U
nless one has been living under a rock, there is no escaping the ubiquitousness of beads as seen on runways and on every well-healed woman on sidewalks and red carpet across the globe. While I leave it to historians way more well-versed than I, like our very own jewelry clairvoyant, Marion Fasel of The Adventurine, to share the long and storied history of beads, suffice it to say, they’ve been around since, well, forever.
Header image courtesy of Leigh Maxwell
It might be easy to assume that a bead is a bead is a bead, but in the hands of COUTURE’s talented designers, even the most straightforward strands become uniquely a brand’s own.
Sevan Bicakci
Image courtesy of Meredith Young
It might be easy to assume that a bead is a bead is a bead, but in the hands of COUTURE’s talented designers, even the most straightforward strands become uniquely a brand’s own. Take, for example, Meredith Young, who turns a chunky aquamarine strand into a core piece in her collection through the use of juxtaposing sizes and shapes and brushed gold stations.
Image courtesy of Alex Sepkus
Or Alex Sepkus, who incorporates beads that are literally thousands of years old into their collection; clasps and interspersed stations crafted in the signature Alex Sepkus aesthetic turn these previous forms of currency into easily identifiable staples.
Image courtesy of Cultus Artem
Beads are also an alternative option to chains for displaying pendants and charms, upping the volume on the overall look of designers’ distinctive motifs. And while beads are most frequently gemstones that are either faceted or cabochon cut with a hole drilled for stringing, making them a perfect way of offsetting the price of gold ($4,088 at press time), brands like Buddha Mama, HOWL, Bondeye and Hulchi Belluni make their own beads out of enamel and gold, or just gold, resulting in the same bohemian chic vibes as their gemstone only counterparts. Others, like Campbell & Charlotte, Claudia Mae and Edina Kiss take their own creative approach to elevating classic beads.
For the most part, our highlight of beaded jewelry focuses primarily on strands, but I hope you’re as delighted as we are to see some clever versions of beads in the form of earrings, rings and bracelets.
Image courtesy of Buddha Mama
Image courtesy of HOWL
Image courtesy of Rosmundo
Image courtesy of Edina Kiss
Image courtesy of Claudia Mae
Image courtesy of Campbell + Charlotte
Image courtesy of For Future Reference Vintage
Image courtesy of Luis Morais
Image courtesy of Eden Presley
Image courtesy of Austy Lee
Image courtesy of John Apel
Image courtesy of Harwell Godfrey
Image courtesy of Paul Morelli
Image courtesy of Anzie
Image courtesy of Karina Choudhrie
Image courtesy of Dany Chady @ JULLS
Image courtesy of Sorellina
Image courtesy of ÍTÄ
Image courtesy of Jade Ruzzo
Image courtesy of RENNA
Image courtesy of Monica Rich Kosann
Image courtesy of IDORO
Image courtesy of Oscar Heyman
Image courtesy of AG Mehta
Image courtesy of Sydney Evan
Image courtesy of Sethi Couture
Image courtesy of SYNA
Image courtesy of Lionheart
Image courtesy of Hulchi Belluni
Image courtesy of Bondeye
Image courtesy of Orly Marcel
Image courtesy of Hargreaves Stockholm
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