Handcrafted Fine Jewelry Blog by John S. Brana » Cocktail Rings

Handcrafted Fine Jewelry by John S. Brana now available in SoHo, New York

jbrana — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:42:15 +0000

Item New York - 444 Broome St - New York City

Item New York, a newly opened boutique on 444 Broome St. between Broadway and Mercer in New York’s upscale SoHo neighborhood is the latest store to carry jewelry styles by San Francisco jewelry designer, John S. Brana. The cozy store features a minimalistic interior with gunmetal colored walls and dark wood accents and is beautifully stocked with a well-edited selection of one-of-a-kind statement pieces from jewelry to handbags. The store’s concept is to offer its shoppers that special signature piece that becomes the standout “item” to accentuate their ensemble. We weren’t surprised Item fell in love with John S. Brana’s Muir Woods earrings and Pacific Heights cocktail rings!

A hand-selected collection of John S. Brana’s copper, patinated, and aluminum earrings are now available to purchase at the SoHo boutique, including various pairs of his well-received “lily pad” earring styles. Shoppers may choose from John S. Brana’s dramatic, wire-wrapped cocktail rings set with large carat gemstones including smoky quartz, citrine, amethyst, and blue topaz from his Pacific Heights Collection. And, jewelry connoisseurs will surely spot the most elegant piece of the entire selection, the multi-strand layered gemstone necklace featuring amber, citrine, crystal quartz, gold freshwater pearls, and hammered sterling silver discs from the Barbary Coast Collection of statement jewelry. This is absolutely the perfect piece for that special someone who will fall in love at first sight.

Item New York
444 Broome St.
New York City, NY 10013
646-221-3472

Fold Formed Corrugated Copper Leaf Earrings

Maroon Copper Patinated 2 inch Lilypad Earrings

Large Carat Citrine 14k Gold Filled Cocktail Ring

Jewelry Buyers May Now View Handmade Jewelry Collections by John S. Brana in the Altitude Promotions Fashion Showroom

jbrana — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:01:22 +0000

John S. Brana has been designing handcrafted jewelry since 2006 and has been been featured in over a dozen fashion media and jewelry trade publications since launching his career. This November, he became one of a handful of jewelry designers whose collections are showcased by fashion sales representatives in San Francisco’s only fashion showroom collective. Retail buyers and fashion editors may now view John S. Brana’s handcrafted fine jewelry in the newly opened Altitude Promotions showroom in the Sobel Building in the heart of San Francisco’s famed design district.

The San Francisco Fashion Collective consists of seven fashion sales representatives, each with their own showroom, who manage over 35 apparel and accessory brands. This November, Altitude Promotions joined the SFFC and opened its own showroom featuring four fashion brands including the jewelry collections by bridge category jewelry designer, John S. Brana. San Francisco-inspired jewelry collections which are showcased include the Muir Woods Collection of nature-inspired jewelry, the Nob Hill Collection of fine silver filigree earrings, the SoMa Collection of statement cuffs, the Barbary Coast Collection of semi-precious gemstone necklaces and wire-wrapped earrings, and the Pacific Heights Collection of large carat gemstone earrings and cocktail rings.

The Altitude Promotions showroom is located in the San Francisco Fashion Collective at 680 8th Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94103. Retail buyers and fashion editors are welcome to visit the Altitude Promotions showroom to view John S. Brana’s collections and line sheets Monday through Friday from 9a.m. To 6p.m. To schedule an appointment with the showroom and to request line sheets, please email info@altitudepromotion.com or call Karri Ann Frerichs directly at 1.402.490.2579.

John S. Brana to be Featured Jewelry Designer at Bloomingdale’s – Palo Alto Trunk Show

jbrana — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:30:08 +0000

Collections by John S. Brana, handcrafted fine jewelry designer from San Francisco, will be showcased during a weekend trunk show hosted by Bloomingdale’s in the Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto. The jewelry event will take place Saturday, October 3 through Sunday, October 4, 2009, from 12:00 p.m. To 5:00 p.m. at the fine jewelry counter. Shoppers will also enjoy Bloomingdale’s Friends and Family Discount of 20% off all jewelry by John S. Brana during this exclusive weekend event.

