Here’s our edit of dark jewels for Halloween, the scare fest.
Jewellery designers across the world have a great time creating dark and gothic collections that are perfect for a Halloween fest.
Skulls have been a favourite motif through the years and Amedeo does it fabulously well with skulls on hand carved cameos that transform into rings, pendants, and earrings.
Vanitas were popular in Antiquity, for centuries, Memento Mori were a part of life, in fashion and in mourning. By the beginning of the 21st century, they have become more of a fashion statement.
Lydia Courteille has been collecting Memento Mori since the very beginning of her career. The designer’s Memento Mori has become her signature. It is a philosophy that reminds you that you can be rich, intelligent, and beautiful, but that in the end, everyone has the same destiny.
Frivolous and humorous, Courteille’s Vanitas jewels have a certain insouciance, a casual indifference.
Holly Dyment’s skull and enamel earring accented with coloured gems are an eternal favourite. The late designer was famed for her Memento Mori skull jewellery accented with bright pops of enamel. Heidi Vornan’s skull ring in white gold and red enamel with black diamonds set into the eye sockets are quite eerie.
Perfect for Halloween scares are bejewelled caterpillars and centipedes that craw elegantly across Gaelle Khouri’s creative world. Her caterpillar ear cuffs crafted in yellow gold and blackened silver sparkle with pavé diamonds and blue sapphires, whilst Bibi van der Velden’s cobweb earrings and snake tongue ring are glamorous essentials. For added style, pop on Paul Morelli’s gem sprinkled web cuff in white diamonds and blue flash moonstones.
Ray Griffith’s gold snake ring with sapphire eyes is inspired by the representation of insects and animals in fine jewellery and fashion. “I designed a clean and classic representation of this, the incorporation of my crownwork® gives them texture, playfulness and my design aesthetic,” he adds.
Smaller pieces can be thrown on to layer and stack. Robinson Pelham’s bat-inspired earwish charm, spider charm with pearl and sapphire by Milamore, sword and daggers made cool by Syna and Pamela Love, emerald eyed yellow gold skull stud earrings by Jane Berg are subtle nods to the trick or treat festivities.
Karma El Khalil’s iterations for dark nights include stud earrings in blackened gold with black diamonds and unicorn ring with faceted onyx made in white gold. Reptilian inspirations become a snake cocktail ring in the hands of Parisian designer Lydia Courteille.