The Trends At Melee-The Show

The trade only jewelry shows are back. Melee-The Show kicked off the season when it opened on August 6^th and is running through August 9^th. After virtual-only events for the past seasons since COVID started, Melee-The Show moved to a new location at the Bowery Hotel and is featuring an über talented group of  independent designers who are showing at the event or in a virtual shopping space for retailers and press online. It’s wonderful to see the shows coming back (with all CDC precautions in place—and organizers Lauren Wolf and Rebecca Overmann ensuring that they have created as safe an environment as possible for exhibiting designers and press and retailers attending). These shows are where trends happen, items are discovered, new designers uncovered and where your neighborhood jewelry stores and online shops stock up on new merchandise for fall and the holiday season.  

Here is a preview of some of the newest pieces from the participating designers, a few new or evolving directions in jewelry, a range of engagement rings and pieces that might make you want to head on over to Instagram to follow these creators and see where you can purchase their designers:

Ring Leaders

Colored gemstones, exclusive cuts in diamonds, and feminine, old word techniques in engravings and details continue to evolve as the trends in engagement rings. From lyrical floral motifs to geometric shapes to alternative stones, creativity abounds.

Rebecca Overmann’s Shades Of Blue Sapphire Totem Ring with brilliant blue geometric-cut sapphires in 18K gold

Alex Monroe’s Rosa Stellata Solitaire Sapphire Ring is 18K yellow gold with ethical Madagascan sapphires available in tropical pinks, reds and 0ranges.

Megan Thorne’s Evergreen Tulip Engagement ring in 18K gold features A full-bodied and softly rounded pear shape antique cut diamond with rose cut diamond accents set in a delicately curved evergreen shank engraved with leaves and vines.  

Diana Mitchell’s carved 18K gold ring with pear-shaped rose cut diamond set from east to west.

Lauren Wolf’s one-of-a-kind exclusive cut diamond ring on with clean lined brushed textured shank

Melissa Joy Manning’s ethnical sourced diamonds and fair mined gold stack of engagement rings and wedding bands

Jennie Kwon’s  green sapphire and Morganite center ring.

True Colors

From carved stones to jewelry that takes its cue from tactile textiles, macrame and mesh, spun out of gold and gemstones to symbolic talisman and gems that evoke ancient amulets, color continues to be one of the most predominant trends.

Adel Chefridi’s carved rubellite and diamond pendant set in 18K yellow gold with diamond accents.

Mallary Marks Kaleidoscope-Long Pointy Scarf necklace in 18K in garnet and rubellite. Also available in other  colorations.

Anthony Lent’s Trapiche Emerald Moonface Flower Earrings in 18K yellow gold

Elizabeth Street’s Colombian emerald necklace set into a bezel of 14K gold evokes the antiquity of early historical emerald jewels juxtaposed by a thoroughly modern setting

Margaret Solow’s gemstone in different cuts reminiscent of amulets on 14K gold chain

Amali Jewelry’s 18K gold hand woven opal necklace with rectangular tourmaline pendant

Petra Class’s geometric emerald multi station necklace in  18K gold

Floral Arrangements

Whether carved or engraved into delicate garden variety botanicals, these floral designs are imbued with femininity and everyday wearability.

Talon’ Enchanted Garden ring in 14K gold features a heart shaped ring with garden vines following the shape of the design. How much more romantic can you get then hearts and roses around a heart, the Enchanted Garden ring invokes the sheltered and cozy feeling of your own secret garden. Band measures 13mm tapering to 5mm.

Lene Vibe’s 18K gold Popsicle Stick necklace with dangling flowers. Simple and delicate yet powerful in its intricate handmade design.

Erica Molinari’s Tree of life pendant and diamond padlock in a combination of oxidized silver and yellow gold

Alex Monroe’s Tiny Letter B crafted in 18K gold in the daintiest of floral designs.

Enticing Earrings

The ear party continues as designers create new variations on super studs,  front facing hoops edgy pearl drops, and multiple dangling earrings.

Carla Caruso’s wide pearl Arches Earrings in 18K gold

Ray Griffith’s Medium Rectangle earrings in18K yellow gold with emerald cut white topaz in the designer’s signature crownwork setting.

Tap by Todd Pownell’s marquise shaped diamond hoops are showstoppers.       

Maria Kotson Jewellery’s playful dancing diamond earrings with different size round yellow gold circles that sway and move when the wearer does.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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