Brana looks forward to premiering Muir Woods, his latest collection of nature-inspired jewelry, including one-of-a-kind cocktail rings and pendants featuring large carat semi-precious gemstones set in sterling silver and bronze. “It was perfect timing for Bloomingdale’s to contact me about a Fall event. I’m very proud of the Muir Woods Collection because it’s completely unique and I’m one of the few jewelry designers experimenting with different patina finishes,” describes Brana referring to his copper earring designs in various hues of turquoise, green, red, black and orange. Additional jewelry collections available during the event include filigree earrings, dramatic pendants, statement cuffs, cocktail rings, and necklaces layered with semi-precious gemstones.

All fine jewelry designs may be purchased using Bloomingdale’s 20% off Friends and Family discount, and John S. Brana will be present to greet guests and answer all jewelry questions. Event details will be available by visiting www.bloomingdales.com, clicking on the Stores & Events page and choosing the Stanford location.

Happy Birthday August – Peridot Handcrafted Fine Jewelry by John S. Brana

John S. Brana — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:11:38 +0000

August, you are one year older, and Leo has never looked more fierce! The blazing Sun is the element that represents the ferocity and brilliance of Leo making citrine the perfect August gemstone. This gorgeous summer stone is like holding a piece of the Sun and its lemony color in your hand. Its color is hard to come by in the world of gemstones which makes its glow that much more special.

John S. Brana has captured the warmth of citrine in his Pacific Heights collection. These, and other beautiful August stones such as peridot, are fully showcased in swirling pendants, over-sized cocktail rings, and lovely drop earrings. These jewels are wrapped by hand in 14K gold filled sculpted wire and come in a variety of cuts such as oval, pear, emerald, and marquise. Each piece of this roaring collection is a true conversation starter at any event and is a must-have for all your heat wave outfits.

So get your own piece of the Sun from John S. Brana’s citrine Pacific Heights collection, and enjoy being the fierce Queen that you are. Have a fantastic birthday!

John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry enhances popular SoMa Collection of hammered jewelry with rings and incorporates 14K gold

John S. Brana — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:52:34 +0000

Of John S. Brana’s eight distinctive jewelry collections, SoMa is the most contemporary and has been worn by celebrities including Natasha Bedingfield and Janice Dickinson. This collection includes hammered link necklaces and earrings, as well as his unique copper collection, and will now include 14K and 18K gold designs and rings set with solitaire gemstones.

Until now, Brana’s only ring designs were elaborate cocktail rings with intricate wire settings from his Pacific Heights Collection and enchanting sea creatures cast in sterling silver from his Seacliff Collection. The new SoMa ring designs are simple and geometric and will feature 8+ carat gemstones encased in hammered sterling silver, 14K gold, or bronze. Available gemstones include green-gold quartz, blue topaz, opal, amethyst, green amethyst, and citrine…just to name a few. The designs are clean and understated yet remain true to Brana’s signature stand-out-from-the-crowd jewelry characteristics. Brana will also release designs in 14K and 18K yellow, rose and green golds which were previously only available in sterling and fine silver, 14K gold-filled and copper. Look for hammered and chased geometric link designs, several of which will be set with semi-precious gemstones.

John S. Brana resides in San Francisco where he handcrafts his eight distinctive jewelry collections inspired by neighborhoods in and around San Francisco. Each collection is as diverse as its namesake and includes:

Barbary Coast- a dramatic and colorful display of layering semiprecious gemstones

Monterrey- brightly colored Italian mesh metal intertwined through hammered silver

Nob Hill – delicate filigree wire earrings inspired by Victorian architecture

Pacific Heights- large faceted solo gemstones encased in 14K gold-filled and sterling silver settings

Sea Cliff- surprisingly elegant life-like art pieces of metal-casted marine elements

Sonoma- chainmail jewelry dripping with berry-like, cascading stones

And the Men’s silver-cast jewelry collection featuring cuff-links, bold rings, textured pendants and minimalist silver bracelets.

To view each of the John S. Brana- Distinctive Jewelry collections visit www.johnsbrana.com. For wholesale information and media requests, please contact Karri Ann Frerichs, Altitude Promotions at karriann@altitudepromotion.com or 402.490.2579.

