I just lately related with various retailers, designers, and sellers who attended the Tucson gem exhibits and spent a number of days exploring its many-splendored, many-tendriled nooks and crannies searching for the cool, uncommon, and drop-dead beautiful. I’ll be recapping their favourite finds within the subsequent difficulty of JCK (it is going to be out there at Luxurious and JCK Las Vegas in June).
Amongst these we interviewed is Laura Kitsos, proprietor of the Gem Jewellery Boutique in Oak Park, In poor health. I’ve but to go to her retailer, however primarily based on what I see on Instagram, I can say she is a mixture grasp extraordinaire: There’s an abundance of well-chosen inexpensive items by Gigi Clozeau and designers I’ve by no means heard of (the mark of her sharp eye) alongside deluxe gemmy designs from Polly Wales and Jill Hoffmeister. I additionally like the best way she diversifies her merchandise, mixing in books and candles and, extra just lately, ornamental crystals for the house.
“I went into this yr’s Tucson gem present with excessive expectations, as I knew this was going to be the ‘yr the present got here again,’ says Kitsos. “I used to be in a position to attend nearly each present together with GJX, AGTA, Pueblo, twenty second Avenue, Kino, and all of the GL&W exhibits together with Holidome. I additionally went Melee’s Tucson version and the African Village out of doors market thrice!
“I used to be frightened that my crystal mates from Brazil and my scarab supplier from Egypt wouldn’t be attending as a result of journey restrictions, so I used to be tremendous excited after I did see the Brazilian guys,” she provides. “Sadly, nobody has heard from the ‘scarab man’ since 2020. Sort of cryptic, possibly he simply retired!”
Kitsos says she had no set funds in thoughts and a few fundamental wants to satisfy equivalent to chains, beads to remodel into necklaces, and a cache of crystal specimens, which has change into rising class in her boutique.
Crystal specimens in novelty shapes is a rising class at Gem Jewellery Boutique.
Scooped up on the present: Brazilian quartz and agate in an array of shapes like mushrooms and hearts…and, ahem, phalluses. “Spheres are at all times in style as are labradorite slabs and black tourmaline chunks,” she says. “Since I drove this yr, I got here residence with greater than common, so I used to be much less restricted in what I might purchase.”
Kitsos visited a supplier on the twenty second Avenue present who had carved figas and different classic treasures.
Completed jewellery was additionally on her checklist of priorities. And for that she attended the Tucson version of Melee the Present. “It was held in a beautiful Tucson resort referred to as the Stillwell Home and a number of the designers have been new and recent; a number of strains I’d by no means seen in New York,” she says.
“Pamela Zamore and her new Pharos line of fortunate charms forged in 18k gold really feel recent, wearable, and but not like many fortunate attraction items which are throughout Instagram in the present day.”
Charms in 18k gold, from left (chains bought individually): Continuity, $1,400; Luck, $1,300; Stability, $1,450; Rebirth, $1,300; Love, $1,300; Safety, $1,300; Abundance, $1,300; Pamela Zamore
At Melee, Kitsos was additionally in a position to see Petaluma, Calif.–primarily based The Sacred Order. “Designer Wendy Wagner’s jewellery is stunningly stunning, that includes spider motifs and different Victorian symbols, promising the wearer a ceaselessly funding locket or ring with hand-engraved particulars set with rose-cut diamonds and garnets,” says Kitsos. “I completely cherished her line.”
From left: Widow’s Locket in 14k gold with salt-and-pepper diamonds, $1,900; Child Widow signet ring in 14k gold with garnet and black diamond, $1,580; and Manu Door Knocker hoop earrings in 14k gold and oxidized sterling silver, $830; The Sacred Order
Her favourite discovery—the “the star of the present”—was a jewellery designer she’d by no means heard of earlier than: Sophie Theakston out of London. “In the mean time we met, I felt like we had been mates ceaselessly,” says Kitsos. “Her jewellery is completely royal, along with her personal 18k gold alloy that nearly resembles a inexperienced gold in colour and all my favourite motifs equivalent to hamsas, mudra arms, and protecting eyes. She makes use of pure quartz crystals captured in 18k gold that dangle from a series, making the necklace appear each bohemian and splendid on the identical second, and polki diamond necklaces and earrings which are elegant and but good for on a regular basis. I truthfully haven’t been this excited a few line shortly. Her work makes you’re feeling goddess-like—that’s the most effective abstract of her work.”
Clockwise, from left: Quartz crystal necklace in 18k gold with diamonds, $3,521; Giant Gyan mudra necklace in 18k gold with diamond, $3,455; Divine eye necklace in 18k gold with diamonds, $3,252; Polki diamond drop earrings in 18k gold, $2,667; Flaming Coronary heart necklace in 18k gold, $6,648; Sophie Theakston
Selecting up a private jewel or souvenir is an element and parcel of most jewellery professionals’ travels to the Tucson exhibits—you realize it while you see it. “This yr I actually stopped useless in my tracks after I stumbled upon a supplier of vintage deity jewellery from India,” says Kitsos. “I noticed this pendant within the case and advised myself it doesn’t matter what I used to be shopping for it.”
Pictured beneath, it’s a Nineteenth-century pendant of Shrinathji within the type of Vishnu fabricated from 23k gold utilizing the thewa course of, which fuses 23k gold with glass.
Kitsos’ souvenir pendant stands out from among the many spoils of her epic Tucson gem present buying journey.
“Upon extra analysis, I realized that this deity is named ‘the Preserver,’ and Vishnu is the supreme being who creates, protects, and transforms the universe,” provides Kitsos. “I simply thought it was stunning, and it’s now my protecting amulet.”
High: Snapshots from Laura Kitsos’ adventures on the 2022 Tucson gem exhibits, the place she left no stone unturned searching for distinctive finds for her Oak Park, In poor health. retailer, Gem Jewellery Boutique (all images besides designer pack pictures courtesy of Laura Kitsos).
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