bakelite beauties | mark davis | adorn jewellery blog

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Whilst researching jewellery for a project totally unrelated to the Adorn Jewellery Blog yesterday I came across these Bakelite beauties by Brooklyn-based designer Mark Davis. Aren’t they stunning!

Davis’ USP is that he sources rare, collectable and often one-of-a-kind vintage bangles from estate sales, antique markets and individual dealers, then up-scales them further by adding modern flourishes in the form of designs made with precious and semi-precious bezel-set stones.

Developed in 1907 Bakelite was one of the first plastics ever made and I’ve always had a penchant for its rich colours and and luster. There’s something ‘warm’ about this material that makes me smile and gives me a tingle of nostalgia for I time I never even knew.

With their rich tones, graphic lines and potential for seriously interesting stacking combinations Davis’ architectural bangles have just propelled themselves to the top of my rapidly growing Christmas wish list.

Here are five of my faves.

 

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Top: ‘Leontine’ tortoiseshell-colored vintage Bakelite bangle embellished with three circular sections of white Bakelite, 18k gold inlay and round-cut citrines mounted in 18k gold settings.

Above: ‘Glenda’ marbled blue bangle with circular-cut pink sapphire and rubelite and pink sapphires mounted in 18k yellow gold settings.

 

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‘Abeille’ vintage brown and pink Bakelite embellished with round rhodolite garnets in 18k gold bezels.

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‘Josephine’ translucent green Bakelite bangle with cabochon-cut blue topaz, mounted in 18k yellow gold settings.

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Geometrically inlaid multi-coloured Bakelite studded with pink sapphires.

Mark Davis Jewellery can be purchased at Twist and Barneys.

Words: Maia Adams

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SOURCE:http://www.adorn-london.com/jewelry-trends/mark-davis-bakelite/