The evolution of costume jewelry design over the centuries has been an important and exciting journey to watch for many. Especially if you are among the myriad numbers of women who are passionate jewelry collectors. The 20th century brought about major changes in jewelry manufacturing and design along with the discovery of hundreds of different gemstones, the perfection of the cubic zirconia (CZ), and the new plating processes have open the doors to new designers worldwide.
Who’s on the world’s best list of designers. The king, of course, is Kenneth Jay lane, along with Nolan Miller, Joan Rivers, Ivana Trump, Robert Tacori, Victoria Wieck, David Yurman and John Hardy among just a few of many with famous and noble followings.
Robert Tacori and Victoria Wieck have been working with real gemstones and precious metals for decades. Only after CZs and gold and platinum plating processes became perfected did they enter into the fashion jewelry industry Many others soon followed bring more affordable costume jewelry pieces to market via QVC and HSN and other major marketing venues.
Let’s begin with the king of fabulous faux jewelry:
Kenneth Jay Lane
Say fashion jewelry to any Hollywood star and two names will immediately spring to mind: Nolan Miller and Kenneth Jay Lane. Beginning as a shoe designer for Christian Dior, Lane used his free time to design his first love - jewelry. He eventually talked Saks Fifth Avenue into trying a few of his pieces and was delighted to discover he was an instant hit. Lane has created designs for first ladies like Jacquelyn Kennedy and Barbara Bush, as well as for Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. But his designs are just as respected by the younger stars of today. Kenneth Jay Lane is one of only a select few of fashion jewelry designers whose work draws even higher bids on the secondary jewelry market. Some of his brooches have been sold at Christie’s for hundreds of dollars.Nolan Miller:
Nolan Miller is equally well known and loved amongst the stars. He holds the distinction of being highly popular on both the big and small screens. Probably best known for his work on ABC’s hit prime time soap, “Dynasty,” Miller, much like Lane, spans decades of popularity. Unlike Lane, however, Miller never strayed from his haute couture roots. He remains a designer of the stars. However, when he found it difficult to find jewels that matched the quality of his clothes, it seemed only natural that he would cross over into that realm and opened a shop in Hollywood Hills and became the jewels of the stars. A decade later he partnered withQVC bring his luxury costume line around the globe.
Robert Tacori
Robert Tacori’s “Epiphany” line embraced realistic simulated gemstones in ruby red, blue sapphire, yellow diamonds and sparkling green emerald colored crystals. All at a mere fraction of the real thing making his jewels affordable to many.
Victoria Wieck
Renowned Beverly Hills designer, Victoria Wieck entered into the fashion jewelry market about a decade ago designing one-of-a-kind architectural jewelry pieces for people all over the world of means. Her luxury jewelry were unique pieces embedded with diamonds and gemstones. Victoria’s pieces retail for hundreds of dollars designing for a client base of the wealthy. Soon Wieck desired to market her stunning architecturally creations to a broader market wishing to dress like a star and partnered with HSN shopping network. Today, Victoria Wieck’s designs are available in sterling silver, gold plate, vermeil and studded with CZ stones that sparkle like the real thing. She is known for her unparalleled pave innovations and creation of the imitation champagne and chocolate diamonds.
Joseph Espisito
Joseph Espisito’s unique designs, using sterling silver and natural gems like tigereye, turquoise, and coral (to name just a few) have been valued by women all over the world for decades. From bold modern takes on art deco pieces to Native American inspired jewelry surrounded with the glamour of modern day CZ’s, Espisito’s work is both striking and highly collectible. Jewelry design runs in the Espisito family, with Joe’s wife and daughter offering their own unique points of view and also sharing their very favorite designs. Nolan Miller
Joan Rivers
A name known around the world for her comic works, Joan has always had a passion for Victorian and Russian inspired jewelry. Rivers started dallying in jewelry design as a sideline while she was still actively busy in standup comedy. Little did she know that this jewelry passion would eventually grow into a million-dollar industry. Today Joan designs and re-creates some of the most beautiful fashion jewelry available in the world today taking more time away from her stage career. Using the almost lost art forms of hand enameling and plique au jour, Rivers has managed to recapture the spirit of days gone by. Her Victorian flowers and Russian eggs, as well as her innovative watches, are collected by women in more than thirty countries. Joan became the Diva of QVC launching her into stardom .
Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers claims she got into the jewelry business because her beloved husband, while wonderful in more ways than she can count, wasn’t one for buying her jewelry. However, just like the rest of us women, she liked pretty, shiny trinkets. So she thought to herself, “why not design them myself?” What followed became a juggernaut for the feisty blonde. Her trillion-shaped bracelet quickly became the highest selling piece of jewelry in Home Shopping Network’s history, outselling virtually everything within her line and everyone else’s. It even launched imitations from several different designer colleagues including that of Nolan Miller. Working with CZs, crystals, and simulated stones, Somers has a real affinity for modernizing Oriental and Native American pieces by putting her own unique stamp on them.
Heidi Daus
With more than 25 years in jewelry design, Heidi Daus brings her love for vintage inspired jewelry to life in a dramatically modern way. Her love of exotic gems as well as colored imitation gemstones and crystals has led her into a remarkable niche in the jewelry industry. Mixing unusual colors together and daring to pair faceted and opaque stones within the same piece, Daus designs some of the most spectacular jewelry the world has ever seen. Drawing upon elements of the Victorian, Baroque, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau eras, Daus contemporary designs reach the more modern worman but her work that remains true to the period. Heidi Daus designs combines classic beauty, elegant and grace with vivid colorful gem disbursements, and shapes. Her jewelry has the look and quality of time for the next generation.
Nicky Butler
Much like Daus, Nicky Butler has carved out his own special place within the jewelry industry. Working primarily in sterling silver and unusual stones like moonstone, turquoise, and chalcedony as well as with precious gems like peridot, garnet, and amethyst, Butler’s work is also easily recognizable. Using a lot of cabochon-cut gems and beads, as well as faceted stones, he sets his work into unusual shapes and forms. While some of his work is reminiscent of Native American style jewelry, other pieces are totally his point of view alone. Big and bold describes Butler’s work, which runs from nature-inspired to religious icons. Butler’s work is available online, through various boutiques, and on HSN.
Through this extraordinary evolution of jewelry design and creation of new gemstones, today’s women have lots of buying options ranging from very expensive to discount store pricing. These talented designers opened their hearts and expanded their own wealth by bringing an exciting fashion life style of jewels to those Americans want to be one of the rich and famous, even if it is just for an evening. Isn't it wonderful!!
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