Earrings: herkimer diamond studs by satomi kawakita from Roztayger

Sunnies: Illesteva from Jcrew (also at Barneys and Nordstrom)

Melissa Joy Manning makes some beautiful Herkimer earrings like the ones here.

Earrings: Etsy...found here and under $10

First of all- yes, I know I’m not a model and I have a two year old so I will NEVER look rested. That being said, the point is to share some of my fave finds so let’s not focus on that 🙂 I am pretty minimalist when it comes to accessories….a classic watch, an occasional bracelet or simple earrings and that’s usually it. When I find myself getting carried away, I like to remind myself that simplicity is the ultimate elegance.

I had been hunting for a great pair of Herkimer Diamond earrings after seeing Melissa Joy Mannings designs but wanted something that was much simpler. I opted for a pair found at Roztayger – awesome selection and amazing customer service- if customer service is bad I will never repeat biz but when it’s exceptional I go back specifically to support them…this is one of those businesses. These are Herkimer Studs are designed by Satomi Kawakita. What is Herkimer? Good Question. Herkimer diamonds are rare double terminated quartz crystals found only in a  small are of Herkimer County, New York.  This seems to be the only place that exact right conditions are to make these beautiful jewels.  A double terminated crystal has points on both ends instead of just one end.  These rare crystals are able to form double terminated due to their formation in gas bubbles in magma (lava).  Other quartz crystals (such as amethyst, citrine, and smoky quartz) grown with only one termination – either imbedded in matrix (the rock base they grow on) or broken away from their matrix, hence the flat or jagged broken end.  Smoky Herkimer diamonds are a rich chocolate color rather than the light golden-brown or smoke characteristic of most smoky quartz.  Due to their rarity and extremely high quality in comparison to other quartz crystals, Herkimer diamonds often cost much more than regular rock crystal quartz and are sometimes even used in fine jewelry or displayed in museums, like the Smithsonian.

Stones are such a personal thing- for me the value of a stone is how much you love it- not the price. Same goes with jewelry. Sure, it’s great to have a couple investment pieces but my favorite go-to earings were less than $10 in Etsy…It’s all about mixing the high-end and the low! Etsy is a great place to discover jewelry makers with alot of style for not alot of $$$…just read their reviews!