Editors

Here’s the Best Jewelry I Saw at New York Comic Con

EditorsOct 14, 2022

Here’s the Best Jewelry I Saw at New York Comic Con

Associate Editor Lenore Fedow shares her favorite nerdy jewelry finds, from a UFO ring to a Cthulhu choker.

20221014_Comic Con header.jpg
Associate Editor Lenore Fedow headed to New York Comic Con at the Javits Center to discover the nerdiest jewelry the four-day convention had to offer.
The best part of being a nerd is the freedom to display unbridled enthusiasm for the things you love.

Be it a television show or a comic book series, the devotion runs deep and the opinions are stronger than Valyrian steel.

The label once had a negative connotation, but now it’s worn proudly, like a badge of honor.

And I mean “worn” literally. You can rep your fandom (nerdspeak for a group of fans of a particular interest) on T-shirts, hats, pins, and, of course, jewelry.

Nerdy jewelry lives at the crossroads of my biggest loves, so when New York Comic Con rolled back into town, you know I was there.

I last stopped by Comic Con in 2019 when Citizen launched special edition Marvel watches for the comic giant’s 80th anniversary, and I was excited to be back.

There is no better place to be a loud and proud nerd than Comic Con, a huge four-day event that attracts hundreds of thousands of fans each year, eager to walk the show floor, attend celebrity-filled panels, show off their cosplay outfits, and purchase merchandise from exhibitors.

If you’re a fan of something, however obscure you may think it is, it’s represented at Comic Con and you can bet there’s merchandise for you to buy.

I walked the show floor scoping out the jewelry, and these are the coolest things I found.

Sparkle! Designs

The crowds at Comic Con can be chaotic, but the Sparkle! Designs booth was an oasis amid the madness.

Based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the company creates hand-stamped jewelry celebrating a wide array of interests.

You can find wrap-around rings and bracelets stamped with quotes from series like Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings (two favorites of mine) as well as literary quotes from Jane Austen and childhood favorites like Winnie-the-Pooh (two more favorites of mine!).


The booth was meticulously organized, with separators between each fandom, a remarkable feat considering the sheer amount of jewelry available.

In addition to jewelry, the booth stocked keychains, mugs, and linen tote bags, all featuring your favorite characters.

The company also offers custom designs, letting you choose the perfect font, design or quote to express your love for just about anything.

The whole booth was clearly a labor of love and I lingered there for a while, admiring all the effort that went into hand stamping these jewels and how much nerdy knowledge you need to possess to choose the perfect quote or image for each piece.

 Related stories will be right here … 

Meowits Mari

I found possibly the cutest earrings of the day at Meowits Mari’s booth, and there was stiff competition.

Based in Orlando, Florida, artist Mari Phu creates really fun and colorful costume jewelry, using acrylic, resin, and other materials.

Her bold statement earrings were inspired by iconic Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Badtz-Maru, and My Melody.

But the showstopper for me was her Pillsbury Halloween cookie-inspired earrings.


They’re designed to mimic the pre-cut sugar cookies stamped with smiling pumpkins or spooky ghosts that my mom would bake for us every Halloween. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia as soon as I saw them.

Crafted using resin, polymer clay, and acrylic paint, they’re the cutest Halloween accessory you’ll find for under $15.

The designer also has an Etsy shop where she sells stickers and apparel, including an adorable Furby bucket hat.

Skully Kouture

Graphic designer Heather Weikel’s jewelry journey started in 2010, when her first business, Kharma Collection, began selling jewelry at small boutiques and local art festivals.

She created a bracelet to raise awareness and funds for scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease.

What started out as a bracelet collection grew into a full-on jewelry display, and, in 2012, a friend invited her to start selling her bracelets at a convention.

Skully Kouture’s jewelry takes inspiration from folklore and nature, drawing on Weikel’s love of history and ancient tales.

One of my favorite pieces was the Cthulu choker, an octopus-like mythical creature created by sci-fi writer H.P. Lovecraft. It’s worth noting the influential writer’s legacy has been re-examined in recent years in light of the overt racism present in his works, but creatives, like those behind HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” have reimagined his tales. 


Like many of the designers mentioned here, Skully Kouture travels to various conventions throughout the year and also sells online.

RockLove Jewelry

RockLove Jewelry was the most established jewelry brand present at Comic Con.

Founder Allison Cimino started the company in 2008, after spending time learning about accessory design in Florence, Italy and sharpening her skills in New York’s Diamond District.

The company has inked licensing deals with the titans of pop culture, including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and D.C.

The booth was incredibly busy, and it seemed to me that people had researched what they wanted beforehand and approached the booth, cash or card in hand, knowing exactly what they were going to buy.

