Bracelet by Taher Chemirik, at Naila de Monbrison

Along with Cartier, Boucheron and the other world-renowned luxury jewelers on Place Vendôme, Paris is also home to a host of sparklingly original independent jewelers and designers. 

Tucked away in a tranquil street behind the Assemblée Nationale, Naïla de Monbrison's gallery is the kind of insider address the fashion elite exchange in secret.

The Egyptian-born Naïla came to Paris to study international relations at Paris's famed Institut d'Etudes Politiques, but shortly after graduation she married renowned Parisian primitive art dealer Marc de Monbrison.

Inspired by an exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art tracing the affinities between primitive and contemporary art, Naïla opened a gallery showcasing limited-edition and unique jewelry by contemporary artists and sculptors alongside ethnic works.

Over the past twenty years the committed globetrotter and passionate defender of the avant-garde has devoted herself to "discovering, promoting and following the work of each of my designers over time". Naïla alternates themed collective shows with exhibits by individual designers.

Following a stunning exhibition by Taher Chemirik, whose asymmetric link necklaces, dramatic gold and ebony armbands and voluminous rings received massive press coverage, this month the gallery spotlights jewelry by Christiane Billet, a talented French sculptor who trained at the Beaux Arts in Paris and has created jewelry for the haute couture collections of Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix.

Billet's extraordinary bronze art brut brooches and chokers appear to have been rusted by the waves or etched by the passage of time-exceptional jewelry aimed at women who believe a piece of jewelry should be a work of art.

More at: http://tinyurl.com/ya2d6d3

Tree of Life" cuff bracelet from Karen Bizer in shagreen and 18-karat yellow gold with 5.4 carats of multicolor diamonds; suggested retail price is $26,000. KarenBizerFineJewelry.com

New York--At the JA New York Summer Show in July, German Seferbekov, the Russian jewelry designer behind Kabirksi and Co., displayed a collection of deluxe yet provocative creations made all the more intriguing by his trademark image, a cockroach.

The insect appears in the designer's ads and on his Web site, where an animated roach crawls across a screen bearing Seferbekov's scribbled pseudonym, G. Kabirski, and pauses to mark the period and dot the two "i's" with diamonds before scurrying away.

The collection and the edgy, if uncomfortable, imagery Kabirski uses to promote it aptly embodies the gothic-punk undertones of this fall's jewelry collections. Whereas some seasons are marked by designers' love for nature and romance, fall 2009's overriding ethos is a hard, 80s-inspired edginess with just the tiniest concessions to the conventional definition of elegance.

Designers of diamond jewelry, in particular, have gotten the memo. Take one of Kabirski's more unusual necklaces: From afar, it looks like a collar carved from mammoth ivory or white agate. In reality, it's made from the spine of a cobra--lightweight, sandpaper-like and remarkably skeletal. A sprinkling of tiny bezel-set diamonds in shades of champagne adds a surprisingly luxe touch.

The designer's dark attitude is echoed in the oxidized silver and diamond jewels that have captivated fine-jewelry buyers lately.

Helena Krodel, director of media and special events at the Jewelry Information Center, calls the pairing of stones with blackened metal the  "biggest and only" trend of the season.

"Everything is black-black metal, black diamonds--even flowers I'm seeing set with black gemstones," Krodel says. "No one wants to be perceived as a conspicuous consumer. They want new things, but they want them to look aged."

More at: http://tinyurl.com/yeja5mp

Bold and beautiful it has an enchanting appeal to it that won’t go unnoticed.

The timeless silhouette is the perfect investment piece to glam up your trendy look.

($360.00)

More at: http://tinyurl.com/yccmxtk

New York moments are individual, inspired and unique to each one of us. From the sentinel hope that stands guard in her dulled green robes to the big red apple that represents all that is New York.

One of twelve iconic jewels that form Jewelry.com's Manhattan Collection, the Manhattan charm bracelet by designer Lawrence Lo includes 8 iconic Manhattan symbols crafted from 18k white and yellow gold featuring; diamonds, yellow sapphires and rubies.

