Check out the lovely Pixie Lott in pieces from Stephen Einhorn’s women’s jewellery collection – once again! Pixie is sporting the statement Lioness ring in 9 carat yellow gold with green tsavorite eyes and our delicate Love ring in silver.
There’s plenty to see in Los Angeles and nearby places at the moment. The ‘Pacific Standard Time: Art in LA 1945-1980′ shows which are taking place all over the city are plentiful and somewhat varied. Sadly, by the time you read this, some of the better shows will be finished but here follows tips on what’s still worth seeing.
At MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art aka The Geffen Contemporary, a show entitled ‘Under the Big Black Sun: California Art 1974-1981′ Untill Feb 13th exhibits work by approx 125 artists working in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Film by Bruce Conner, sculpture by John Outterbridge, Betye Saar, Tony Oursler and Bruce Nauman and paintings by Ed Ruscha, Raymond Pettibon and John Baldessari give an idea of the standard of the work. The space itself is fabulous so well worth seeing.
At LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Untill June 3rd is a fabulous show entitled ‘California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way’ which explores all aspects of California Mid-Century Modern Design including Furniture, ceramics, metalwork, fashion and textiles plus plenty more. The exhibition is excellently designed and full of great examples of the period. Whilst there it’s worth seeing the contemporary art displays including vast Jeff Koons sculptures, Warhol paintings and two sculptural installations by Chris Burden.
The J Paul Getty collection on show at the Getty Center and Getty Villa is another must see. The Center designed by Richard Meier on a 750 acre site opened in 1997 and houses work from Roman times to the present day. The outside spaces with gardens and sculpture areas with views over the city are spectacular. The Getty Villa sits on a 64-acre site overlooking the ocean in Malibu. Originally constructed in the 1950’s and renovated and extended in 1997-2006 to resemble a 1st century Roman country house it originally housed a collection of Greek and Roman antiquities which has now been enlarged to fill the newly created galleries.
Another must is a visit to The Watts Towers on East 107th Street. These structures were constructed over a period of 34 years by Simon Rodia, an Italian emigre using a structural steel rod covered in mortar and decorated with broken china and glass pieces. He bought a triangular plot of land in 1921 and proceeded to construct memories of his early years in Italy including a gazebo, three birdbaths and a ship as well as numerous towers the tallest of which stands at 99.5 ft high and was built without the use of scaffolding. There is the Watts Towers Arts Center alongside which has changing shows relating to the towers as well as a short film about their construction.
Further a field, a trip to Joshua Trees which is near to Palm Springs can unveil another amazing spectacle. On a 10-acre plot far off the nearest road is a collection of assemblage sculptures by Noah Purifoy. He was part of the LA art scene in the 1970’s and ‘80’s and had been one of the founders of the Watts Towers Arts Centre before moving to the desert in 1989 searching for enough space to create his environmental sculpture. He sourced all kinds of discarded materials in all sizes, which enabled him to make pieces the size of buildings if desired. The result is a fabulous landscape of over 50 sculptures.
Not too far away is another interesting experience of a somewhat different nature. The Integratron situated at Landers is worth the ‘experience’. It was built in the 1950’s by George Van Tassel who claimed that a visit of a UFO from Venus resulted in him knowing the technique for rejuvenating cell tissues. The dome was described by Tassel as a high-voltage electrostatic generator that would supply a broad range of frequencies to recharge the cell structure. Many years later and after various different owners it is now used primarily to provide Sound Baths which are sonic healing sessions using nine quartz crystal bowls played live within the highly resonant multi-wave sound chamber………..well worth the drive.
A great place to stay nearby is Hope Springs which has three mineral water pools ranging from 90-105’. There are 10 rooms/chalets situated around the pools.
The first time I stood behind the counter in Stephen Einhorn’s (my parents) London shop I was really young. There was a range of men’s jewellery back then, a few women’s jewellery pieces and some amazingly quirky household objects (Past Heroes eat your heart out). The shop was tiny – a recently converted space from the front of the workshop. I was terrified of the customers. Terrified they would ask me questions I didn’t know the answer to. I willed them not to come in until I was relieved from my sweaty-palmed vigil.
14 years later, things have changed a lot. I love our customers, there are very few questions I don’t know the answer to (geek), and I like nothing more than when they come in. I love getting a little involved in people’s lives. I’m nosy. The most personal purchases are engagement rings. Even more personal than wedding rings. Wedding rings are something solid and decided. With engagement rings there is something about a promise and a beginning which makes couples with the most pragmatic of hearts less than rational… Also, you wear this ring for the rest of your life: you want something pretty damned fabulous.