Still, I managed to wrestle my way in there to see what RockLove Jewelry had and try on a few things.

What they had was everything. The back wall of the booth was stacked with decorative boxes changing hands so fast that it was a blur.

I tried on what I could reach, quite frankly, and I landed on jewelry from Pixar’s “Coco,” a 2017 film where main character, Miguel, accidentally travels to the Land of the Dead and searches for his great-great-grandfather, a celebrated musician.

First, I tried on this marigold ring, which features sixteen orange crystals set in a sterling silver ring to form a 3-D flower. It retails for $125 and comes in a colorful decorative box.

20221014_3-Comic Con.jpg
A silver and crystal marigold ring by RockLove Jewelry, inspired by the Pixar movie “Coco” ($125)


I also tried on this sugar skull ring, an iconic symbol in Day of the Dead celebrations. The sterling silver ring is decorated with hand-painted enamel and retails for $150.

20221014_4-Comic Con.jpg
A silver and enamel sugar skull ring ($150)


What’s Your Passion Jewelry

One of my last stops of the day was What’s Your Passion Jewelry.

The company was founded by a brother-sister duo whose family has been in the jewelry industry for more than 40 years.

Avital Kathein, a Florida-based jewelry designer, serves as CEO, while her brother, Ari Kathein, who is a GIA graduate gemologist, is the president.

The pair bring a fine jewelry flair to the show floor, crafting officially licensed pieces in sterling silver and 14-karat gold.

I know I’ve already said you can find merchandise for nearly every interest, but I was still floored when I approached the booth and saw Mooby’s jewelry.

Mooby is the cartoon cow mascot for a fictional fast-food chain featured in several movies by director Kevin Smith, the “Silent Bob” half of the Jay & Silent Bob duo, including “Dogma,” a 1999 comedy that lands in my top five favorite movies.

The movie centers around two fallen angels, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who will do anything to get back into heaven. Comedian George Carlin plays a Catholic cardinal and singer Alanis Morissette is God.

That jewelry was the most niche thing I had seen all day and I was so excited to have found the collection.

The booth also stocked jewelry from Neopets and Care Bears, as well as jewels inspired by the work of fantasy artist Anne Stokes and anime The Rising of The Shield Hero.

Jewelry is supposed to be fun.

The needs of retail jewelers are front of mind when I’m brainstorming story ideas. I’m always on the lookout for information jewelers can use to better their businesses.

So, why did I spend an afternoon wandering around Comic Con scoping out mainly costume jewelry that wouldn’t be a good fit within a fine jewelry showcase?

It’s because it reminds me, and hopefully you, that jewelry, at its core, is fun.

The push for a little more whimsy in our lives has been reflected in recent trends like kidcore and the new Barbiecore.

Save your seriousness for the day-to-day operations, but when it comes to the jewelry, let your hair down a little.

Whether you’re crafting it out of precious metals and gemstones or acrylic and clay, jewelry is about putting your love on display, whether that love is your partner, your favorite superhero, or a movie that moved you.

Until next year, live long and prosper!

The Latest

Historic and modern photos of diamond grading GIA
GradingMay 26, 2023
State of the Diamond Industry: AI and the Future of Diamond Grading

Gemologists have long used machines in diamond grading but technology has made it possible for them to “learn” how to do it on their own.

Supplier Spotlight Webinar John Pollard and Garry Holloway
Recorded WebinarsMay 26, 2023
Watch: Diamond Cut Quality: The Final Frontier Part 2

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by IGI

My Next Question webinar series episode on selling lab-grown diamonds
Recorded WebinarsMay 26, 2023
Natural and Lab-Grown Diamonds: What It’s Like to Sell Both

Watch retailers Jeffery Bolling and Bobby Bengivengo discuss employee training, customer education and the sticky subject of future value.

LAB230043_Dossier_NJ_1872x1052_V1.jpg
Brought to you by
The Next Step for GIA Diamond Reports

The most trusted diamond report, available in print or the GIA App.

Models wearing Calvin Klein watches and jewelry
FinancialsMay 26, 2023
Movado Sales Slip in Q1 Amid Inflation Woes, Tough Comps

The company has plans to revamp the Movado brand and offer less expensive watches this year.

Weekly QuizMay 25, 2023
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge with this short test.
Take the Quiz
Bulgari necklace set with 118.35-carat unheated Sri Lankan sapphire
AuctionsMay 26, 2023
Piece of the Week: A Bulgari Sapphire and Diamond Necklace

Set with a 118-carat unheated Sri Lankan sapphire, it just sold for $3.4 million at Phillips jewelry auction in Hong Kong.

noamcarver-videoimage.png
Supplier BulletinMay 25, 2023
RAE Fine Jewelry Collection Debuting at JCK Luxury 2023

Sponsored by Noam Carver

Cover-WN19-Back-&-Front_V5-RGB-(1)_Community.jpg
Brought to you by
Beyond Borders: Crucial Factors in Colored Stone Origin Determination

Navigate origin determination with Continuing Education seminars offered by the GIA Alumni Collective™.

