ALL THAT GLITTERS I

All that Glitters

Martin Katz Trillion-cut tanzanite earrings weighing a total of 19.11 carats, microset with 428 blue sapphires and 264 diamonds, set in platinum.

Iconic Beverly Hills-based jewelry designer Martin Katz has been a celebrity favorite and red carpet mainstay for more than three decades. His one-of-a-kind designs—now on view in his new 1,500-square-foot penthouse atelier atop the Fred Hayman Building in downtown Beverly Hills—are all made with gems he painstakingly selected for their unparalleled opulence. “Magnificent stones are like words that I use to tell a beautiful story,” says Katz. “I look for stones of rare beauty and richness which exhibit unusual cuts and makes as well. These are the elements that inspire me to create singular designs with bold personalities. Beyond the stones, impeccable fabrication is paramount.” Among his many standout designs are pieces made with exceptionally elusive gems such as tanzanite—a gem only found in its home country of Tanzania and at least 1,000 times rarer than diamonds—violet sapphires and emeralds. MartinKatz.com

Precious and polished, these designs put some of the planet’s rarest, most stunning materials on prime display. From blushing pink coral and luminous South Sea pearls to exquisite deep blue tanzanite, we’ve culled a captivating array of exceptional gems that will be turning heads over the holidays and into the new year. CAROLYN MEERS

Sky & Clouds ring featuring violane, 6.55 mm blue and white Japanese Akoya cultured pearls, 8.8–10 mm South Sea cultured pearls and diamonds, set in platinum. Makena earrings in Howardite jasper, brown diamonds and 18-karat yellow gold.

Assael Mish

A 75-year-old legacy brand based in New York, Assael’s collection of responsibly sourced coral ranks among the world’s finest. The jewelry house’s dreamy Angel Skin coral is culled from the depths of the waters surrounding Japan and Taiwan in the South China Sea. Due to their rarity and thoughtful curation methods, a single Angel Skin design by Assael can take many years to complete, as the precise matching of patterns and tones must be just right. The company has also dabbled in violane: a highly delicate violet, white and blue mableized stone first found in Italy's Aosta Valley. Assael.com Acclaimed and beloved for his vibrant jewelry creations, Mish Tworkowski is known for highlighting divinely beautiful, uniquely patterned gems from the land and sea. His signature collection of contemporary South Sea pearl designs is at once ethereal and wearable, while his work with other gems and stones—like entrancing Howardite jasper—speak to his affinity for the showstopping colors and patterns intrinsic in earthly wonders. MishFineJewelry.com