Sharing Favorites: Solid Gold Jewelry Designers To Check Out
I recently asked my Instagram followers (at @goalstogetglowing) to share their favorite solid gold jewelry designers. I mentioned that I love saving for special pieces to commemorate life’s milestones and I’m always on the lookout for new designers. I shared my own favorites, both from designers I already own and those I hope to buy from in the future. The response I received was amazing, with 88 recommendations submitted.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing those responses to help you discover new designers and find your next favorite piece.
Disclaimer: A few of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Personal Favorites: Designers I Adore
Here are the designers that I own pieces from and absolutely love:
Spinelli Kincollin
I’m obsessed with my Tigris Gris ring, which I customized for my 40th birthday. The customization process was seamless, done through an online form at no extra cost. I wear it daily, find it incredibly comfortable, and love how unique it is. It’s also a great fidget piece, something I truly adore. I am a size 7 but after going in and trying on some sizes, we went with 7.25. The original one that we customized had two sterling silver bands, but I changed it so that it had one rose gold band and one sterling silver (which saved money rather than doing white gold and it has worn beautifully over the past year). And then it has one rose gold and one yellow gold connector.
Oradina
I have the 16” Carmine Curb chain in 10k. I love how it catches the light. I have worn it nonstop (shower, pool, ocean) for 2 years and it looks good as new. I also like how this is thin and flat. I think that helps it not get tangled with other necklaces
AnittaJewels
Recently I added a carabiner lock as a charm on the Oradina chain. I messaged the seller on Etsy and placed a custom order for a 18mm lock where it had a 14k white gold wire and 9k rose gold nut.
Oxbow Designs
This was a new find through TikTok, which featured unique jewelry designers who are small businesses. These pieces are handmade in Denver, Colorado. I have a matchstick pendant with a garnet, though you can also choose a ruby or sapphire. I also love her skull charms that she makes.
Cartier
I own the rose gold Love bracelet, which I got a couple of years ago and never take off.
It’s beautiful and meaningful, though it does sometimes set off airport security alarms. A helpful tip is to touch the bracelet while going through security, which seems to reduce the beeping.
Kinn Studio
Quin got me the tiny disc necklace as birthday present. We got the 16” but then I had it shortened to about 14.5”. He opted to not get my initial on it. I love how dainty it is.
Jbrooks Jewelers
Grandma’s Vintage “Chan” Chain. @courtneygrow designed this necklace to resemble a necklace that her grandma passed down to her sister. I love the unique heart valve clasp. This is another one that I never take off bc its solid 14k gold. (Length = 19.75”)
I need to share about the custom medallion I made with the help of my brother and his jeweler…. but I will have to update the blog post to add that at another time! But it was a good reminder for me that working with a local jeweler can be another great option if you aren’t finding exactly what you are envisioning.
Aspiring Collections: Designers on My Wishlist
Below I show some of the pieces that were on my wish list before I went through the complete list of recommended designers… now my wish list is going to be bigger. But below are the pieces that I have been saving for and deciding between.
I saw @lindsayslib wear the Marlo Laz En Route bracelet on IG last year and immediately fell in love with it. So that it is at the top of my list. But I also love their Porte Bonheur necklace (which you can customize in so many ways including whether Good Luck is in French, Spanish, or Italian).
Foundrae is also at the top of my list because I really love things with lots of symbolism –especially when I am buying (investing really) in an heirloom piece. What initially drew me to Foundrae was how their pieces center around various tenets, like strength, karma, resilience, wholeness, internal compass, dream, and protection. (click on this link to read about each, and try not to be inspired! <–by the way, the Foundrae links, and about 85% of the links in this post, are not commissionable. So I am not trying to link to pricey jewelry stores just to make commissions. Promise) Anyways. Each tenet has corresponding medallions, rings, and earrings with such beautiful designs. For example, the Reverie pieces include a butterfly as a symbol of an inextinguishable soul; always drawn to light. My biggest issue is that I can’t settle on just one tenet that I love, and I definitely can’t afford multiple pieces (I will be lucky if I ever buy just one). But a girl can dream!