New Jewelry – SoMa Collection

Guests enjoy wine while browsing art including jewelry by John S. Brana at Art People Gallery – May 28

John S. Brana — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:26:30 +0000

Over 50 guests attended a wine tasting event featuring three boutique wineries from Napa Valley and one Italian wine distributor held at the intimate gallery space of Art People in the Crocker Galleria, San Francisco. Many of the current exhibiting artists were present to showcase their creations including John S. Brana, whose distinctive handcrafted jewelry creations drew attention from attendees and fellow artists alike. Artful jewelry pieces from each of Brana’s seven women’s jewelry collections, all inspired by areas in and around San Francisco, were displayed.

Guests were particularly drawn to selections from the Monterey collection, including a pair of teardrop-shaped earrings made of fine silver and wrapped in an olive green Italian metal mesh, priced especially for Art People clients at $95. Many women also enjoyed slipping dazzling gemstone cocktail rings from the Pacific Heights collection onto their fingers. “The wirework setting is incredible,” exclaimed one guest as she and her friend fitted various rings set with faceted blue topaz, citrine, amethyst and green-gold quartz gemstones, priced from $300-$400.

Brana’s art colleague and good friend, Klaus Lange was also an exhibiting artist. Lange displayed several abstract photographs taken from ship sides at sea and a selection silk chiffon scarves and sarongs inspired by those images. His silkwear collection, Seaklaus, has developed into an “Art 2 Couture” limited resort collection of wearable art from images of his photographs. The central look of the collection is a classic Japanese kimono with an Elizabethan twist, accessorized with a 24K green quartz gemstone pin with a 14K gold-filled wire setting from Brana’s Pacific Heights collection.

Art People hosts these wine tasting and art events on the last Wednesday of each month. Events are open to the public and entrance fee is $15. The next scheduled event, featuring additional works by John S. Brana and Klaus Lange will take place Wednesday, June 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kempinski – Luxury & Lifestyle Magazine – Features John S. Brana Jewelry

John S. Brana — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:11:52 +0000

Kempinski – Luxury & Lifestyle Magazine – Middle East & Africa – January 2008

The Fashion Files – Look Great in 2008
Join the glitterati and set a shining example for the year ahead

HER Pleated Halter Dress, Issey Miyake USA; Pleated Shrug, Issey Miyake USA; Shoes, Nina; Citrine Gold Ring, John S Brana - 12 carat Citrine ring set in 18k Gold – pages 18-19

Dress, Ralph Lauren Women’s Purple Label; Shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti; Gloves, La Crasia; Ring, John S Brana – 12 carat Blue Topaz ring set in Sterling Silver – page 21

Dress, Aurelio Costarella; Shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti; Gloves, La Crasia; Ring, John S Brana – 20 carat Swiss Blue Topaz ring set in Sterling Silver – page 24

Kempinski Luxury & Lifestyle Magazine is published by The Media Factory FZ-LLC of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “Founded in Germany 111 years ago, Kempinski Hotels has long reflected the finest traditions of European hospitality. Today, as ever, Kempinski is synonymous with distinctive luxury.

Located in many of the world’s most well known cities and resorts, the Kempinski collection includes hotels in the grand manner, pace-setting modern establishments and older hotels of individual charm. All blend gracefully into their surroundings and offer luxurious accommodation, superb cuisine and
unrivalled facilities – complemented by impeccable service. For leisure and business guests alike, the name Kempinski has long been synonymous with style, nobility and efficiency. Put simply, they are the first choice for the discerning individual.

In addition to operating many of the finest city hotels in the world Kempinski is a name that can now be found in many exciting resort locations, each combining local flair and ambience with the international standards of service and luxury that Kempinski guests have come to expect.”

For more about Kempinski Hotels, check out their website at www.kempinski.com

John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry now at Monkey on Chestnut – San Francisco, CA

John S. Brana — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:03:17 +0000

For those readers that live in San Francisco, you can now find selected pieces from my Monterey, Pacific Heights, SoMa, and Sea Cliff collections at Monkey on Chestnut in San Francisco’s famous Marina District. Monkey on Chestnut, named after a Monkey seen gathering jewelry from the ruins in Cow Hollow after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, is located right on Chestnut at Fillmore (2025 Chestnut). The store includes the works of over 100 local jewelry designers and vintage dealers. Come by and you’re in for a treat!