Lunch at the Ritz Earrings: Costume Jewelry with an Attitude!

I became a devotee of the Lunch at The Ritz couture bijoux costume jewelry ten years ago. Even on a very tight budget I couldn't resist that dazzling pair of enameled pink flamingos dripping with Swarovski crystals and gold do-dads. Every year since, when I travel to Carmel, I hit my favorite Ocean Avenue jewelry store and drool over their latest creations. As a pianist and harpsichordist, I couldn't resist the stunning grand pianos with spiral strings of gold and crystal notes hanging almost to my shoulders. Another year two marvelous enameled tabby cats, one brown striped, one black striped caught my fancy.

A very special pair of earrings called Tourist Trap, adorned with the Eiffel Tower and other world famous sights, were purchased, not for me, but for a favorite patient. We agreed that these fanciful creations would a marvelous distraction away from her now bald head. These are earrings that can make anyone laugh.

They can also make one marvel at the creativity and craftsmanship of their creators, Zander Elliott and Esme Hecht who launched Lunch at The Ritz in 1982. On their website they explain that their unique jewelry is for women who love creativity and fun. They are not only dripping with Swarovski crystals but with attitude! As their creators explain, these are earrings and bracelets, necklaces and pendants that scream, "I'm here!"

I suppose if they weren't so beautiful they would be described as tacky. But how can pieces created with so much delicacy and charm every be considered tacky. I have worn mine to the opera and received more compliments than women sporting diamonds and rubies.

Every woman's taste and preferences are considered. Themes range from food and beverages to fruit and flowers, from myths to the arts, from western to winter, from every animal that ever paired up on the Ark to holidays galore. Exotic, exciting, engaging. Every corner of the world is represented.

Although I prefer the flashier, larger sizes (earrings in the two to three inch range), Lunch at The Ritz pins and earrings come in small sizes too. There are referred to as "fries". Keeping to the food theme, you can move up to "brunch", to "lunch", to "dinner", even to "au gratin". Prices vary accordingly from around $50 for the smallest up to well over $2000 for a fabulous embodiment of Santa's sleigh and all eight reindeer.

Lunch at The Ritz earrings are addictive. Once you've purchased your first two items and put them lovingly into your jewelry case, they just keep multiplying. Women have been known to have secret stashes. After all, what husband would understand spending $300 on a Babette Poodle or a Leapin' Leopard Lizards Pin?

You'll run across Lunch at The Ritz pins at very upscale boutique jewelry stores in places like Carmel and Sausalito. But if you live in Kansas and can't resist, then go on-line to www.lunchattheritz.com and ask them to send your new fabulous acquisition in a plain brown wrapper, and then go out and shock those stodgy neighbors to the core. You deserve it!