Shakira sported a pair of very shiny snake earrings during her trip down the red carpet for the American Music Awards last night:

image: Zuma Press

There are quite a few designers using snakes as inspiration for their jewelry these days, but Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen from Elizabeth & James have created some elegant and realistic pieces:

image: Saks 5th Avenue

These drop earrings are made from a combination of rose gold and sterling silver, accented with diamond eyes.

If those are a little too realistic, Kara by Kara Ross has a more stylized option:

image: Bergdorf Goodman

These gold-plated brass earrings suggest snakes rather than reproduce them exactly.

Or you could wear a snake on your hand instead…

image: Net-A-Porter

This snake ring is from Kenneth Jay Lane’s latest collection and features black and silver-tone metal with clear and black crystals.

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Shakira and Her Snakes at the AMAs

Image: ShopBop

The Teardrop Peacock Druzy Ring ($144) is a beauty! The large, rough-hewn druzy stone has a beautiful iridescent quality. It’s quite mezmerizing almost like a mood ring but so much better! What’s great about this ring is, no two are alike! It’s made out of a natural druzy stone so the size, colour and shape of the ring will vary.

The druzy stone is set on top of a 14k gold filled hammered bezel setting. The band is quite pretty too with its braided style. Overall it’s a very simple setting for such a fantastically detailed stone. This would make a wonderful ring to wear through out the year.

It’s beautiful, no? If you love it and want to get it for yourself or give it to someone well deserving, it’s available in one size only (7) for $144 at Shopbop.

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Stunning Gara Danielle Peacock Druzy Ring

The high-low balance of the ring is really seductive. I love the totally organic, jagged shape and the ultra-whiteness of the silver. Plus, the color gradation is so perfect. I know that nature did that, not the artist, but it’s really a masterful design. Available for $120 from Masaoms.

Photo Credit: Masaoms

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Raw Citrine Ring by Masaoms

The steel grey stone with its almost silver druzies looks amazing set on sterling. The size is perfect: eye-catching, but it lays flat against the finger for comfort. Available for $110 from Retsina.

Photo Credits: Retsina

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Marquise-Cut Geode Ring by Retsina

How unique?

As unique as your fingerprint!

In fact, Fabuluster uses your own fingerprint to create one-of-a-kind fine jewelry that no one else will have.

Brent & Jessica Williams of Fabuluster create their elegant jewelry using sterling silver and gold.  As well as their custom fingerprint rings, they also use natural materials like feathers and leaves in their jewelry.

Here’s one of their custom fingerprint wedding bands:

The fingerprint is imprinted on the outside of the sterling silver ring, with a polished interior.

You can also keep the fingerprints a secret and wear them on the inside instead:

This pair of wedding bands look like standard rings, but only you & your sweetie will know that you’ve got a little secret inside!

Fabuluster will also imprint fingerprints onto other pieces of jewelry as well, like this fingerprint pendant:

So how do they reproduce your fingerprint?  They will send you an impression kit, which is then used to print your fingerprint from.

images: Fabuluster

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Weekend Etsy Picks

Then you’re definitely going to want to check out this unique jewelry!

During the 2007 restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern masterpiece—the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, pieces of the museum were saved.  The Gunite or concrete crumbles have been set into resin and made into jewelry.  Jewelry designer Cara Tilker has designed the unique suite of jewelry, for both women and men.

Each piece of jewelry contains an original piece of the museum, finished with sterling silver to make a modern and very wearable piece of jewelry.  The resin must be poured by hand into molds, and then each piece of concrete set into it.

You can view the complete collection online in the Guggenheim Museum store, but here are a couple of my favorites:

Two piece necklace

Bezel Earrings

Adjustable ring

You can also special-order select pieces from the jewelry collection in 14kt gold.

images: Guggenheim Museum

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Own a Little Part of the Guggenheim

Let me explain…

How often do we get all wrapped up in preparations and end up not having enough time for ourselves?

Every year?

So why not get your holiday outfit and jewelry pulled together sooner, rather than later?

It’s one less thing to do on the night of the big office party, gala event or cocktail reception!

Glamor on a budget – you want to look like a million bucks, but let’s face it – you don’t have a million to spend on your jewelry.

“Spiral Collar” $12.80 from Forever 21.  Crystal-accented interlocking metal plates, on a 14″ necklace.

“Chantel” earrings, metal chandelier earrings accented with black crystals $8.80.

images: Forever 21

Holiday Colors – deep, rich colors are hot right now – so rock the jewel tones at your next party.

Multi-strand “Paradise Pearl” necklace from Marco Bicego.  Made from 18kt gold, cultured fresh water pearls and semi-precious gemstones.

