Brooch The Subject

Dec 20

Not your grandmother’s brooches

Feel the chill in the air? It’s officially brooch season, that time of year when the hallmarks of winter-wear—lapels, collars, hats—offer an opportunity for accessorizing that we don’t get in the warmer months. Pins have enjoyed perennial popularity for centuries, but if the mention of the word “brooch” calls to mind the Queen Mum, you’re in for a surprise.

The latest drop from jewelry designers and estate curators is anything but matronly, with a decidedly edgy elegance perfect for updating outerwear, securing a scarf, or embellishing your favorite chapeau. (Want extra style points? Curate your own collection and wear several all at once.) The options are endless for these versatile pieces.

**Ask for the Moon**

A family business since 1873, the Braunschweigers are experts in vintage and estate jewelry, so much that they offer a curated selection through their “B Vintage Boutique,” including this gold and seed pearl pin that’s so pretty, it’ll leave you starry-eyed.
Braunschweiger Jewelers vintage pin in 14k yellow gold with seed pearls, $125 at Braunschweiger Jewelers
*This item is sold out.

**Brooch of Deco-rum**

Founded by Egyptian-born Isaac Manevitz, “Ben-Amun” is an amalgamation of the name of the designer’s son (Ben) and that of the storied pharaoh Tutankhamun (aka, King Tut). Manevitz’s eye-catching work has been featured in countless editorials, from *Elle* to *Vogue*, and he’s particularly well-known for his Art Deco-inspired designs.
Ben-Amun “Marguex” brooch, $195 at Ben-Amun

**Ahead of the Curve**

This vintage circa `50s piece has a decidedly modern feel. Designed by Pierre Sterlé, “the couturier of jewelry,” himself, the brooch lives up to its maker’s moniker, featuring his signature rope twist detail and breathtaking brilliant-cut diamonds.
Sterlé Paris 18-k yellow-gold and diamond brooch, price upon request at Tiina Smith Jewelry

**Animal Attraction**

The estate jewelry collection at Schiffman’s is carefully culled from North Carolina (where the company is based) and around the North East. Vetted by the store’s team of experts (with over four generations of experience to back them), the resulting curation is jaw-droppingly gorgeous and unique, like this sparkling bat pin.
Schiffman’s Jewelers pear-shaped ruby enamel bat pin with diamonds, $4,495 at Schiffman’s Jewelers

**Your Biggest Fan**

The man, the myth, the legend—Kenneth Jay Lane cut his teeth designing for Dior under Roger Vivier before launching his jewelry line adorned by the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn. This outsized filigree fan (it’s almost five inches across) would do these style sirens proud pinned to a lapel or inverted beneath a collar as the chicest cravat.
Kenneth Jay Lane filigree brooch, $140 (originally $200) at Saks Fifth Avenue

**Fine Feather**

New York-based Pat Flynn’s pieces explore the dichotomy between the fiercely rugged work of iron forging and the refined techniques of goldsmithing. With pieces in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian and the Met, he’s elevated his craft to an art. His signature pieces are wrought from cut steel nails, but he has a softer side, evidenced by this iron and diamond feather brooch.
Pat Flynn feather brooch in iron, gold, and palladium white gold with diamonds, $7,200 at Esqueleto

Editor: Samantha Durbin
Wordsmith: Rebecca Daly

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