Top 10 Jewelry Designers

When I pick out jewelry, I want to find something cute and quirky. I want something unique that I am not going to see on every other girl around me. I like jewelry that is almost too strange to wear on a daily basis, but then I wear it on a daily basis anyway. I do not like fancy jewelry; my heart is not won over by diamonds and strands of pearls. I love colors, I love variety, and I love artsy pieces. So without further ado, here are my top 10 favorite jewelry designers.

1. Leviticus Jewelry is designed by Tara Levitin and has been bookmarked on my computer for over a year now which has never happened with a jewelry website before. Not only do they have a specific "One of a Kind" collection, they also have some downright drool worthy jewelry. There are many necklaces by this company that I have been pining over for months now such as "The Owls", "Busy Bee", and "Flight of the Silver Bat". They have a huge selection of unique jewelry that is certainly nothing that you would find in a department store. Check out their beautiful jewelry at LeviticusJewelry.com

2. Lucky Loo Loo is a designer that I found through a photo set that I saw on Suicide Girls by Nixon. The piece that Nixon was wearing in that set is called simply "Heart Necklace" and it remains my favorite of their jewelry. I love their jewelry because it seems almost gothic to an extent, but none of it is so extreme or gaudy that I would not wear it to my office job ever day. Lucky Loo Loo carries a lot of items with sparrows, anchors, and butterflies. They also carry some designs that are very classic and more mainstream. You can see the jewelry and buy it online at LuckyLooLoo.com

3. Lisa Salzer is the creator of Lulu Frost and next up on my list. Her designs are a thrift store fan's biggest jewelry dream. She uses items that vintage, found items and turns them into beautiful, one of a kind jewelry pieces. From what I have heard, her jewelry will be available through Urban Outfitters soon which usually means that it's going to be cheap, yay! For now, you can find her designs at LisaKline.com, but look for LuluFrost.com to be up and running soon.

4. Nervous System is a jewelry brand that creates jewelry out of algorithms. The thought of algorithms is enough to make me cringe, but since I don't actually have to do the thinking, I love it. The designs are like nothing I have ever seen before. They have some selections that look like coral which are my personal favorites and I also love the radiolarian designs that are available in bracelets and necklaces. Even if you are as math/science illiterate as myself, you will still be able to enjoy these beautiful, one of a kind creations available at n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com.

5. Tarian Tarantino has jewelry that is feminine, colorful, and usually has rhinestones. The selection is really outstanding and actually trumps the other jewelry companies I have listed. I love the earrings that are inspired by wallpaper and I love owls so the "Baroque Owl Earrings" are by far my favorite. She also offers Barbie and KidRobot jewelry designs! Her stuff has been in Glamour and you might have even seen some of it America's Next Top Model. Check it out at TarinaTarantino.com.

6. Kimberly Baker's jewelry captured my heart because of the subject matter of her necklaces. I love her designs featuring an octopus, sea horses, and sparrows. Her jewelry has been featured on the CW's Gossip Girl and in Bust Magazine, NYLON, and CosmoGirl. The selection is pretty good and her designs are a little more chic and less like costume jewelry than most of the other designers I have listed. Check out her designs at KimberlyBaker.com.

7. Girl Props carry Kanye West inspired shutter shades and do have a lot of beautiful jewelry. They also carry some unique non-jewelry items that remind me of Urban Outfitters. Their designs are limited to mostly plastic, costume jewelry items that are not necessarily practical for everyday, but they are still fun. The selection is pretty wide and you can almost guarantee to find something there that will pique your interest. Check them out at GirlProps.com.

8. CHAPTER is another designer who is not appropriate for folks with introverted personalities. If you buy this jewelry, it will be a conversation piece. Most of their items are large and colorful. Check out their rings on TokyoMade.com. They look cheap, but they are anything but. The selection is not great, but what they do have is great!

9. Mesi Jilly caught my attention because her rings and pendants are made from sea shells. They are really beautiful and a bit more on the mature side than most of the other designers who made my list. We are talking cocktail rings here and they are truly stunning. Her jewelry can be seen on her website MesiJilly.net, but are not available for purchase there. To buy her jewelry, you can visit Vivre.com.

10. The Broken Plate Pendant Company is run by a lady named Juliet who designs jewelry out of the remains of broken plates. Not only is the jewelry that she designs beautiful, it is one of a kind, handmade, and she donates proceeds from some of her items to charity. Proceeds from some of her jewelry go to Art with a Heart based in Baltimore, Maryland. In fact, the pieces that I like the most are the ones that go to charity such as the "Broken Diana Fayt Plate Pendant with Bee". Really, really cute indie jewelry, check out her website IBreakPlates.com.

Honorable Mention

Tiffini Elektra X runs her own company known as tartx. This is another one of those handmade, unique, indie jewelry designers. Her jewelry has a real vintage feel. She has a lot of stuff that features characters from Alice in Wonderland, absinthe, and Anne Boleyn. Think of your favorite illustrations turned into necklace. Some of the pendants are made from bottle caps, some from dominos, but all of them are fantastic and worth a look! My personal favorite is the "Ouija Board Domino Pendant". Check out her site at tartx.com.

Another honorable mention is paraphernalia. Here you can find more Alice in Wonderland pieces in addition to anatomical heart/brain/tooth necklaces, and much more. The collections consist of Anatomica, Fauna, Vetements, Migration, Wonderland, Moving, Chroma, Sleuth, Vignette, and Portrait.