Below are some other things on my wish list by Lindsey Leigh Jewelry, Deborah Pagani, Alison Lou, Jennifer Meyer, and Marrow Fine.
Most Recommended Designers: Your Top Picks
To identify the top three most recommended solid gold jewelry designers, I considered the frequency of recommendations each designer received. Out of the 86 total recommendations, 26 designers were mentioned by more than one person. Among these, 4 designers had more than 5 recommendations each. So below I list the top 3 (with one tie) recommendations as well as some items that caught my eye for each.
After that I will provide the comprehensive list of 86 designers!
Most Votes
- I forgot that I had a Catbird tiny first-knuckle ring about 10 years ago! They definitely are a great option for really dainty, delicate pieces that are great for layering and stacking (they also make really cute charms). Catbird, located in Brooklyn, New York, is a woman-owned business that has been producing jewelry with minimal environmental impact since 2004. They use recycled gold and diamonds in their Brooklyn studio to reduce their carbon footprint, and as a member of No Dirty Gold, they are committed to sustainable practices in the jewelry industry. They not only design their own jewelry line but they also feature pieces from various independent designers. Their direct-to-customer approach aims to provide high-quality jewelry at reasonable prices.
Second Most Recommended (Two-way tie)
- Founded by third-generation jeweler Dana Gordon in 2007, is a family-owned business known for creating luxurious and everyday pieces. The brand uses ethically sourced materials, including conflict-free diamonds, and focuses on accessible luxury. Each collection is named after women who have inspired Dana, and the jewelry is crafted with sustainability and lasting quality in mind.
- Yearly Co. is based in Nashville, Tennessee and specializes in handmade solid 14k gold bangles designed to commemorate anniversaries and milestones. Inspired by a family tradition started by her grandfather, the founder began making these bangles to celebrate special moments. They note that they use ethically sourced materials and recycled 14k gold. After learning about this brand, I now have a bracelet on my wish list. I love how you can get a birthstone, put a date, initials, etc. Such a great way to commemorate a person or a milestone. So many followers have sent me their stacks of multiple Yearly Co bangles, and I can see why they love them so much. Multiple people have said that the Hammered Heavy Bangle is a top pick so that is firmly on my wishlist.
- Update 7/27/24: I ordered a birthstone bangle after getting the sizer kit. I can’t wait to get it! And I want the get the Hammered one during their next sale. They gave me a code to get a free sizing kit (code: VANESSAKIT) They also said that they have a Labor Day sale, so I would figure out your size BEFORE Labor Day if you think you might get something.
Third Most Recommended
Brent Neale Winston is a New York City-based designer known for her playful mix of colored stones and chunky gold pieces. I had never heard of this designer before and after looking through their website, what stood out to me was how fun, unexpected and colorful everything was. The designs seem to be grouped into distinct collections, with each offering something different. Though the pieces are on the pricier side, I really appreciate how unique and whimsical they are.
Comprehensive List of Recommended Solid Gold Jewelry Designers
You can thank a couple nights of insomnia for why this list isn’t just the names and links of the designers and instead I tried to include a description of what each designer is known for (to the best of my ability, that is, using their “about us” page). 🙂
I’ll definitely be revisiting this list frequently because I came across so many beautiful pieces!
- Aaron at Color Alchemy Designs – Custom jewelry, known for unique designs using ethically sourced gemstones.
- Acanthus Jewelry – Historical and vintage-inspired pieces with a lot of celestial themes and symbolism.
- Adina Eden – This has a nice selection of cute huggies, layering necklaces and more at really reasonable prices. Be sure to shop the fine jewelry section if you want solid gold.
- Alison Lou – Playful and cheeky fine jewelry with themes like emoticons and pasta. There is SO much that I want from this designer. The cute “carbs by the yard” bracelet is definitely top of my list.
