Last week while scrolling Instagram—after purchasing a Michigan insulated water bottle, a navy blue phone charger emblazoned with a maize block M, and a new Wolverines hoodie—I happened upon some fun blue-and-yellow jewelry. (Targeted Instagram advertising: It’s real, y’all.) It was a stack of Taylor Swift–style stretchy bracelets, meant to be worn on game days. So cute! The price for seven? More than $220. For acrylic, gold fill, and gold-plated beads.
Once I stopped laughing, I had a couple of thoughts. The first: I really need to learn to bead. The second: I could use some good maize-and-blue jewelry. So I texted my friend Tracey at Leo’s Jewelry in Wayne, Mich., and told her I had an idea about a pair of mismatched stud earrings in University of Michigan’s official colors. We settled on round faceted natural sapphires, one blue and one yellow, 0.5 ct. each, flush-set in 14k yellow gold bezel. Tracey had done something similar with a pair of cushion-cut morganite earrings and a matching pendant for my mom—ordering the stones, picking the perfect mounting—and the results were beautiful.
Now, you know your customers, and you know if they’re diehard fans. If you’re a store in, say, Columbus, why not whip up some scarlet-red ruby and silver hoop earrings? Perfect if you’re cheering on that school in Ohio that shall not be named. (You know the one.) But they’re also awesome for anyone with a July birthday.
Below, I’ve picked out a few jewels to appeal to fans of some big-name college teams. They’re great for fans, but I think their appeal goes way beyond the gridiron.
For FSU fans
Two of Florida State’s official colors are garnet and gold, so this pendant is spot-on for the Seminole in your life. Or for January babies. Or for anyone you love.
For Georgia fans
Stack ’em, wear ’em on separate fingers, whatever your preference—these sleek bands go with just about any outfit, including a Bulldogs jersey.
For LSU fans
Tiger game-day gear, or retro-style geometric gem-studded bracelet? Why not both?
For UCLA fans
In honor of one of the soon-to-be new members of the supersize Big Ten, we present this sweet bracelet that recalls the Bruins’ sea blue and sunny gold uniforms. And as we all know, you can never go wrong with blue gems.
For Michigan fans
Show your support for Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh with this subtle and gorgeous reference to the NCAA’s now-infamous “not a cheeseburger” statement. Bonus points if you wear it during his self-imposed three-game suspension. It’s an entire burger—with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, plus a sesame seed (aka diamond-studded) bun—on your finger. Yum!
Top: I’d like to think that Stephanie Gottlieb is offering this $89,000 one-of-a-kind vintage necklace—with a 6.12 ct. blue sapphire, an 8.12 ct. yellow sapphire, and 5.4 cts. t.w. diamonds in 18k yellow gold—because she is a Michigan alum. But it could simply be because it’s a stunning jewel!
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