Why This Year's Best Jewelry Isn't Afraid to Implement the Unconventional

For the most imaginative of jewelry designers, inspiration is no longer confined to traditional materials: gold, platinum, diamonds and such For another, such unexpected combinations are likely to resonate with the rising number of jewelry clients seeking pieces that are both singular and subtle In an age of global everything, luxury aficionados distinguish themselves with objects you can't find on every street corner-or in every jewelry salon.

Plus, a liberal approach to injecting unusual materials into designs appeals to both seasoned jewelry connoisseurs with the confidence to dispense with tradition and newer collectors who've never felt confined by the expectations of old He pioneered the use of ceramic in fine jewelry and applies it variously in pop-art blocks of color or muted camouflage patterns "Ceramic was not used in jewelry when I started working with it, and it was the 'new' that attracted me," he said.

"The material allows me to give a very modern, but timeless, spin to jewelry." The results are uniformly daring, playful and highly sought-after, because in jewelry, as in any creative endeavor, an original vision and the skill to realize it are the rarest and most valuable materials of all. . Source