The Best Of 2022 Couture During Las Vegas Jewelry Week

Jewelry Week was back in full swing in June 2022. It traditionally is the time when retailers and press trek out to Las Vegas to view the newest creations and the most predominant trends at Couture and JCK- shows that feature emerging, independent and established designers and antique/vintage jewelry at The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show. Here I focus on the Couture Show, which was canceled in 2020 and went on to hold a smaller version in 2021. The break-out designers and renowned brands at Couture previewed collections that combined creative ingenuity, a rejuvenated optimism and pieces that mix wearability with a let’s get dressed-up again attitude. It was a jewelry show that offered a renewed exuberance and love of jewelry as an artistic medium with talents that were inspired throughout the challenges of the pandemic. Spirits were high and it shined through in many of the collections.

Two themes predominated the show: a buoyant and lively use of color in vibrant combinations and juxtapositions of hues which created unexpected delightful styles in all categories of jewelry An equally prominent direction featured diamonds women can incorporate into their everyday wardrobes. These were often set into yellow gold but white metal seems to be making a comeback set with an expressive and imaginative mix of different fancy cut diamonds.

There were numerous trends within these two themes including bolder statement rings, modern takes on lariats, tennis necklaces, chain links in various incarnations, carved and exclusively cut gemstones, the return of the bracelet as a must-have piece, all different styles of earrings and enameling from mod sixties looks to more elegant Art Nouveau-inspired styles.

Here are some of the best jewels from the 2022 Couture show, from the smaller independents to the more established houses:

In Living Color

Necklaces and Pendants

Jacquie Aiche’s 14K yellow gold multi-shape gemstone shaker diamond necklace and blue/green tourmaline diamond shaker necklace

Break-out designer Marie Lichtenberg who I featured here in a profile in October 2020 evolved her collection to include her colorful and meaningful locks to open as shown in this Vivons Heureux Locket. Lichtenberg received the Couture Award for Best Debuting Designer.

Emily P. Wheeler’s 18K yellow gold Colorblock necklace with red agate, howlite, rose quartz, tiger’s eye, canary tourmaline, peridot, pink tourmaline, turquoise, lapis, amethyst, and enamel

Arman Sarkisyan’s 20K gold and oxidized silver locket with a rubellite cabochon heart with diamond accents.

Amali Jewelry carved tourmaline pendant with the designer Sara Freedenfeld’s hand goldwork.

A selection of Erica Molinari’s “Through The Looking Glass” pendants in various shades of green enamel and 18K gold motifs. The collection is also available in vitreous glass enamel colors of royal blue, red/oranges and shades of violet/lavender

Jacquie Aiche’s 14K yellow gold pendant of pave-round opal-rays and turquoise-lapis-waves-inlay with diamond accents

Earrings

Carol Kaufman Jewellery’s Sunshine earrings in a mix of gemstones in 18K gold.

Jenna Blake’s Victorian chandelier earrings in 18K yellow gold, amethyst, coral, emerald, turquoise and diamonds.

Ark Fine Jewelry’s plique-a-jour enamel and gemstone DreamWeaver Hoops In Sunrise

Ileana Makri’s flower pendant earrings feature 18K rose gold set with tanzanite, pink, green and orange sapphires

AnaKatarina Valerie Huggies in 18K gold and blue sapphires

Suzanne Kalan’s 14K gold and multi-gemstone and diamond baguette hoops

Robinson Pelham x Muzo one-of-a-kind Stralle Earring in 18K yellow gold set with Muzo emeralds, rainbow sapphires and tsavorites

Break-Out Designer Orly Marcel’s 18K gold Fez Stud earrings in white MOP and pink sapphires

Rings

Melissa Kaye’s 18K gold Lenox Rings with ruby, pink spinel, pink sapphire, and Paraiba tourmaline centers and neon enamel.

DARIUS’ one-of-a-kind double Muzo emerald and antique Burmese ruby 18K gold ring.

Nadine Aysoy’s Catena Enamel Double Pink Sapphire and Orange Sapphire Ring in 18K yellow gold with pink and orange enamel.

Retrouvaí’s Heirloom Bezel Ring in 14K yellow gold with cushion cut brown tourmaline

Katherine Jetter’s limited edition oval tanzanite ring with purple sapphires, white diamonds and purple enamel

Break out designer Jennifer DeMoro’s Color Wave Mood Ring in 18K yellow gold with amethysts, blue and green sapphires and opal center stone

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Brent Neale’s 0ne-of-a-kind 18K gold spessartite Thread Knot Cabochon ring with a surround of multi-colored sapphires

Bracelets

Jenna Blake’s morse code bracelet in 18K yellow gold, emerald, ruby, and diamonds conveys a secret message. (Customized stones available)

Harwell Godfrey’s snake bangle 18K yellow gold, emeralds and Peruvian opal

Selim Mouzannar’s Aïda Collection bracelet in pink gold with orange enamel set with diamonds, sapphires and spessartite

All That’s Glitters Is Gold…and Diamonds

Earrings

Selim Mouzannar’s Rose de France Collection hexagon drop earrings in pink gold set with diamonds

LALAoUNIS chandelier earrings in 18K Santorini-inspired brushed gold and diamonds earrings

Sorellina’s Classic Guitar Pick earrings in gold with diamonds

Nikos Koulis’ Together collection fringe hoop earrings with diamonds.

Necklaces

Ileana Makri Cascade collection necklace with diamond accents

Zoe Chicco’s 14K gold Kingdom Kollection tennis snake necklace

Ananya’s Magnificent collection choker in 18K gold with a variety of shapes and colors of diamonds

Stephen Webster x Muzo Thorn Embrace Tear Drop necklace in 18K white gold, set with white diamond pave and a removable cabochon emerald

Rings

A mix of Jade Trau’s diamond and 18K gold rings with different cuts and shapes of diamonds which all stack and sit together in any way you choose to layer them.

Moritz Glik’s 18K rose gold charm style ring with pave band and dangling round diamond Kaleidoscope shaker.

Fernando Jorge High Stream Ring in 18K single mine origin white gold and multi cuts of diamonds.

Amali Jewelry’s 18K gold ring with signature gold work and a greyish half moon diamond center

Robinson Pelham Love is All Around collection featuring “I Love You” ring 18K yellow gold and diamonds with shapes of a marquise to represent I, a heart to represent love, and a u-shaped diamond to represent you.

Bracelets

Arman Sarkisyan’s stack of bracelets in high karat gold with oxidized silver set diamonds wit motifs of birds, pink sapphire heart and bow

Catena Illusion multi-stone diamond bracelet in 18K yellow gold with white brilliant, marquise, pear, baguette and princess cut diamonds

Milamore’s Kintsugi Pave Float bangle in 18K yellow gold with diamonds

DARIUS’ rose gold signature chain bracelet with diamonds.