ANAT KAPLAN | ANOUK JEWELRY

14K Gold Music Pendant Necklace with Moonstone

Lake Baikal, located between Irkutsk Oblast, Russia and Buryat Republic, is the world’s deepest freshwater lake and is home to over 2,600 animal and plant species.

Russia is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Anat Kaplan.

As I referenced in yesterday’s post, I think classic jewelry design is great but the problem I have is that some independent designer jewelry brands suffer from clichéd designs. 

Initial and heart jewelry or nameplate necklaces just don’t have the panache I like to see from an independent jewelry brand.  Kaplan’s two-year-old brand Anouk does not cater to such standard fare. 

Titled for her actual birth name the high-end, fine jewelry brand consisting of 14-karat gold stacking rings, gemstone pendants and custom jewelry highlight textured, organic surfaces complemented by accents of lovely pink or green tourmaline, blue chalcedony, emerald, ruby, moonstone and raw diamonds.  

The captivating rustic details and misty gemstones evoke quiet beachside regions where the light smell of ocean water fills the air and the only sound is the rolling waves.  Bringing nuance to classic outlines of gold is a purposeful choice by the jeweler who loves making jewelry that is memorable and special to the wearer.

14K Gold Sun & Water Ring

“Jewelry should be more than just beautiful—it should have meaning.  Our culture is all about new, fast and temporary.  So many products in these times of consumption cater to fads and whims and lack quality and character.  Lives are fast-paced and everything is replaceable,” says the Canada-based artisan.

“I would like to bring back the concept of treasure.  I want to encourage a lasting aesthetic; a return to the honored tradition of bestowing valued heirlooms on generations to come.”

With a background in art history, Kaplan’s handcrafted jewelry designs reflect a cultured mind.  The mind of someone who has not only studied the masters but also appreciates the romance of ancient times as well as the technical skills the masters acquired to produce timeless works of art.

“My artistic background heavily informs my design sensibilities.  Most of my role models come from the art world.  My work is influenced by Henry Moore, unknown artists of Byzantine mosaics, Odilon Redon, Gustav Klimt and many others.

14K Gold Seaweed Earrings

I am looking to bring out the raw, untouched beauty of the gems and metals as opposed to forcing them into a polished, symmetrical perfection.

My goal is to create enduring pieces with substance and significance. ”