Arrowheads of Outrageous Fortune
Coomi Bhasin, whose Secaucus, N.J.–based Coomi brand has earned a reputation for making inventive jewelry with an ultra-luxe sensibility, is bringing the ancient past into the current season with her new Antiquity Arrowhead collection. Made in 20k gold and diamonds, the collection centers on arrowheads dating to 5,000 B.C.
Originally used as tools and artistic instruments, arrowheads helped our tribal ancestors hunt for food and carve Paleolithic and Neolithic cave drawings. The artifacts in Coomi’s collection were discovered in the Indus Valley—in the northwestern region of India—and in Mesopotamia (the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq, often called the cradle of civilization). She has paired the rough pieces with precious accents to show respect, she says, for the spirits invoked by them. Retail prices range from $5,000 to $65,000.
Iris Ayes
Ring from the Iris collection in 18k yellow and Noble gold with 0.63 ct. t.w. diamonds; $4,400; H.Stern, NYC; 212-688-0300; hstern.net
Brazilian jeweler H.Stern’s latest line pays homage to Iris, perhaps mythology’s hardest-working gal: goddess of the sea, goddess of the rainbow, and messenger of the gods. H.Stern, however, focused on Iris’ primary role as sea nymph.
Drawings and records from the 1873 expedition of the HMS Challenger—which sailed the world collecting and classifying beautiful aquatic specimens—gave rise to soft, minimalist designs featuring abstract interpretations of sea life. Mya Maris shells are shown in half circles mimicking spiral shapes; precious pompilius mollusks from the cephalopod or octopus family serve as talismans of luck; sea urchin forms symbolize shelter.
The Iris collection—comprising 46 SKUs (22 are available for wholesale)—is rendered in 18k Noble, yellow, and rose gold with dustings of cognac and light brown diamonds.