I’m still on an earring kick for summer, and this pair from the incomparable Todd Reed is one I want to wear all season long, not to mention for the rest of the year—and beyond.

Though made of metal, their delicate construction makes them appear as if they can float, like a jellyfish through the deep blue sea or the parachute-buoyed seeds of a dandelion blown in the wind.

Dripping arcs of textured gold culminate to form rainbowlike tiers—I guess they’re more like lines of raindrops, dotted with diamonds—in two layers for a pair that, in total, measures about 2.25 inches long and 1 inch wide.

You probably don’t need me to give you the background on Todd Reed. The Colorado designer has made quite a name for himself with his highly recognizable work using raw and natural color diamonds and handwrought metals.

Reed’s conflict-free, sustainably made jewelry ticks off all the boxes the modern consumer wants, even if the price point of his one-of-a-kind creations may warrant a few visits before many customers are ready to hit the purchase button. These are not impulse buys. Ultimately, no consumer will be disappointed with the craftsmanship and quality, and Reed’s artist-like interpretations put these far out of the trend zone—they are forever pieces.

These earrings are decidedly minimalist compared to the styles from the jeweler I have familiarized myself with in the past. Bold cuff bracelets and wide bands have been eye-catching staples since I first encountered the designer’s work. (One of my earliest articles for JCKonline in 2012 featured a raw diamond band, and this spotlight from January 2014 includes one of my favorite cuff bracelets ever.)

This style is another example of an appeal to the modern consumer, in that, though immensely luxurious, the earrings may be worn every day with ease. They’re a carefree dose of the good stuff.

This marks eight years of coveting creations by Todd Reed, with certainly no end in sight. As we evolve to demand more artisan-made, conscious goods, the designer is precisely where he needs to be—having made sustainability glamorous and aspirational pieces well before they became popular (though that popularity is a beautiful, welcome thing!).

Top: Dangle earrings in 18k yellow gold with 0.47 ct. t.w. brilliant-cut diamonds, $13,900

Brittany Siminitz

JCK Contributing Editor