If you took in any of Monday night’s Met Gala, with its heaps of ludicrously luxurious and sky-high jewelry, you may find today that you’re in the mood for more of the same, and no ordinary jewel will satiate that craving.
Fortunately this week’s Britt’s Pick is no ordinary jewel (they never are, are they?), though it blends the best of both worlds: red carpet and reality.
Sonya K.’s Taylor necklace would appear at home at a glamorous event. With a long, lariat-style drop, a sparkling diamond tennis necklace is transformed by a sugarloaf tanzanite at the end—the pop of color onlookers notice.
Even if there’s no gala or fete on your schedule, the gemstone accent is still worthy of wear—to the office, for drinks, what have you. But for consumers desiring a little lower-key (though no less glam) sparkle, the drop detaches to leave a single strand of diamonds—a traditional tennis necklace that’s timelessly exquisite.
We’ve been seeing a growing number of convertible jewels of late, perhaps a nod to shoppers’ desires to buy smart—fewer but higher-quality items appropriate for a variety of styles and occasions.
“I created the Taylor necklace because I wanted something versatile that could accommodate my crazy, fast-paced life, and I thought that there would be many more people who would enjoy it,” says designer Sonya K. “I loved the concept of wearing a tennis necklace and having a pendant in a pouch inside my bag that I could pop onto the necklace to elevate my look for dinner or a meeting. It is also amazing for traveling light, since you can have one base and multiple pendants; each time you change the pendant, you have a new look.”
As for the gem, the designer says: “I love sugarloafs—they are just so special. When I create designs, I usually start with the gem and create the design around it. I wanted to create a lariat, and when I opened my gemstone box, it called to me.”
Top: Taylor necklace in 18k white gold with 8.41 cts. t.w. diamonds; removable lariat pendant with 5.93 ct. sugarloaf tanzanite, 1.1 cts. t.w. baguette diamonds, and 2.41 cts. t.w. round diamonds, $92,000; Sonya K.
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