Adorning Accents

Vault cuff bracelet | BCBusiness

Made-in-B.C. solutions for sparkly gifts this Valentine’s Day

The cold fire of diamonds is, by its very nature, alluring, but individual tastes and budgets sometimes preclude the purchase of an encrusted tennis bracelet or emerald-cut solitaire. For a certain type of woman, no rock, no matter how fabulous, can beat a thoughtful piece of locally made jewellery. Luckily for her—and the person picking out an appropriate Valentine’s gift—B.C. is home to several internationally renowned jewellery designers, each with an individual style and esthetic.
Whether her tastes run toward free-flowing bohemian or pretty princess, modernism or romantic Rococo, talented West Coast artists have created something to please her. The key is knowing where to look. We’ve selected a representative sample from some of our favourite jewellery designers, makers and lines.

ABOVE Inspired by Gothic architecture, Lacar’s oxidized sterling-silver Vault cuff bracelet is adorned with black jade inlay ($398; lacarstudio.com).

Irit Sorokin’s turquoise clover and coral floral necklace with gold-fill tassel (left) is a classic nod to the Chinoiserie craze of the 1920s ($198; iritsorokindesigns.com).

Shereen de Rousseau scours the flea markets of Rome and Paris to find coins and medallions, which she brings back to Vancouver and casts in sterling silver. This bezel-set, oversized Roman medallion is strung on three different strands of sterling-silver chain ($450; shereenderousseau.com).

Pyrrha’s sterling silver and gold casts of antique wax seals have made it an international jewellery powerhouse with retailers across the globe and a glittering celebrity following. This 14-karat gold talisman necklace reads Omnia Vincit Amor. Or, for those who didn’t study the classics in high school, Love Conquers All ($1,922; pyrrha.com).

Elsa Corsi Swarovski Elements vintage rosé, white opal and clear crystal heart necklace is a showstopper, clearly designed for a woman who wants to be noticed ($450; elsacorsi.com).

Handmade from start to finish in its Vancouver studio, Lacar’s oxidized sterling-silver Capsule necklace is modern in line, but the hand carving is inspired by the medieval cathedral windows of Europe ($178; lacarstudio.com).

LEFT Shereen de Rousseau’s sterling, gold, pyrite and labradorite beads finish off with a Roman medallion in a gold-filled bezel ($375; shereenderousseau.com).

RIGHT Irit Sorokin’s lava-rock ring follows the natural shape of the subtly sparkling grey stone ($120; iritsorokindesigns.com).

LEFT Elsa Corsi’s rosé gold and pink opal crystal pavé crystal teardrop earrings might elicit a few tears from the lucky recipient ($220; elsacorsi.com).