Designer Federica Rettore turned to zebu horn, which comes from the zebu ox, to create her newest collection of striking designs. She combines the shiny black horn with gold, treated steel, and diamonds (shown). “I love horn because it’s a natural material with unique colors and shades recalling modern abstract painting,” says the Milan, Italy-based designer. She also employs ebony wood in her voluminous pieces, which she says is “lightweight, comfortable, and glamorous.” Rettore, who in addition to her own collection also designed Gucci’s jewelry from 2005 to 2008, creates large-scale cuffs and rings using layers of various elements that are surprisingly lightweight. “I challenge myself to create styles that a modern woman can wear day into evening,” she says. (Federica Rettore jewelry is available at Barney’s, www.barneys.com, and Reinhold in Puerto Rico, www.reinholdjewelers.com.)