So when my boyfriend and I decided to get hitched I wanted a fabulous engagement ring, too. You’d think that after five years of living with someone, and 14 of selling rings, I’d know what I wanted. You would be so very very wrong. Oh the indecision. There are two new engagement ring designs in the shop because of me. You’re welcome! (Sorry, Dad). I would not put up with a customer like myself. There was one thing I was certain of, though, and that was that I wanted it to be as ethical as possible.
I’m really proud of the ethical jewellery policies here at Stephen Einhorn – they are my particular passion when it comes to the shop. It was really important to me that I (quite literally) put my money where my mouth was. Using our recycled and reclaimed gold is much better than using gold that is freshly mined in uncontrolled environments, but I wanted to take it one step further which is why I chose to have my really rather fabulous ring – my bespoke Passion engagement ring to give it its fancy title – made in Fairtrade and Fairmined gold (and Canadian diamonds. But that’s another story).
Opting for a piece of jewellery made in recycled and reclaimed gold doesn’t make the world worse but choosing to have jewellery made in Fairtrade and Fairmined gold actively makes it better by supporting small-scale miners from developing countries and their local community, whilst ensuring that the miners are over 16 and that they are paid and treated properly. In the end it was fortuitous that I am so indecisive as this has only just become an option. I knew one day it would pay off. It does cost a bit more, but it’s worth every penny, and I feel happy when I look at it, not just because it’s beautiful and symbolic and all those other high falutin’ romantic ideas, (not to mention totally fricking awesome) but because it’s an expression of how me and my boyfriend want to try to live our lives together, and how we want the world to be.
And we want it to be fair.
If you’re interested in having one of Stephen Einhorn’s men’s or women’s jewellery designs made in Fairtrade and Fairmined gold or would like to commission a bespoke piece please contact us at bespoke@stepheneinhorn.co.uk.
Check out Stephen Einhorn’s men’s designer rings in Beige magazine. As part of their shoot they used our Phoenix Rising ring in solid sterling silver and Bull ring in solid sterling silver. We love these men’s statement ring designs which have a cool yet understated urban edge to them… and don’t they look fab!
You can shop these men’s jewellery designs online or come and see them up close and personal in our London jewellery shop (you might even get a nice cup of tea!).
Doesn’t Pixie Lott look fab in our stunning Shimmer bangle from Stephen Einhorn’s women’s designer jewellery collection on Vogue.co.uk. We absolutely love this bangle, it’s such a glamourous showstopper… the girl has good taste!
This portrait of hot new boy band ‘The Handsome Chapz’ was sent into Stephen Einhorn by their official photographer Chilou. As part of their new promo shots they chose to wear pieces from Stephen Einhorn’s men’s designer jewellery collection including his St James necklace, Knife Edge slim necklace and Knife Edge medium bracelet. As well as his men’s Soho ring and Bull ring .
We predict big things for these guys so long as Nigel leaves his Diva ways behind him…
We can see why Departures Magazine chose to feature Stephen Einhorn’s men’s Soho pendant necklace and St James necklace. Elegant and manly, these contemporary men’s necklaces are the ultimate finishing touches to a luxe look. They make a unique style statement and are perfect for adding a dash of understated sophistication to any outfit. And can we just mention how much we love that Jil Sander coat!
Both of Stephen Einhorn’s men’s designer necklaces featured below can be handmade in solid sterling silver, 9 and 18 carat yellow gold.
We would like to wish all our lovely Stephen Einhorn customers a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year! Thank you for your support, we’re extremely grateful for it and will continue to design and handmake innovative and quality men’s and women’s designer jewellery, fine jewellery, bespoke and unique pieces – especially for you!
With love Stephen Einhorn & The Team x
And finally we have a little Christmas treat from Designer Einhorn himself…
Check out Stephen Einhorn’s Skull ring in 9 carat yellow gold with brilliant cut garnet eyes in International Life magazine! This luxury men’s Skull ring is a classic skull design from Designer Einhorn’s iconic skull jewellery collection and is a firm favourite amongst our customers.
As each ring is handmade here in our London workshops you have the option of keeping your Skull ring plain or adding stones to the eyes, (as seen in the photo below) the choice is all yours! If you’re in need of some inspiration you can check out our Skull rings page where you’ll find a selection of our Skull rings in a variety of solid precious metal and stone options.
Check out Pixie Lott in rings from Stephen Einhorn’s women’s designer jewellery collection on Vogue.co.uk. You can’t really see them on the photo but she was wearing our beautiful Love ring in 14 carat rose gold and ruby and our statement Lioness ring in 9 carat yellow gold with green tsavourite eyes. Both rather fabulous ring designs from the House Of Einhorn!
