Jewelry Trends 2006: Carl Blackburn Ushers in a New Age of Elegance

The year 2006 has been a busy one for revivalist jewelry designer Carl Blackburn. After retreating to his studios for several months of intense work, the California native has crisscrossed the globe unveiling his latest (and many say finest) diamond jewelry collections. Following a preview at a special May exhibition in Tokyo, Blackburn’s Neo Renaissance™ and Neo Classics™ 2007 couture collections made a full debut at the JA New York Summer Show—which was followed by successful exhibitions at fairs in Sydney and London.

Carl Blackburn’s Neo Renaissance™ collection features stunning sets of diamond cufflinks that find inspiration in Europe’s richly iconic and regal past. Crafted in fine platinum, each cufflink is accented by a signature 18k yellow gold insignia that surrounds a 2.0 mm bezel set diamond. Yet the price remains surprisingly affordable. “We’ve developed a platinum manufacturing technique that allows us to offer the Neo Renaissance™ cufflinks at half the cost of what other design houses usually would be charging,” says Blackburn. “And without, of course, ever sacrificing the quality and craftsmanship that have become the hallmarks of our studio and brand.”

With Carl Blackburn’s Neo Classics™, the designer has renewed his passion for floral and garden motifs, as well European ancestry, with a glamorous collection of rings, earrings, pendant necklaces, and eternity bands. Pieces are handcrafted in combinations of 18k white, yellow, and rose gold, as well as platinum. Blackburn’s signature fine filigree, engraving, and hand-milgraining feature prominently, along with dazzling F/VVS diamonds, weighing up to 4 carats. The lush design elements, though vintage-inspired, feel remarkably contemporary.

Although the United States and Europe are the designer's largest markets, The Neo Renaissance™ and Neo Classic™ collections have also fueled continued interest in Carl Blackburn in the Asia. In recent months, the designer’s jewelry has splashed colorfully across the pages of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Fame, HiSo Party, Volume, Living, and other trend setting magazines. The Carl Blackburn showcase at Galerie Supatana continues to draw attention at the luxury Bangkok shopping center Siam Paragon. “We’ve been very happy with the increased excitement we’ve been able to generate with buyers in Asia,” says Blackburn. “It reconfirms our belief that the finest jewelry knows no boundaries. The love of beauty, craftsmanship, and elegance is universal.”