New York–based jewelry designer Lori Kaplan has a thing about popcorn…as well as truffles on anything, but that’s another story altogether. Her love of popcorn led her to cast 18k earrings in the shape and I’d like to take a moment to appreciate this unusual and creative design.

I met Kaplan at her SoHo studio and saw firsthand how she takes a concept or a stone, in most cases, and molds it into a one-of-a-kind piece. “I love the process of falling in love with a stone and figuring out what to do with it,” she told me. “Then the actual fabrication. My favorite part of that is filing and also seeing the finished product.”

Kaplan’s love for jewelry began when she started wholesaling bridge jewelry from Italy in 1989; later, trained in jewelry techniques popular in Byzantine times, she founded Lori Kaplan Jewelry Design in 2010.  Today, she works with sapphires, opals, emeralds, rubellites, and Persian turquoise, setting them in 18k gold, sterling silver, 14k gold fill, and 22k gold vermeil. Lori also offers limited edition pieces and one-of-a-kind creations.

But back to the popcorn. “Yes, you heard me correctly,” she writes on her website. “Popcorn.  KettleCorn!  I have a small obsession with popcorn…so I’m using it in my jewelry designs!  These are 18k on posts and super comfortable. And they’re also available in oxidized sterling silver.”

Here’s to fine jewelers who take creativity to a whole new level.

Kettle Corn–shaped 18k gold earrings, $1,625 (Also at top)

Aqua-toned faceted gems with 22k gold vermeil brushed detail on a 14k gold fill spring ring clasp, $349

Rubellite emerald 18k earrings, $3,995

Emerald and opal earrings in 18K gold, $2,800

Ring in 18k gold and Persian turquoise, price upon request

Kristin Young is writing the On Your Market blog while Brittany Siminitz is on maternity leave.

 

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