At a time when consumers are craving individuality more and more, the work of independent designers is a crucial element of any retail store. When a designer can create and hone their own aesthetic— making any one of their pieces recognizable as their own—that is the mark of a great talent.
Alison Antelman is one of those such designers. Truly an artist with metal, the Berkeley, Calif.–based jeweler crafts one-of-a-kind pieces that expertly walk the line between museum-worthy displays and wearable art. Simply put: When worn, these pieces are going to get noticed.
I first became familiar with Antelman’s work when I did a story about sterling silver designers for the March/April 2017 issue of JCK magazine (you can read that article here). I had the pleasure of working with a number of different jewelers for that piece and was particularly blown away by Antelman’s work. Luckily, she has been keeping me abreast of what’s new.
This most recent handcrafted batch is especially splendid, with designs from her signature Metropolitan collection, as well as a few other one-of-a-kind pieces that, in my opinion, are very everyday wearable while still maintaining Antelman’s incomparable handiwork.
Metropolitan is my favorite because the collection captures the vivacious vibes of New York City: its thrumming pulse, jagged, alluring skyline, and colorful energy. You can positively feel it when you look at each piece, as if it’s a little, portable piece of New York itself. I’m drawn to the jewels in the same way I’m drawn to the city, with an affection that can’t really be described but is assuredly shared with many, many others.
Antelman’s metalwork is an impressive enough feat, but gemstone lovers will find a reason to gawk, too: Stones such as vesuvianite, spessartite garnet, and tourmaline pack a colorful punch in this latest lineup.
For more on the designer—including her workshop class schedule!—visit antelman.com.
Top: Metropolis bracelet in oxidized silver and 18k and 22k gold with vesuvianite, tourmaline, and aquamarine, $5,600
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