The charm bracelet includes 8 iconic Manhattan symbols crafted from 18k white and yellow gold featuring; 393 diamonds weighing 3.42cts, 128 yellow sapphires totaling 0.89cts and 26 rubies weighing 0.65cts.

More at: http://tinyurl.com/kjdr84

Whether the markets are bullish or bearish, Wall Street stands firm as an iconic symbol of American aspirations with a global reach.

Inspired by the Street, that in 1789 saw George Washington become the first President of the United States, Evert DeGraeve, for Jewelry.com's Manhattan Collection, created this 18k white gold bangle featuring 781 diamonds totaling 21.27 cts.

This 18k white gold bangle is set with 781 diamonds including; 439 orange cognac diamonds weighing 10.85cts and 342 black diamonds weighing 10.42cts, for a total carat weight of 21.27cts.

More at: http://tinyurl.com/kvlcjk

One of twelve iconic jewels from Jewelry.com's Manhattan Collection, The Bridges of New York bangle features over 670 diamonds weighing 28.56 cts.

The exhibition piece was designed by Evert DeGraeve and executed by master jeweler Francis Mertens.

This 18k white gold and titanium accent bangle features 596 pave set round diamonds weighing 8.35cts and 75 channel set baguette diamonds weighing 20.21cts for a total diamond weight of 28.56cts.   

More at: http://www.jewelry.com/manhattan-iconic-01.shtml

Ultra-wide style is a statement piece lavished with hand-set crystals.

18k goldplated brass
Tongue & groove clasp
Diameter, about 2½"

Imported

($575.00)

More at: http://tinyurl.com/mwrwzo

Diamond in the Rough's "Orielle" bangles in 18-karat white, yellow and pink gold with natural rough diamonds and micropave diamond accents; price available upon request. (212) 710-1070

Whether a dazzling couture-level number featuring precious gemstones fashioned into a pair of nuzzling parrots, or a stack of thin sterling-silver versions set off with the tiniest flash of diamond, embellished bangles are here to stay.

Easy to throw on with summer's bohemian shifts, they will slide stylishly into accessory wardrobes for fall and winter, when they will peek out from beneath coat and blouse sleeves, the wrist candy of choice.

More at: http://tinyurl.com/lrafhh

All framed with Round Diamonds and Round Diamonds scattered in between.

The Diamonds are 21.91 Carat Total Weight

G Color VS Clarity

Fancy Yellow Color VS Clarity

More at: http://tinyurl.com/ncdwdm

9 inch anklet $398 and 10 inch anklet $499 at heavenlytreasures.com

Heavenly Treasures is putting luxury at customers' feet with gold ankle bracelets

ALLENHURST, N.J., Aug. 14 /ELEGANO/ -- Summer is the perfect time for relaxing, catching some sun and even showing off a little leg. Understanding that ladies love to flaunt those gorgeous gams when the mercury rises, Heavenly Treasures is giving women everywhere the opportunity to know how it feels to "walk into Heaven" with one of their exquisite gold ankle bracelets. A trusted and premier cataloger and online retailer of fine jewelry, Heavenly Treasures is providing the perfect gift for that special someone or the ideal self-indulgence for those who enjoy the finer things in life.

"Every woman loves jewelry and these handsomely fashionable anklets are the perfect accessory for any occasion from that classic summer outing to a romantic night out on the town," says Helen Beyda, Product Manager at Heavenly Treasures. "We cater to a very diverse consumer base with varying tastes and price ranges and we make sure that each of our customers has just the right item for them. No matter your preference, we carry a wide variety of ankle bracelets that will complement your style and add finesse and flair to any ensemble."

The ankle bracelets, which are available in both 14K white, rose and yellow gold as well as sterling silver, come in dozens of styles and designs which will allow customers to mix and match if they choose. The anklets vary in prices from $30 to over $300, proving that quality jewelry doesn't have to mean breaking the bank. Each piece in the collection is designed carefully and crafted with the finest quality gold and or silver to ensure that customers are receiving the highest-grade jewelry on the market. From funky to formal, tasteful to timeless, Heavenly Treasures has the perfect ankle bracelet for any affair. For more information, visit http://www.heavenlytreasures.com/b6045.html