Editors

Q&A: Issa Rae on Her New Jewelry Collection With Cast

EditorsSep 17, 2024

Q&A: Issa Rae on Her New Jewelry Collection With Cast

The actress shared her inspiration for the collection, insight into her personal style, and which jewels President Barbie would wear.

Issa Rae Cast Jewelry collection
Actress, writer, and producer Issa Rae partnered with Cast on the new “Braeve” jewelry collection.
Actress, writer, and producer Issa Rae is a powerhouse, lending her talents to TV and the silver screen, including as President Barbie in last summer’s instant hit.

Now, the star and co-creator of HBO’s “Insecure” has partnered with San Francisco-based fine jewelry brand Cast to bring her creative vision to a new medium.

The 22-piece “Braeve” collection is a modern take on minimalism, showcasing bold and versatile designs in 14-karat yellow gold and sterling silver, set with onyx and lab-grown diamonds.

It includes rings, hoops, studs, huggies, cuffs, and a fun flip pendant.

“Collaborating with Issa Rae for this collection was a dream come true,” said Cast co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Rachel Skelly.

“Whether she’s in front of or behind the camera, she brings such an incredible authenticity, creativity, and purpose to everything she does. We knew this collaboration would be no exception, especially with her unique style and creative vision.”

With a price range of $250 to $5,900, Braeve will be sold at Cast boutiques, CastJewelry.com, and at select Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com.

I sat down with the star last week on a rooftop in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood to discuss her inspiration for the line, her personal style, and what her character in the “Barbie” movie, President Barbie, would wear.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Lenore Fedow: Tell me about your inspiration for the Braeve collection.

Issa Rae: My inspiration really came down to wanting pieces that I could wear forever. When I buy and invest in jewelry, I want to shower in it. I want to sleep in it.

And I want them to represent me in so many ways. Part of that journey, in coming up and coming up from a scrappy creative background and then coming into Hollywood, there’s a certain way to show up that I didn’t feel worthy of. And jewelry was my gateway into that.

A lot of that jewelry was honestly gifted or styling. It felt phony to me. It wasn’t my home. It felt like I wasn’t showing up as myself.

And so, in investing in jewelry, that was kind of my way of showing up. Even if I was in a T-shirt and jeans, it was like these hoops that I’m wearing are an investment. You’ll see that I’m trying and this is my way of showing a status.

I've been inspired by [the Cast team’s] story in particular and how they approach jewelry, especially for women at a certain time period of their lives where they’re ready to level up and take care of themselves and invest in themselves. I love that demographic and that is also my demographic.

That’s the audience that I speak to in all of my work. So that collaboration, coupled with my inspiration, was just a perfect marriage.

LF: I can definitely see that. Jewelry is absolutely a hallmark of success for some people and a really fun way to celebrate a milestone. When you were helping to create this collection, who did you have in mind was going to be wearing it?

IR: Aside from myself, hopefully, family members. I have a lot of nieces and nephews now. And I thought about my nieces. Like, would they think this is cool? Would they wear it? Could I pass this down to them? Would they ask this of me?

And then, of course, friends. Anytime I’m at a creative base level, the first thing I think about is, will my friends like this? Will they laugh at this? That’s my focus group.

I just wanted to make sure that I get that compliment from them, if I showed up, like, “Oh, girl. I like the necklace.” Or, “Oh my God, where’d you get that bracelet?” That’s the milestone.

They have not seen these yet, so they don’t know about this collaboration yet. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go to L.A. and just wear them and patiently wait for them to compliment me.

LF: Do you have a favorite piece within the collection?

IR: Without a doubt, it’s the flip pendant, specifically because Cast had the flip ring. I love the flip ring. And I love a statement necklace.

Issa Rae Braeve flip pendant necklace
The “Braeve” pendant in 14-karat yellow gold with black onyx and lab-grown diamonds ($5,500) is Issa Rae’s favorite piece. The pendant flips for a 3-in-1 look.


I feel like that’s the gateway to me, this piece on your chest that is just outward facing. And there’s something about the flip ring that felt almost like a mood ring in some ways. And I wanted that for the necklace.

[Cast] was like, “We don’t know if we can do that.” And they literally made it happen. I felt like that was the epitome of the collaboration and the merging of these two worlds.

I’m trying to decode the translations, like if it’s on all black, don’t mess with me. I’m not in the mood today.

If it’s on all gold, then I’m approachable. And I hope that other people create their own codes.

