Jewelry by Kimberly McDonald

Have you ever been stopped dead in your tracks upon seeing startlingly beautiful jewelry? That was my reaction to Kimberly McDonald’s collection. Made using “natural and organic materials such as agates and geodes, complimented by natural/untreated fine materials such as diamonds, raw emeralds, and baroque pearls,” I couldn’t take my eyes off her collection when I discovered it recently.

While in JAMIE, a higher-end boutique in Nashville, for a meeting, I made the mistake of trying on a Kimberly McDonald ring for fun, just before we got down to business. Now, to get the full picture of the day, you should know I showed up with a peeling face from using Retin-A, I had had very little sleep and I knew I didn’t look cute. In fact, I sent Elizabeth a text saying “FYI, for our meeting, I’m not a pretty site today.” I felt purely ICK. Then, I slipped on this ring and, voila. I didn’t care at all what I looked like. I just wanted to stare at it.

This is very similar to the one I tried on.

Looking through the rest of the collection, I was a bit speechless. Hud Hudson of JAMIE said, “Yes, it’s sexy jewelry.” Now, the term sexy can drive me up a wall, as it is over used in very trashy way these days. But, when Hud said, “It’s sexy jewelry,” I agreed completely. It is. The collection hits you some place within – that passionate place.

We left, and Elizabeth was laughing at me as I tried to figure out how to afford the over $5,500 ring (and this was a small piece in her collection). But, it’s art. It’s gorgeous. And, if I can’t have it, someone reading this with a bigger checking account than mine needs to consider it.

I’m not alone in my adoration. Style.com recently named Kimberly McDonald the #1 jeweler to watch for Fall 2012. Yep, my insane infatuation is shared, and I feel justified. While watching Sofia Vergara on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago, I thought, “No way. Is she wearing Kimberly McDonald?” Indeed she was.

Sofia Vergara in Kimberly McDonald

I discovered through Kimberly’s website the abundance of style icons who are wearing her pretties including Michelle Obama, Blake Lively, Hillary Swank, Jennifer Anniston and more.

So, I’m sorry to give many of you something else to yearn for, but you must at least appreciate the artistic eye and beauty of these pieces. And, those of you that have a big anniversary coming or a big birthday and have the means, consider a Kimberly McDonald piece of jewelry. She’s a rock star in the world of jewelry, pun intended. Each piece is unique, and to top it off, she’s a southern girl, which of course we love!

Photo collage from Taigan's interview with Kimberly McDonald by Julia Reed. Click to read.

More about Kimberly and her philosophy from her website:

McDonald’s commitment to honoring nature is further underscored by her use of reclaimed gold and wood, and recycled diamonds and other precious stones. “There is such an abundance of material out there, we need not continue to harvest many of the materials needed to create. I like to think of each creation as an extension of what nature has given us and we strive to preserve the integrity of the material and its unique energy. We also strive to reuse rather than reap. Jewelry was initially created to carry symbolic talismans and stones of energy or import. I believe it should still have that meaning and that we can accomplish this without pillaging nature.

If you are lucky enough to live in Nashville or are able to get to Nashville, there is a Kimberly McDonald trunk show at JAMIE (click here) next week. And, we understand that Kimberly herself will be there. Look for an update, with all details, on our Happenings Page tomorrow. JAMIE is just one of thirteen boutiques in the country that carries this line. And, during the trunk show more than twice the usual stock will be on display! I know this is a pricey collection to feature, and now you may have something added to your “pine away for” list, but it’s just so gorgeous that I had to!