• Not Your Grammy's Pearls

Not Your Grammy's Pearls

We scour L.A. for the best places to score cooler-than-cool, distinctive jewelry.
Style Section L.A. Editors
Published on May 23, 2010

When it comes to jewelry, we have our blingy moments (what could be more chic than a mountain of a cocktail ring?) but more often then not, our taste veers toward the low-key and offbeat — louche pieces that jazz up jeans-based outfits and vintage cocktail frocks.

But finding distinctive jewelry that isn't pavé-d to pieces (but is less ephemeral than Forever 21-esque costume jewelry) is more challenging than it seems — even in L.A. Which is why we sent our heat-seeking editors out into the city to unearth a few choice spots for super-cool extras.

 

Roseark


SHARKS & SPIDERS: Clockwise from top left: Anndra Neen Oval Flower bracelet, $445 and Cage choke, $650; Kathy Rose for Roseark Shark Tooth pendant, $1,400; Daniela Villegas Small Feather white gold-and-diamond pendants, $2,475. Photos courtesy of Roseark.

West Hollywood jewelry boutique Roseark, which is owned by designer and Launch My Line winner Kathy Azarmi-Rose, is L.A.'s most offbeat high-end jewelry shop — featuring a stable of under-the-radar designers that turn out moody, bold pieces from boutique bauble designers including Anndra Neen, Daniela Villegas, Borgioni and Carolyn Rodney. The dark-and-lovely goods don't come cheap, but if you're girl's more goth than glam, this is the place to splurge.

 

 

Des Kohan

NECK CANDY: From left, Gabriel Artigas Braided Snake Chain Necklace, $255; Annie Costello Brown 3-Tiered Circle necklace, $235. Photos courtesy of Des Kohan.

Des Kohan owner Desiree Kohan is one of those rare fashion retailers with superbly fashion-forward taste. And she has a big jones for singular jewelry that looks like it walked out of Rick Owens' studio. Best of all, it's reasonably priced. Lines include Gabriela Artigas, Annie Costello Brown and Bare — all of which work in that delicious darkly romantic vein.

671 Cloverdale Ave., Los Angeles, 323-857-0200.

 

 

A.P.C.

STYLE ENNUI: Pompom pendant, silver and silver-plated brass, $120.

Your jewelry choices in A.P.C.'s blond-wood, spartan boutique off Melrose are limited — to one piece, by our count. But paired in the store with Albert Camus' final (and unfinished) novel, needless to say it caught our eye. It's one of three pieces in the men's Spring collection. Here's a close-up:

619 North Croft Ave., West Hollywood, 323-297-0414

 

 

E.P.I.C.

BARE IT: Gregory Alexander cellular mitosis necklace, $365.

The Echo Park Independent Cooperative, which we covered in March, debuted this spring with a strong jewelry collection from local labels like LAS Jewelry and 925 LA. Plenty of it is unisex, including this "cellular mitosis" necklace by Gregory Alexander. Doesn't make us want to study biology ever again (not a strong suit in college) but it does make us want to buy local (you have no choice at E.P.I.C., as all of the merch is curated within L.A.).

1712 W Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, 213-483-0260