Creepy Cameos: 9 Hair-Raising Jewels for Halloween

Lots of scary in the world right now, making this year’s celebration of Halloween, whatever form it takes, a much less frightening respite.

And this collection from jewelry designer Amedeo Scognamiglio, the designer well-known for his cameo jewelry with a modern twist, offers the perfect combination of spook factor, levity, and traditional Italian craftsmanship.

Called Skeledeo, the skull-centric jewelry collection cleverly and compellingly subverts traditional cameo motifs with gender-fluid styles, colorful variations, and modern multifunctionality (including a necklace-bracelet combo). The first drop of the series sold out last year, and its newest pieces are set to arrive at Harrods in London in time for Halloween.

“I keep evolving the art of cameos, inherited by my family’s long tradition, adding a contemporary happy spirit and new design codes, while preserving its original craftsmanship and intrinsic artisanal value,” says Scognamiglio (here’s a JCK designer profile on him from 2012).

“Wearing jewelry is not a necessity but rather a luxurious expression of oneself. It is important for me to create pieces…that make you take a second look and then smile. My jewelry wants to make people smile and say, ‘Oh wait, it’s a monkey?!’ Or in this case, a skeleton!”

And who could say “Boo!” to that? Today, anyway, my heart is skull.