LF: That’s fun. I like that. Can you tell me a bit about your personal jewelry style? You said you like statement necklaces?

IR: I do. I like simple pieces that are symmetrical, that are elegant, refined, and timeless. Everyone says timeless, but there is something about, like, you don’t want to feel like your jewelry is dated.

When I do wear jewelry, I like it to stand out. Again, I’m a jeans and T-shirt girl, so that is my way of dressing up in so many ways, and that’s my way of armoring for the day.

Then when I’m going out at night, if I have an event or something like that, then, of course, it’s going to be the perfect accessory to accentuate what I’m wearing.

SEE: Jewels from Issa Rae’s “Braeve” collection


LF: You spoke a bit about your nieces and nephews and passing down jewelry. How do you feel about having something you helped create be passed down in that way? That’s pretty special.

IR: I feel as cool as they’ll make me feel, honestly, because they don’t care. They don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, and I think my craving is like, are they going to like this as is?

Ultimately, to be morbid, in my passing, maybe it’ll mean something to them. But in the moment, if it means something to them now, I think that’s cool and that’s all I care about. 

Because I don’t have kids yet, they are my offspring in a way, and they’re whose approval I look for. And it’s just really sweet to think that if they go to prom or whatever, that something I made could be [worn] and they’ll know that I thought of them.

 Related stories will be right here … 

LF: I have one last question for you, kind of a fun one. If you were dressing up one of your notable characters, like, let’s say, President Barbie, what jewelry here is she wearing?

IR: What I loved about the Barbie world and specifically Greta [Gerwig]’s vision is it was extremely childlike. She was tapping into how little girls who play with Barbies or little boys who play with Barbies think and it’s in excess. 

So, it was like, what would President Barbie wear to address the Barbie nation or Barbieland? 

And I’d be like, “I don’t know. In Barbieland, I’d wear a gown and a tiara.” And [Gerwig] was like “Yes, done.”

And I was like, “And a sash too, just to show that she’s president?” And she was like, yes. 

It’s in excess. In short, President Barbie would wear every single piece at the same time because she can.

The Latest

Bergman Jewelers family
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 Years

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

QVC Group Inc. logo
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

Coconut Grove Jewelry & Watch Show
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in Florida

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

bench jeweler 1872x1052.png
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They Deserve

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The Jewelry Symposium (TJS)
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor Shortage

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann Collection Bracelets
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry Collection

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Graphic for What Do We Mean When We Say “Recycled” Gold webinar
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Facets-of-Fire-Difference-You-Can-See.jpg
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean More

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Mindi Mond Clarity Earrings
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in Diamonds

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

Lashbrook ring
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With Acquisition

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

Bulgari and LVMH Watches CEO Jean-Christophe Babin
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH Watches

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Surveillance footage of robbery
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry Store

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Nephrite and Jadeite by Heinrich Fischer, Richard W. Hughes
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in English

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

LÖF The Valentine Ring
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ Ring

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

Eggs on a shelf
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ Outlook

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

Richard Rainsford memorial ring
AuctionsMar 27, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring Linked to Witch Trial Judge Goes Unsold at Auction

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

Austin Butler
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand Ambassador

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

ICA Congress Brazil 2025
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Bailey’s Fine Jewelry storefront
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent Jeweler

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bulova 150 Art Deco Miss America Watch, 150 Art Deco Pocket Watch
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco Watches

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen
MajorsMar 26, 2025
QVC Group Appoints New President

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

Jewelers of America’s new logo
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2025
Jewelers of America Announces New Funding Initiative

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

Christies regent kashmir sapphire and regal Burmese ruby
AuctionsMar 25, 2025
Christie’s To Auction 35-Carat Sapphire, 13-Carat Ruby

The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

Diamond earrings held in gloved hand
CrimeMar 25, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Earrings Swallowed Following Grab-and-Run Theft Recovered

The two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.

Emmanuel Raheb CEO of Smart Age Solutions
ColumnistsMar 25, 2025
The Smart Lab: Using Short-Form Videos to Sell More Jewelry

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

Pomellato Nudo High Jewelry Campaign
CollectionsMar 24, 2025
Pomellato’s Latest ‘Nudo’ Collections Revamp its Classic Design

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

Jamie Singleton, Bill Brace, Rebecca Wooters, Bill Luth
MajorsMar 24, 2025
4 Top Executives to Depart Signet Jewelers Amid Turnaround

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

×

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