JEWELRY FOR CHARITY
Jewelry designer Mignon Faget of New Orleans created this miniature representation of a shotgun house, fifth in a series of wearable holiday ornaments celebrating the history of the city. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the series, called AdornAments, is donated to charity. The 1997 AdornAment honored the Preservation Resource Center, a private, non-profit organization instrumental in the renovation of historic buildings in New Orleans.
Faget’s interest in New Orleans architecture and preservation led her to design jewelry celebrating its beauty, such as the Colonnade, Schema and Romanesque Return collections.
Mignon Faget Ltd., 710 Dublin St., New Orleans, LA 70118; (800) 375-7557 or (504) 865-1107.
Holly Yashi of Arcata, Calif., created the Redwood Memorial pin at the request of Redwood Memorial Hospital, in nearby Fortuna, Calif. The pin is a stylized rendition of the hospital’s redwood tree logo, and will be used in conjunction with a drive to raise money for renovation and expansion of the hospital’s surgery wing. The pin is presented to patrons who donate $300 or more toward the $1.7 million project. Holly Yashi pins were used two years ago in a similar fund drive by the hospital’s sister organization, the St. Joseph’s Heart Institute.
DIAMONDS OR BUST
If you’re going to let your bra shine through a see-through blouse, then check out the Diamond Dream Bra designed by Harry Winston for Victoria’s Secret. The bra, with a price tag of $3 million, features 100 sparkling round diamonds along the neckline and a magnificent 42-ct. pear-shape flawless diamond drop in the cleavage. With a bra like this, why not just skip the blouse altogether! But to complete the outfit, try the matching earrings (total weight: 16 cts.) for a mere $315,000 or the 18k gold belt with 25 cts. of invisibly-set diamonds in the buckle (retail $40,000) from Tycoon Jewelry, 650 S. Hill St., Suite 518-B, Los Angeles, CA 90014; (800) 258-7454 or (213) 689-0204.
The feather boa is an optional finishing touch.
Christian Tse
Christian Tse is the third generation of the Tse family to become an expert jeweler. His grandfather was a particular inspiration, with elaborate 24k gold jewelry he created for ceremonial events like weddings and christenings. The motifs he chose became a signature style for the family’s jewelry.
Today, Christian is committed to upholding the family’s standards of workmanship, but his designs have evolved from the ornate styles of his predecessors to a clean, modern esthetic clearly influenced by architecture and order. Ergonomics are also an important part of Christian Tse’s designs, which incorporate various alloys of gold and platinum to achieve a comfortable, sensual feeling on the body.
Christian Tse Designs, 510 W. Sixth St., Suite 914, Los Angeles, CA 90014; (213) 688-1088.
Dierdre Featherstone has been designing fine jewelry since 1985. A self-taught jeweler, her work combines a strong affinity for neo-classical design motifs with bold shape and color, and a sense of proportion inspired by architecture.
Featherstone is most inspired and influenced by the rich possibilities and technical dynamics of convertible jewelry. Her newest collection of earrings, called Variations, allows earring tops to be worn separately or with interchangeable drops. Elements in 18k gold and gemstones retail from $950 to $3,200.
A graduate of Rutgers University, with degrees in architectural history and economics, Featherstone was for many years an auctioneer of fine estate and precious jewelry. She remains a member of the Auctioneers Association of America and currently appears as an appraiser on the Fox Network cable show, Personal FX, where she appraises antiques and collectibles.
Dierdre Featherstone, 521 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; (212) 343-0604.