessla.com
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
“My jewelry has elements of antiquity, is genderless and combines both a bold scale and a refined touch,” says HOWL founder Tini Courtney, who works with 18k gold, diamonds and gemstones. Rather than base her pieces on sketches or computer renderings, Courtney, who’s based in Santa Monica, starts each piece with a block of wax at the bench. “Carving waxes is how I can physically manifest my imagination, knowing my best work comes when I can stay in the flow and not try to control the final product,” she says. “My clients feel very connected to the jewelry because it comes from my hands, which creates a deep unity through the HOWL community.” She recently debuted a diamond-focused collection called Future Artifacts during Art Basel Miami and is excited to launch a new pearl collection. “I have fallen deeply in love with pearls and the energy they bring to the creative process,” she says. handleonlywithlove.com
HOWL Belle diamond earrings and Pompeii diamond necklace PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
Two years ago, Bel-Air-based Nataliya Mehta started designing and wearing her own jewelry, and soon after, friends and family wanted in. ”People liked what I was designing, so I decided to make it into something more.” Her line LA Muse Gems, which is made in her family’s jewelry factory in Jaipur, officially launched in late 2023. “I have taken much of my inspiration from my mom, who I watched at a young age wear beautiful statement pieces with every outfit,” says Mehta, who incorporates fine gemstones and precious metals into each bold, Indian-inspired trinket. “It was always a piece that she designed and had made in India, and it pulled together her look immediately. You can wear these statement pieces with something casual or sophisticated and achieve the same look—being completely put together.” shop-lamusegems.com
A selection of pieces by LA Muse Gems; PHOTO: BY ALEXA VITUG
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
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