Gemstones, without question, play a leading role in the jewelry industry. Both the rare and more common are what drive so many—creators and consumers alike—to fall in love with a single piece of jewelry. But what I most often find myself impressed by is an expert hand at molding metal into something that can stand on its own, absent of bright color and glitter. These earrings from Baiyang Qiu, though they pop with the addition of round sapphires, are no exception. Designer Qiu uses fine gauge metal wire as a signature of her designs. Each creation is one you can easily get lost in: an intricate nest of shapes spun into a web of metal, so visually arresting that no assistance from gemstones, no matter how spectacular, is needed. This pair does get the gemstone treatment—round, bezel-set sapphires—that reside front and center, without being the center, so to speak. If the triangular pattern of this design were a scarf, the stone serves as the brooch to fasten its ends. It’s a beautiful bonus to the earrings, but not necessarily the centerpiece. This is a harmonious, expertly crafted design that serves to show off the metalsmithing skills of its creator.

Earrings in platinum with 0.95 ct. t.w. sapphires, $3,500

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor