Editors

Jewelry that takes me back

EditorsNov 16, 2015

Jewelry that takes me back

See the whimsical, colorful pieces created by two Czech designers using colored pencils. They have Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator smiling.

I love when a designer finds a way to take a non-traditional material and turn it into great jewelry.

Admittedly, though, when I saw the headline “Jewelry Made From Coloured Pencils By Czech Artist,” I was a little skeptical about the aesthetics of those pieces. But I was pleasantly surprised when I clicked through to the story and further on to the brand’s Etsy page.

The brand, called Čarbičková, is composed of Anna Čurlejová and Vladimir Škarda and based in the Czech Republic, according to the site. The two take Koh-I-Noor (side note: what a great name for these pencils that will cross over into jewelry) and Blackwood brand colored pencils and cut them in different ways, creating either long lines of color or honeycomb patterns. They then use transparent lacquer to keep them together.

The designers found a way to use the pencils to create pieces that not only take me back to the days in elementary school when colored pencils were a staple in my pencil case, but also uses the colors in the best way to create fun, whimsical designs.

Check out a few of the duo’s pieces below.



This necklace crafts colored pencils in a heart shape that is 6 cm high and 5 cm wide. It’s only $34.90.



A great pair of stud earrings 2.5 cm wide, for only $19.90




I would 100 percent wear this bangle, alone or stacked ($59.90).




I’d also definitely wear this necklace; I love the pairing of the pencils with the cotton rope ($49.90).




These great studs are made with Blackwood colored pencils ($24.90).

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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