- Ariel Gordon – Modern, versatile pieces with a bit of luxury. Known for their Imperial Disc Pendant Necklace
- Auplusc – Contemporary minimalist, unisex designs with high-quality craftsmanship.
- Aurelia Demark – Modern New York based designer. Known for their pendants, like their signature four leaf clover pendant which is in honor of her grandmother searching for them
- Automic Gold – Queer and trans-owned business that makes gender-neutral, inclusive (they have a broader range of sizes) sustainable fine jewelry made in NYC
- Bario Neal – Design-forward, women-owned company. known for ethical and sustainable jewelry with a focus on unique designs that are designed in-house. They have alot of earrings that I thought were beautiful, especially these gold and silver huggies.
- Battisti Jewelers – Known for custom designs and high-quality craftsmanship.
- Bernard James – Unisex designs focused on quality detailed craftsmanship.
- Bibi van der Velden – Sculptural and whimsical fine jewelry often featuring animal motifs.
- Blanks! – Customizable jewelry, that focuses on pricing transparency, ethical sourcing, and classic pieces that will last.
- Boucheron – Luxury fine jewelry with a rich heritage, known for intricate designs.
- Brent Neale – Whimsical and colorful fine jewelry with a playful twist.
- Brionny Raymond – Customizable and bespoke fine jewelry along with sourcing rare estate jewelry
- by deborah pagani – Bold and glamorous jewelry with a vintage-inspired aesthetic.
- Cartier – Iconic luxury jewelry brand known for timeless and elegant designs.
- Castro Smith – Hand-engraved signet rings and unique, personalized pieces based in London.
- Catbird – Curated selection of delicate and minimalist fine jewelry from various designers as well as their own line.
- Cece Jewelry – Incredibly detailed bespoke pieces, Hand-enameled on 18ct gold that draw on motifs of nature and imagination.
- Collins family jewelers – Sells both vintage and new jewelry pieces.
- Cristina V – sells some heirloom quality pieces made in NYC
- Damiani – Italian luxury jewelry known for elegant and intricate designs.
- Dana Rebecca – Luxurious yet everyday pieces, known for accessible luxury.
- Dara Kaye Jewelry – Made to order fine jewelry with a focus on unique designs and ethically sourced lab grown diamonds (their serpent pinky diamond ring is so beautiful!)
- David Perry Jewelry – Custom jewelry with an emphasis on craftsmanship and timeless pieces made handmade in both Italy and Los Angeles.
- Double Moss Jewelry – Unique and artistic jewelry designs based on Los Angeles. They have some floating stone rings that caught my eye.
- Dru – Contemporary jewelry with a focus on bold designs, many of which have symbols of strength or dark humor. Based in LA. This is definitely one of the brands I am SO happy I found through my followers because I Really enjoyed looking through their pieces–they are all so unique! This ring is fantastic (warning: bad language) there is also a hot and bothered medallion that is so unique. Very fun pieces!
- Ferkos Fine Jewelry (Etsy shop) – Affordable fine jewelry with custom options.
- Fewer Finer – Specializes in classic, high end pieces for everyday wear, many of which are engravable. I thought this negative-space name pendant was unique!
- Finn Jewelry – Classic fine jewelry with a whimsical twist handmade in NYC. These Ruby Cherry earrings are so cute.
- Foundrae – Symbolic and meaningful fine jewelry, often featuring medallions. I truly would love anything from them. I love all the symbolism in every piece.
- gigiCLOZEAU – They are known for really delicate pieces with colorful resin pearls. And I love that all of the jewelry is made in a family workshop. I love this Etoile bracelet and the lucky horseshoe. These would be great layering pieces.
- Gjenmi – LA based company that has an their own line and they also feature 4 other designers. They feature a lot of dainty and delicate fine jewelry. Their designs are conflict-free and made of recycled materials whenever possible.
- Golden Bear – Based in Vail, their designs often feature a Golden Bear because the bear is believed to be a symbol of strength, wisdom and good fortune.
