Explore the World Via Jewelry
Photo credit: @ziacouturejewelry
5 jewelers satisfying our wanderlust
We love nothing better than a jewelry story. Sometimes those stories are about where someone got a piece or the history behind it. Beaded fringe earrings made by local artisans I got in Costa Rica. A garnet ring my parents got me while visiting Prague. Puka shell earrings my friend brought me back from Jamaica. These all stand out as pieces unique to a foreign place, likely made or influenced by local culture. We know some jewelers carrying jewelry either inspired or sourced from far-flung places, and it’s time to go there. Where would you like to visit via jewelry?
Zia Couture
Destination: Japan, India, Africa
Zia Sachedina, the owner and designer of Savannah, GA, boutique Zia Couture has always been influenced by different cultures. Global citizen Zia split his childhood between Kenya and the US and was raised by a Japanese-American mother and East Indian father. His collections have Japanese, Indian, and African themes. Think bold colors, unique shapes, and tribal details.
Malouf on the Plaza
Destination: Santa Fe
This Santa Fe shop pays homage to New Mexico and Native American heritage down to their 400-year-old Pueblo-style building. In addition to sourcing handcrafted jewelry by local artisans and contemporary jewelry artists, they also carry rare Navajo weavings, artifacts, and home goods. If you’re an authentic turquoise collector, this is your go-to.
Bliss Lau
Destination: India
Bliss Lau is known for architecturally refined jewels—and Beyonce’s body chain in the “Drunk in Love” video. Bliss’s signature body chains are a modern and more minimal interpretation of garb traditionally worn by belly dancers in India. Waist chains were also worn by men and women as accessories during religious ceremonies to show affluence. Bliss’s body chains are semi-fine and dead sexy.
Se Vende Imports
Destination: Bail, Turkey, Israel, Argentina, Mexico
Olive and her mother, Sage, travel the world searching for authentic jewelry and textiles. They meet with local artisans when visiting a country and bring their goods home to their Maine shop. The jewelry they carry is always nickel-free and often affordable.
Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry
Destination: Hawaii
Based in Honolulu, Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry makes traditional gold and silver Hawaiian jewelry. Their bestselling bracelets are inspired by when the Hawaiian queen and princess got gold bracelets with hand-engraved black enamel from the Queen of England in 1887. They also carry jewelry with aloha motifs like plumeria, hibiscus, black Tahitian pearls, abalone, and more.
Wordsmith: Samantha Durbin
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