Like many, Jane Taylor is tired of the tenuous economy that has made retail sales a challenge, so she’s bucking conservatism—and hoping to inspire sales—by way of a new collection of intriguing gemstones.
Called Cirque for its whimsical color combinations, Taylor maintains that she’s “pushed all her chips in—like in the James Bond Casino Royale scene,” she explains. “We’ve been riding this retail wave that goes up and then crashes down. There are all these rules, and everyone is trying figure out who they and their clients are, and I just said, ‘Eff it, I want to make beauty!’ ”
So the Amherst, Mass.–based designer dug deeply into her 30-year reserves of awesome gemstones and put together some loose pairings of stones, bringing them to Modaoperandi.com headquarters in January to show buyers. They loved the idea of a collection of one-of-a-kinds, so Taylor made 16 rings, which will debut on the site’s online trunk show on April 14. (Whatever doesn’t sell will be available to other merchants.) Plus, Cirque will be built out by Couture (see her in Next Wave 14) to include all styles, complete with an entry retail price of $2,000. The retail price range of the existing rings, made in simple and striking geometric 18k gold silhouettes, is from $3,370 to about $31,000. Future looks can also be ordered in 14k gold.
Lion Tamer ring in 18k yellow gold with an 8.45 ct. marquise-shape citrine, 2.68 cts. t.w. baguette-shape mint-green tourmalines, and 0.1 ct. t.w. diamonds, $6,545
Snake Charmer ring in 18k yellow gold with a 5.11 ct. Mandarin citrine and 4.11 cts. t.w. smoky quartz, $8,570
Adagio ring in 18k yellow gold ring with an 18.65 ct. square emerald-cut London blue topaz and a 6.27 ct. step-cut square-shape Madeira citrine, $9,460
Cannonball ring in 18k yellow gold with an 8.63 ct. peachy pink tourmaline and 3.19 cts. t.w. emerald-cut morganites, $12,410
Mermaid ring in 18k white gold with an 11.96 ct. mint-green tourmaline and 3.18 cts. t.w. mint-green baguette-cut tourmalines, $30,960
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