- Hannah Blount – Coastal-inspired jewelry with a unique and artistic touch.
- Harsell Godfrey – Designs have aesthetic roots in the ancient textiles and patterns of the African Diaspora. The fine jewelry is handcrafted in 18-karat gold with precious gemstones, colorful inlay, and ethically-sourced diamond.
- Hera Fine Jewelry – they describe themselves as “the antithesis of the traditional engagement ring experience.[…] We’re fine jewelers with a knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality engagement rings from sustainable materials.”
- idyl – This company has a really cool concept where it is designed as a modular collection made to mix and match. So you pick an earring base and choose from various add-ons to start building different earrings. All of their studs fit into all of our earring add-ons. And they recently launched rings that you can stack.
- jbrooks – Custom and personalized fine jewelry.
- Jennie Kwon – Unique silhouettes and delicate fine jewelry that are meticulously designed to be graceful, balanced, and wearable.
- Jennifer Fisher – Bold and edgy fine jewelry. Her wave shield pendant is a best seller and I can see why. I also love her small lock charm that you can customize.
- Jennifer Meyer Jewelry – Everyday fine jewelry with a focus on personal significance and symbolism (like their good luck line)
- Erica Weiner – All antique jewelry designs and you can shop by era which is kind of cool.
- Jewelry by Artwark – Customizable and personalized made to order jewelry.
- Kinn – Minimalist fine jewelry with a focus on heirloom quality pieces.
- @Laurenisafox – Provides custom jewels and customized rings and other designs.
- Laurie Fleming – Ethereal and nature-inspired fine jewelry based on Toronto. On their About Us page they say “Inspired by unearthly atmospheres, myth and history, our handcrafted pieces are built to be future heirlooms worn over lifetimes”
- Lindsey Leigh (@HoustonDiamondGirl) – Fine jewelry with a focus on diamonds and tons of accessible and classic pieces. She also can customize anything for you. @things.I.bought.and.liked has a ton of things from Lindsey and raves about the quality and value. She is the reason the reversible thick gold huggies are on my wish list!
- Lisa Eldridge – known for its vibrant and uniquely colored gemstones that you can set in rings or earrings. She has some lipstick charms that are super cute.
- L Priori jewelry – Custom and bespoke fine jewelry that specialized in heirloom redesigns.
- Malka Jewelry – high quality fine jewelry which also includes pieces for various piercing locations (rook, daith, etc).
- Marla Aaron – Unique and functional luxury jewelry, known for locks and chunky/layered chains.
- Marlo Laz – Bohemian and eclectic fine jewelry with a vintage feel. I have their Porte Bonheur (Good Luck) necklace and En Route bracelet on my wishlist.
- Marrow– Customizable and stackable fine jewelry with a modern aesthetic. (I saw this incredibly cool black enamel “til death” band that I love–also comes in white)
- Maura Green – Her jewelry has a lot of symbolism and her style is inspired heavily by both the Victorian jewelry. I love her Ladyfingers collection which is based off Victorian figural hand jewelry (I really like her peace sign studs. ) And she makes some beautiful mushroom charms
- Mejuri – I didn’t realize they sold any solid gold pieces, but it turns out they do! They make affordable fine jewelry designed for everyday wear.
- Melanie Casey – Timeless fine jewelry.
- Mene Jewelry – This company is unique because their prices fluctuate based on the current price of gold. So you can time your purchases right if the price of gold goes down!
- M. Hisae – Fine jewelry “evoking inner landscapes, unspoken languages, nuance, balance, and the inherent wisdom in metal, gemstones, and ancient craft.” These earrings stuck me as being so unique from all angles.
- Mociun – Unexpectedly elegant, heirloom-worthy pieces that are so unique. I could search this site for hours and keep finding things I love. Obsessed with this toast charm and their sign language collection.
- Moonstoned – Vintage and antique fine jewelry. The vintage charm section is a gold mine (no pun intended) of incredible charms.
- Nicole Rose – Glamorous and feminine fine jewelry.