Pearl bracelets, made in the USA and designed by Meredith Frederick.  These bracelets come in all kinds of lush colors, made with fresh water pearls and semi-precious gem stone beads.

“Pink Berry” chandelier earrings made from 12kt gold plated brass and featuring faceted amethyst and raspberry quartz.

images: Neiman Marcus

Icy Cool – clear crystals, sleek metals and cool textures up the sex appeal for cool weather fun.

Multi-strand necklace by Sequin, made from faceted glass and acrylic beads, accented with chain.

“Silver Dust” lucite & Swarovski crystal ring by Alexis Bittar, finished with gunmetal studs.

Large crystal pave earrings from Nadri, rhodium plated brass, with pave crystals.

images: Nordstrom

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Dress Up The Holidays With Jewelry

Whoa. BLING! This CZ 3CAP ring, by Los Angeles based Valou, should come with its own sound effect. Three rows of three eye-popping cubic zees that fit right between your fingers. It’s not even really a “ring” in that it doesn’t actually encircle your whole finger, just gently snuggles up against the back of your hand, pressing these lovely gemstones to the forefront. I can’t think of a single outfit or occasion that wouldn’t be made better by this little glimmer of deliciousness. It will go perfectly with my giant CZ studs and, I dunno, something black and leather. Available for $175 from Shopflick.

POW! This aptly named Bad Ass Elegance Knuckle Duster is by my new favorite jewelry guru, VeraMeat. Like the 3Z, it sits on three fingers. Also like the 3Z, it looks like you could do some major damage with this thing in a fistfight. Not that I encourage that sort of behavior, but just in case. I love the sleek, lean, and minimal design of the ring. Plus, it promises to stimulate your pressure points. No, seriously, it claims that it will keep you relaxed. Which is great for everyone around you, because if you got mad and started swinging…oh, wait, we went over this. I do not encourage violence. Unless it’s jewelry that kicks ass. Available for $160 from Shopflick.

Why, yes, that is a T-Rex eating fried chicken on my finger. If ever there was a piece of jewelry that combined, in perfect measure, quirkiness, sass, and badassitude, here it is. This Dino Eating Fried Chicken ring, also by VeraMeat, just stole my heart, and maybe a drumstick off my dinner plate. Sterling silver, handcrafted, and sparkly. Enough said. Available for $132 on Shopflick.

Photo Credits: Shopflick

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Indie Jewelry Designers: Valou and VeraMeat

Designers are bringing out all kinds of fabulous jewelry featuring some seriously heavy-duty rhinestones.  You can find everything from wide bracelets to statement necklaces featuring the faux stones.  After all, even if you don’t have the budget for big diamonds, or even big cubic zirconia – you can still get in on the fun

Marlyn Schiff has released several jewelry designs that are budget friendly, but with plenty of sparkle.  You can choose from silver, gold or gunmetal finishes – all with plenty of rhinestone fun to go around.

The stretch dome ring features a conical starburst design, with a stretchy bead band (shown in silver-tone).

The stretch bracelet (shown in gunmetal) is made from nickel-free metal and features smoky rhinestones in a domed bracelet setting.

Are those rhinestones still too small for your tastes?  Then check out this necklace from Janis by Janis Savitt:

The “Cluster Crystal” necklace is made from gold-plated brass chain, accented with several large, faceted glass crystals.

images: Neiman Marcus

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Big & Bold Rhinestones

(Images: ShopBop)

Chain Wire Ring ($155)  I love the look and mixed texture of this ring. The 18k gold plated hammered wire wrap style is edgy but simple in the overall design.
Wire Ring ($145) A simple silver plated wrapped wire ring that could double as an every day or signature ring.
Triple Ring ($140) This 18k gold plated ring features two interlocking bands which form a pretty and delicate ring.

(Images: ShopBop)

Charm Wrap Bracelet ($145) A neutral toned wrap bracelet that features brass trinkets like beads, a moon charm, Peruvian coins and crystal charms as well.
Charm Wrap Bracelet ($98)  This black leather wrap bracelet is accented with brass and resin beads along with hammered brass discs and a cute enamel fish.
Turquoise Wrap Bracelet ($140) The pretty blue turquoise charms on this bracelet is complemented by the brown leather tie wrap. The charms include Chilean coins, brass beads and moon charm.

By the Stones jewelry is handmade in their studios in Miami and by local artisans in their hometown of Peru. Another great trait about this company is, if you buy through their website, 10% of the proceeds are donated to Bridges Across Borders. Bridges Across Borders is a non-profit organization that provides clothing, food and shelter for Cambodian children. Isn’t it wonderful when a brand not only has amazing pieces but are focused on doing good too? You can purchase all of the items above on ShopBop and directly through the By the Stones website.

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Unique Jewelry from By the Stones