WADARAT SUPASIRISUK

Sterling Silver Floral Fantasy
Half Hoop Earrings

Sukhothal, Thailand is a UNESCO World Heritage site best explored via bicycle tours.

Ancient ruins that include buildings with splendid reliefs and a Buddha statue are surrounded by picturesque lakes.

Thailand is also home to featured jewelry Wadarat Supasirisuk.

CATERINA BUTERA

Andean Silver and Sodalite
Dual Solitaire Ring

Esteemed as one of Peru’s “most captivating lakes” is the historical site Lake Titicaca.  

Located above sea level, the highest in the world, the area is rich with the Inca culture, and incredible visuals of the Chinkana labyrinth.  

Peru is also home to featured jewelry designer Caterina Butera.

MARYA WILLIAMS | MARYA JEWELRY

Hand-Pierced Sterling Silver
and Copper Capoeira Necklace

Echo Park, located in Los Angeles, California, is an eclectic area where Hollywood filmmakers come to work their magic; where writers and directors take up residence in the surrounding area; and where cultural festivals are held.

California is also home to featured jewelry designer Marya Williams.

SIFIS STAVROULAKIS

18K Gold and Oxidized Sterling Silver Ivy Plant Leaf Ring

The Greek city Faliraki is an energetic locale with shopping bargains along the cobblestone streets of Rhodes Old Town; restaurants that highlight scrumptious local cuisine; and a booming nightlife with clubs like Bed and Ziggy’s. 

Greece is also home to featured jewelry designer Sifis Stavroulakis.

TIBERIO GONZALES

Sterling Silver Mystical Medallion Choker
with Pink Opal

Known locally as “the land of the sun,” Ica, Peru boasts a dry, warm climate. 

The city is also known for its folk healers, pre-Columbian artifacts, and its popular bodegas or wineries.

Peru is also home to featured jewelry designer Tiberio Gonzales.

ZANDRA LORENA SAJBIN

Sterling Silver and Lilac Power of Life 
Dangle Earrings

Flores, Guatemala is a scenic conduit that leads to the Tikal National Park.

Walk along distinctive cobblestone roads to eateries and handicraft stores, or on a boat ride along the lake Lago Peten Itza.

Central America is also home to featured jewelry designer Zandra Lorena Sajbin.

EKATERINA POKROVSKAYA

18K Gold Infinity Cocktail Ring
with  Quartz and Cubic Zirconia 

The 18^th century Russian structure Catherine Palace is a visual feast for the eyes.  

Ordered for construction by Empress Catherine I, its exterior “contains over 100 kg of gold” while its interior boasts Hanging Gardens, Neo-Palladian accents and the ethereal Hall of Lights.  

Russia is also the birthplace to featured jewelry designer Ekaterina Pokrovskaya.

JIMENEZ FAMILY

Sterling Silver and Jade Maya Bracelet

The streets of Flores, an island in Guatemala, are paved with colorful cobblestones; and a crescent-shaped lake, Lago Peten Itza, is known as a gateway to the World Heritage Site Tikal National Park.  

The park is the location of “amazing ruins from an ancient metropolis.”  Guatemala is also home to featured jewelry design team the Jimenez Family.

WYNN WYNN ONG

18K Gold Vermeil Rings with
Sculpted Fauna in Agate, Carnelian,
Turquoise and Baltic Amber

Myanmar is renowned for its ancient architecture of temples and pagodas.  However, the city of Meiktila offers an awe-inspiring scene from nature known as Lake Meiktila or the Royal Lake.

Divided into two portions, Lake Meiktila provides water to the city’s crops as well as drinking water to all of the city’s residents.  

Myanmar is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Wynn Wynn Ong.

KIMBERLIN BROWN

18K Gold Coral Reef Earrings
with Mandarin and Pink Sapphires

Formulated in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the New York Public Library, located in New York City, continues to provide nearly 53 million educational items to its visitors.

New York is also home to featured jewelry designer  Kimberlin Brown.

