Trend Spotting: Cages

Cages are all the rage. From imprisoned gemstones to chain links to cage-toe shoes, entrapment has never looked so good. Designers are shirking the mundane, unpredictably capping stones with metal details, encaging fingers and wrists, and stringing up pieces with organic materials. Here, some gems that hold me captive.

Redtail hawk on Shea Stadium fence
© Valerie VanKleeck

• French design company Lirix’s sterling silver cage square, curved, slim, and corset rings capture surreality, from the Surreal Things exhibit collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
• Philip Crangi’s Trellis earrings with rose quartz, moonstone, and aventurine offer a dainty, demure take, at Barneys.
• Kazuko’s open web cuff with opal, carnelian, quartz, Picasso agate, and amber; and heart-shape safety pin/pendants in rubyzionite, fluorite, jasper, and agate wrap things up with wire, at Barneys.
• Not bad for a ball ’n’ chain, Nancy Caten’s necklaces come in blue lace agate and pearl have gold-plated caps over them, at Fragments.
• Miguel Ases’s 14k gold-filled round earrings with cat’s-eye and apatite beads have loosely draping links, at Fragments.
• Rachel Leigh’s gold-plated cocktail rings look on the bright side, Positively and Affirmative, at Shopbop.
• Erickson Beamon’s Plastic Fantastic Lover and purple crystal rings are literally tied up, at Shopbop and Browns.
• Luxury darling Alexis Bittar’s partially ensconced 24K gold vermeil link with champagne CZ in delicate 24k vermeil cap makes a plea for escape.

Check out the last Trend Spotting: Roses.