Ever see a piece of jewelry that just stops you in your tracks and provides an instant surge of dopamine?
I suppose it happens often in our industry, though it certainly never gets old. My latest buzz of happy comes from a gorgeous, colorful creation by Zahn-Z that puts a starry twist on rainbow jewelry.
“It began in August 2024 with a message from one of my longtime clients,” Hiba Husayn, the designer behind Zahn-Z, recounts to JCK. “She reached out with a beautifully nostalgic request: to transform a cherished childhood memory into a custom jewelry piece.”
The client regaled Husayn with stories of childhood origami stars and searching for constellations with her father. The designer shares this love of “stars, constellations, and the mysteries of the cosmos,” which helped it all click into place. “Inspired by her story, we partnered with artist Michelle Mai of @mvmgems to bring this vision to life,” Husayn says.
“Together, we crafted a piece that captures the whimsy of childhood and the elegance of the stars above. The gemstones were carefully selected for their vibrant colors and natural sparkle—rhodolite, rubellite, spessartite, chrysoberyl, peridot, apatite, blue topaz, tanzanite, amethyst, and pastel pyrope garnet.”
The gemstones on this necklace are spectacularly color-drenched and bright, but their hues alone do not make this the special lineup that it is. “Each stone was custom-cut to mimic the crisp folds of origami stars, while 14k yellow gold settings echo the sharp geometry of paper art,” explains Husayn. “The finished piece is a stunning 16-inch necklace—also wearable as a double-wrapped bracelet—measuring 51 grams of celestial craftsmanship.”
You’ve got to see this piece in action—movement of the stones really helps to showcase their origami star-shape facets. Check it out on Zahn-Z’s Instagram.
Top: A Constellation of Origami Memories and Childhood Wonder necklace in 14k yellow gold with 1.2 ct. each rhodolite, rubellite, spessartite, chrysoberyl, peridot, apatite, blue topaz, tanzanite, amethyst, and pastel pyrope garnet, $35,000; Zahn-Z
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