- Nouvel Heritage – Mix of both timeless and edgy/bold designs.
- Oradina – New York-based fine jewelry brand offering pieces that feature quality materials, rich traditions and timeless designs. They feature direct gold prices to help make things more affordable. I love the necklace that I have from them.
- Oxbow – Custom fine jewelry based out of Denver with a focus on unique designs. Oxbow’s original designs are handmade using traditional metalsmithing techniques and the ancient art of lost wax casting.
- Pascala Monvoisin x – Bohemian and eclectic fine jewelry based in Paris. This ring that depicts a hand with one embossed and one open worked heart caught my eye.
- Polly Wales – Super colorful and eclectic fine jewelry with unique casting techniques.
- Pomellato – This designer was established in Milan in the 60s and is known for really vibrant gemstones. They have some really unique “button” earrings.
- Psyche Fine Jewelry – a woman and queer owned and operated small business based in Chicago specializing in genderless, small-batch fine jewelry inspired by ancient mythology, crafted from mindfully-sourced materials.
- Quince – Affordable fine jewelry with a focus on quality.
- Retrouvai – Vintage-inspired fine jewelry handmade in LA with a modern twist. I adore this pigs fly signet ring that is engraved “anything is possible”
- Ring Concierge – NYC-based designer with a focus on engagement rings. They have a good sale on Black Friday that is 25% off (or has been at least) and that is when I bought a pair of huggies and this ring that I wore as a thumb ring. I loved the huggies but they kept falling out and eventually when they fell out I didn’t find them 🙁
- Sethi Couture – Elegant and timeless fine jewelry. “Founded in 2009 in San Francisco by designing sisters Pratima and Prerna Sethi, Sethi Couture stems from a simple philosophy: Elevate the Everyday.”
- Sheena Marshall Jewelry – Delicate and minimalist fine jewelry.
- Auroro – Contemporary fine jewelry with unique, sort of ethereal, designs.
- Singlestone – Heirloom-worthy fine jewelry based in LA that uses antique diamonds with vintage-inspired modern design.
- Sofia Zakia – Ethereal and celestial-inspired fine jewelry.
- Sophie Zamel – Custom fine jewelry with a modern aesthetic.
- Soru Jewelry – Founded by two sisters. The jewelry is designed in the UK and hand made by artisans & family-run workshops in small sustainable batches.
- Spinelli Kilcollin – Luxury jewelry company based and manufactured in Los Angeles that is known for its stacked and looped rings. I absolutely love the ring I have from them.
- Stone and Strand – Female-founded fine jewelry company based in New York City, and offer thoughtfully designed jewelry designed to be worn everyday. We prioritize quality and fair pricing in all that we do, and additionally seek to support the women in our community through our Together We Shine Mission. This tiny little mushroom caught my eye. And THEN I was watching TikTok and I saw an ad of theirs about how they developed an unflippable tennis necklace (apparently it is all about weight distribution) so if I were to buy a real tennis necklace, I’d definitely want it not to flip over constantly.
- Storrow – Vintage-inspired fine jewelry and charms with a modern twist.
- Suzanne Kalan – Colorful and unique fine jewelry with baguette-cut stones.
- Tiny Gods – Curator of different fine jewelry designers.
- Truvers Jewelry – In-house and custom fine jewelry.
- Umajor (ashes) – Custom jewelry incorporating ashes for a personal touch.
- Uniform Object – Avant-garde and sculptural fine jewelry.
- Vale Jewelry – modern and alternative brides looking for bespoke engagement rings and wedding band
- Villarreal Jewelers (Austin TX) – Custom fine jewelry and jewelry redesign.
- Wwake – Female owned, led, and run business that is dedicated to local production, ensuring the integrity and quality of their jewelry while maintaining a low carbon footprint and making environmentally responsible decisions, including the use of nontoxic substances and sourcing materials from fair trade and responsible mining models.
- Yearly Co – Handmade solid gold bangles designed to commemorate milestones.