CARMEN ANOCIBAR

.950 Silver Cradle of Love Rhondonite Cocktail Ring

Sharing the moniker of explorer Francisco Moreno, Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier is a 19-mile-long ice formation that forms an “ice field” with 48 adjoining glaciers.

The ice field is considered the “world’s third largest reserve of freshwater.”  Argentina is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Carmen Anocibar.

BUDHI YASA

Sterling Silver Mushroom Umbrella
Cocktail Ring

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (a/k/a Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park), located in East Jakarta, is an astonishing theme park that encompasses small zoos, gardens, and museums.  Indonesia is also home to featured jewelry designer Budhi Yasa.

LEGENDS OF THE FALL | JEWELRY TRENDS FOR FALL 2012

Twenty eleven has come and gone and 2012 has settled in so that means the ushering in of new (or not so new) jewelry trends!  With the Fall season upon us, this edition of Splendor Sidebar lets you in on some of the top jewelry trends for the Fall season along with great designer jewelry pieces from Etsy and Amazon.  

POPKISS JEWELRY

In Manhattan, New York, nestled between 5th and 6th Avenues, is the world-renowned Museum of Modern Art. Holding thousands upon thousands of archival information on various artists in literature, architecture, and film, the museum is considered one of the most influential. New York is also home to sister-sister designing team Anna and Julie Reinberg.

I really enjoy seeing young people who possess the drive and ambition to pursue a challenging goal.

The jewelry industry, like any industry, is competitive with longstanding brands, as well as up-and-comers to face-off.

Yet in 2009, these two sisters, with no formal training in jewelry design, utilized their collective gift for creativity, paired it with an independent spirit and made a go of it.

After graduating from Georgia State University, where they majored in textile design, both sisters felt a stirring disconnect. While Anna worked in "sales for a children's clothing line in Miami," Julie migrated to New York in the hopes of finding a fulfilling career.

"While I lived in New York, I had been bouncing around from job-to-job trying to figure out what makes me happy," says Julie.

"I've done everything from PR to photography. I finally decided that I loved designing my own line and that I could put all of my past work experience into building our brand."

Anna's defining moment came while preparing for a social event. "Although we are not formally trained in jewelry design, we had always made jewelry with our mom just for fun.

Last year, I made a bracelet for myself to wear to an event and all of my friends started asking about it," she says. "Julie and I never thought those times making jewelry with our mom would turn into a business."


The duo called upon their background in textile design to create their signature Pop Cuffs, composed of entwined, colorful jersey fabric and mesh. "Georgia State University had cut its jewelry design program so we studied textile design," says Julie.

"The course was very focused on traditional Japanese techniques. We took classes in batik, indigo dyes, natural dyes, weaving, screen-printing, and heat transfer. Every part of our design process was done by hand. No computers," she emphasizes.

"Julie and I eventually started using a variation of knitting techniques to create larger pieces like our Pop Cuffs faster but the technique is top secret!" Anna grins.

The duo also creates bold, and unusual cocktail rings fashioned from variations of acrylic, crystals, turquoise beads, epoxy, and metal. There is a playful sophistication to the collection, a funky, youthful vibe.

"We love pieces that are bold, big, different, and outrageous," says Julie. "I think bold pieces and bright colors show we aren't scared to be ourselves."

With their skills fully engaged, now came the time to name their new brand. Their company name, PopKiss Jewelry, is derived from one of Anna's first date experiences. "Julie and I had been trying to think of a name for our line for a few months.

Then one night I went on a first date with this guy. He asked for a kiss and I said `no'. So he asked could he have a `pop kiss', a quick kiss on the lips, and I knew that was the name. He still didn't get a kiss," Anna deadpans.

The sisters continue to evolve, expanding on their design ideas and learning from their experiences.

"We love giving our customers options," says Julie. "We have always loved neon colors and anything that stood out. We just do what we like."
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Photo 1 (top right): Epoxy and Metal Ball Cluster Ring
Photo 2 (center): Two-Tone Lime Green and Yellow Pop Cuff
Photo 3 (bottom left): Gold and Pavé Turquoise Frog Ring