Few pieces of jewelry are as timeless as a gold chain. With roots that go all the way back to ancient Egypt, the jewelry staple remains fresh, year after year, because designers constantly revisit it, switching up lengths and styles of link to keep us wanting more. The varieties — including Cuban, curb, paperclip, nautical and handmade one-of-a-kind versions — are virtually endless, as is the fun you’re bound to have with them.
Point of View: Spotlight on ARK
Ann Korman is, first and foremost, a painter. But after nearly a decade of designing fine jewels, the founder of ARK Fine Jewelry in Los Angeles has forged a reputation for achieving the same dreamy effects using gemstones.
“I paint every day and study the watercolor flowing across the page — that’s what I’m trying to capture when I place the stones,” Korman says. “I’m always trying to express that painterliness in jewelry.”
In her latest collection, Awakenings, Korman unites her various inspirations, from the spiritual concepts that she learned a decade ago, after spending time in India, to her globetrotting adventures. “The new collection is an intersection of ancient wisdom, my sculpting training, my painting training, my global travels and all the spiritual knowledge I bring to them,” she says.
Back to Basics: Power Signet
Historically, signet rings featuring an intaglio design carved on the flat bezel served a practical purpose: They could be pressed down on wax to seal and sign documents. Over time, the style became a handy (ha!) way to convey social status or political roles, with seals, symbols and initials serving as shorthand for the wearer’s associations. Today, the once-masculine signet ring is beloved by women, who commonly wear it on a pinky finger, with or without gemstones. Hands down, it’s one of our favorite — and most enduring — ring styles.
