After 20 years designing jewelry for Tiffany & Co. and David Yurman, among others, Ward Kelvin struck out on his own in 2009 with
American Chinoise (
www.wardkelvin.com). For this collection, Kelvin drew inspiration from Chinese motifs, including calligraphic flourishes and traditional wood joinery, creating Asian-influenced designs with a bold American sensibility. The Bamboo Nest cocktail ring (shown, $12,350) comprises gold-and-diamond bamboolike rods supporting a large green tourmaline cabochon. "I strive to make my jewelry look effortless and slightly imperfect, so it appears closer to nature than man-made," says Kelvin. He begins each design with sketches and works closely with local jewelers and sculptors to forge every piece by hand.
