Jewelry is having a moment in the sun in RVA— from brand new launches to store openings to deep discounts, there’s no shortage of fresh ways to add new baubles to your jewelry collection. Keep reading for three of the best bijou bets that are currently on the Richmond scene.
Touches of the Chesapeake
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Bronner designed the necklaces extra long so you can double up the strands and wear the stone at any length. (Photo by Gary LeClair Jr.)
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With such a variety of color, texture and shape in the beads and stones, each of the Touches of Chesapeake necklaces are totally unique and unexpected. (Photo courtesy Bea Bronner)
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The necklaces are earthy and natural but have a level of refinement and style that elevates them way beyond surf and sand. (Photo courtesy Bea Bronner)
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The black and color combination is especially cool and unexpected— adding a little edge to the Chesapeake Bay. (Photo courtesy Bea Bronner)
It’s officially summertime which means it’s officially time to start sitting on patios with a glass of wine in hand and a plate of seafood in front of us. Living in Virginia, we’re pretty lucky to be so close to the water and get fresh seafood whenever we please— Chesapeake Bay crabs, anyone? This is fashion related, I promise.
Last November, Bea Bronner showed us chic Thanksgiving outfit ideas here and since then, I’ve made it a point to keep up with the beautiful blonde blogger. After graduating from VCU a few weeks ago (congrats, grads!), Bronner finally had the time to launch a jewelry line she’s been working on since winter called Touches of the Chesapeake, with a portion of of each sale to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Bronner told me that she started her own blog, The Belle Bain, with the intention to one day use it as a platform to raise awareness for non-profit and charity organizations. She said the water-themed jewelry line was a natural next step, as she grew up sailing on the bay and has worked at Monkee’s of Richmond for years.
Each necklace features a hand chosen stone from a shoreline in Virginia and by hand chosen, I mean it. Bronner says “the only part [of the process] that wasn't so fun was the first time acquiring the stones. I got the stones in February but our boat was out of the water so we had to canoe around in the river to get them! It was pretty windy and cold!”
Touches of the Chesapeake is a mere month old but Bronner is already seeing steady sales and she’s excited to continue expanding the line. You can buy your own necklace at Monkee’s of Richmond or online at The Belle Bain. The necklaces are $58 for the single wraps and $68 for double wraps.
Kendra Scott
Be sure to save the date — Saturday, July 2nd — to attend the Kendra Scott store soft opening at Short Pump Town Center. There will be “complimentary sips and sweets” to enjoy, special gifts to get and, of course, Kendra Scott’s signature edgy, minimalist pieces to buy. There’s something called the Color Bar which apparently lets you customize your jewels with a touch of an iPad, which sounds like reason enough to go to me!
Schwarzschild Jewelry
If you didn’t know, now you know: Schwarzschild Jewelry never has sales. The lines they carry are so classic and timeless, there’s just no need. With that said, Omega is currently reworking their Planet Ocean watch collection and are offering 25% off the current styles to make room for the newer versions. So if you’re in the market for a timeless timepiece, now’s probably the time to invest.