Graphic of phishing scheme
TechnologyMay 25, 2023
State of Retail: Why Jewelers Need to Invest in Cybersecurity Now

As cybercrime incidents threaten the industry, jewelers need to know what they’re up against and the best ways to protect their businesses.

Louis Anthony Jewelers remodeled exterior
IndependentsMay 25, 2023
Louis Anthony Jewelers Is Remodeling and Expanding

The Pittsburgh jeweler is redoing the lighting and showcases, and adding a full hospitality bar as well as new shop-in-shops.

Yurman Family Crystalline Pass at American Museum of Natural History in New York City
SourcingMay 25, 2023
David Yurman Unveils Quartz Exhibition at AMNH

The Yurman Family Crystalline Pass is inside the museum’s brand-new Richard Gilder Center.

Stanley Zale new principal consultant Hill & Co.
MajorsMay 25, 2023
Stanley Zale Joins Hill & Co. as Principal Consultant

Zale has more than 40 years’ experience in the diamond industry, including 17 years as Stuller’s VP of diamonds and gemstones procurement.

 Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada sign
Events & AwardsMay 24, 2023
New To-Dos in Las Vegas During Jewelry Market Week 2023

The Strip is full of new restaurant and entertainment offerings.

State Property necklace, Briony Raymond two-stone ring, and Emily P. Wheeler earrings
TrendsMay 24, 2023
State of Design: The Jewelry Design Trends to Know Now

National Jeweler’s senior editor covering fashion, trends, and design highlights the latest looks in the market.

127-carat Type IIa pear brilliant-cut Light of Peace diamond
AuctionsMay 23, 2023
Christie’s to Auction 127-Carat ‘Light of Peace’ Diamond

The D-color, internally flawless, Type IIa stone will be offered without reserve.

National Jeweler columnist and jewelry sales expert Peter Smith
ColumnistsMay 23, 2023
Squirrel Spotting: The Case of the Pricey Repair

When it comes to pricing jewelry repairs, you should start by asking a simple question about the piece at hand, Peter Smith writes.

Pat Henneberry
IndependentsMay 23, 2023
Pat Henneberry Joins Veer

The industry veteran will serve as the diamond jewelry supplier’s head of business development.

Bruce Rubin Senior Vice President Frederick Goldman
MajorsMay 23, 2023
Bruce Rubin Joins Frederick Goldman

He is the company’s new senior vice president of sales and business development.

MajorsMay 23, 2023
New Approach School for Jewelers Announces Gemvision Partnership

The Tennessee school’s CAD Academy is now offering training in Gemvision’s MatrixGold software.

An International Gemological Institute diamond report
GradingMay 22, 2023
Blackstone Officially Inks Deal to Acquire IGI

Blackstone is buying the 80 percent stake in the lab owned by a Chinese company as well as the 20 percent held by the Lorie family.

Colored gemstones from Anza Gems
SourcingMay 22, 2023
State of the Colored Stone Market: Dropping Some Valuable Gems

In a collection of Q&As, key players give insight on supply, demand, the importance of origin, and whether the “Color of the Year” matters.

De Beers polished diamond in tweezers
SourcingMay 22, 2023
De Beers Consolidates Auctions as Diamond Sales Lose Steam

The company confirmed it will be combining the auctions for the fifth and sixth sales cycles into one.

Belit Myers, Coby Blanchard, Taylor Burgess, Tiffanie Ortis
MajorsMay 22, 2023
Stuller Promotes Four Employees Amid Organizational Update

Among other changes, Stanley Zale, the former vice president of diamonds and gemstones, is leaving the company after 17 years.

2023-2024 American Gem Society International Board of Directors
MajorsMay 22, 2023
AGS Confirms Members of 2023-2024 Board of Directors

One new addition was announced at the Conclave membership breakfast.

JAR Eye bangle Christie’s Geneva
AuctionsMay 19, 2023
It’s a White-Glove Sale for JAR Jewels at Christie’s

The 28-piece collection is the largest to be offered at auction.

An International Gemological Institute diamond grading report
GradingMay 19, 2023
Report: Blackstone to Buy IGI for Up to $550M

The deal could be signed as early as this weekend, according to a report by The Economic Times.

Marie Lichtenberg ruby and diamond check locket
CollectionsMay 19, 2023
Piece of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s ‘Check’ Locket

It’s an ultra-luxurious version of the designer’s signature style.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy