Is Brass the New Gold?

Bark Nu Gold Large Tear Drop Earrings - Brass Jewelry

Bark Nu Gold (Red Brass) Large Tear Drop Earrings

Brass Jewelry – A Fashionable Alternative to Gold

Fashionistas and models alike are itching to get their hands on the hottest new jewelry designs. Instead of gold, silver, or platinum, however, they’re flocking towards a vintage metal with a bright future: brass. Although more recently the metal of choice for locks, keys, and doorknobs, brass has been making a new appearance on fashion runways everywhere.

Jewelry styles using this surprising choice of metals range from delicate to chunky, from vintage to modern. Whether you’re in to steam punk fashion or are looking for something a bit more delicate, brass may be just what you’ve been looking for. Brass jewelry ranges from large, dramatic bangles and rings to dainty beaded earrings – no matter your fashion style, there’s likely a brass design to suit you.

Nu Gold 3 Tiered Lily Pad Earrings - Red Brass Jewelry

Nu Gold (Red Brass) 3 Tiered Lily Pad Earrings

Brass Jewelry – The Nu Gold Standard

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and has long been prized for it’s artistic appeal. Jewelry artisans are now turning to red brass or Nu Gold as a design medium, and the result is both beautiful and amazing. Brass is as flexible as gold or silver, and can be worked and shaped into nearly any design. It can be left with a matte finish or buffed to a glossy shine; this flexibility makes it a popular material for designers to work with.

Attention Getting Brass Jewelry

Brass jewelry is not for the faint of heart; chances are, if you’re wearing it, you’ll get attention. Most brass jewelry designs are both beautiful and unique. The sheen of brass is sure to draw attention to your accessories from those who are fashion conscious; after all, it’s clearly not gold or silver. If you like to turn heads and be on top of the newest and hottest fashion trends, brass is clearly your metal of choice.

Brass jewelry offers a unique appeal with a break from the traditional styles we’re used to seeing. If you want to shake things up this season, consider accessorizing with brass. This metal offers an antique shine for nearly any outfit, and the design options are virtually limitless. If you’re ready to shake up your fashion accessories for a new season, consider purchasing a brass piece or ensemble today.

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FOCUS Apparel and Accessories Show – New Summer 2010 Handmade Jewelry by John S. Brana

Focus Trade Show

Focus Trade Show

January 16-18, 2010 -  “The FOCUS” Apparel and Accessories Show, taking place from January 16- 18, 2010 in the California Market Center (CMC) Penthouse on the 13th Floor, A-Wing will feature hand-picked emerging and established lines.   “FOCUS is the tradeshow destination for buyers to find the best new, up & coming, artist driven lines. During the January 2010 show, FOCUS will feature many first time exhibitors including Project Runway Season 6 finalist, Althea Harper as well as the latest San Francisco Inspired Handmade Jewelry styles for Summer 2010 by John S. Brana. The January 2010 “FOCUS” Apparel and Accessories Show is also first in a year long partnership with Fashion Business Inc. (FBI) and will present the FBI “Designer Launch Pad Fashion Show” on the FOCUS show floor.

“The FOCUS” Apparel and Accessories Show will begin its 3rd year on the Penthouse of the CMC in January 2010. In that time it has carved out a niche’ featuring the top new, up and coming, artist driven designers and lines, not found anywhere else. January 2010 will feature rising star collections amongst many other great lines. Althea Harper was a contestant on famed TV program,Project Runway’s sixth season. Her line has a unique design aesthetic that combines tailoring, draping and shape to create garments that are both functional and beautiful. Althea Harper will be exhibited along with other lines from the Altitude Fashion Showroom including, Amber Pollard Handbags, Bees Company, India Rose Collection, John S. Brana Jewelry Collection, and Heike Jarick Blue Label Collection. View the latest San Francisco Inspired Handmade Jewelry styles for Summer 2010 by John S. Brana at the FOCUS Trade Show in the California Market Center Penthouse. Booth # 100.  You may book your appointment by calling the Altitude Fashion Showroom at 415.738.6298 or emailing Karri Ann Frerichs directly.


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

Item New York - 444 Broome St - New York City

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

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Black Friday – Bloomingdale’s – Handmade Jewelry by John S. Brana

 

San Francisco jewelry designer John S. Brana will be  showcasing his handmade jewelry at Bloomingdale’s – Stanford on Black Friday, 27th, 2009 through Sunday November 29th, 2009 from noon to six p.m.  Situated in Bloomingdale’s accessory department right next to the Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag collection, shoppers can select from a showcase of his handmade copper nature-inspired Muir Woods jewelry designs all discounted 20% during Bloomingdale’s Black Friday weekend event.

Shoppers are encouraged to visit www.Bloomingdales.com and choose the Stanford location through the store locator for detailed information on each sale and promotion. To preview jewelry that will be available at each Bloomingdale’s Holiday Trunk Show, shoppers are encouraged to visit www.JohnSBrana.com and click on the collections tab to view jewelry styles from the Muir Woods, Pacific Heights, Monterey, and SoMa Collections.

Bloomingdale’s will host the following events and promotions which may also be applied to jewelry purchases during each John S. Brana Holiday Trunk Show:

• November 27-29, Black Friday Sales • December 5-6, Bloomingdale’s Private Sale • December 19-20, Bloomingdale’s Insider Sale • December 26-27, Bloomingdale’s After Christmas Sale.

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Who Knew Handcrafted Jewelry Could Be So…Interactive?

Always an innovator, John S. Brana launched three new websites this month and even gave a sleek new face lift to his home site, www.johnsbrana.com.  Each new site targets a specific customer based on their desire for gold, silver, or copper jewelry and features search and comparison features unparalleled to any handcrafted artisan in the industry. See for yourself at www.handcrafted-gold-jewelry.com, www.handmade-silver-jewelry.com, and www.handmadecopperjewelry.com . 

Jewelry buyers may now perform side-by-side comparisons on any number of their favorite pieces to determine just the right style, texture, gemstone, size and price. Visitors may participate in a live community poll to tell the designer specific preferences such as their favorite gemstone, karat or quality of gold, and type of earring they prefer. Those with the most discerning tastes can find exactly what they are looking for by narrowing their search, and if you just can’t decide, customers can add their favorite items to a wish list and be notified if those items go on sale through various RSS Feeds.

Bubble Embossed Copper Earrings

"After seeing the fashion and jewelry industries suffer this holiday season, I decided I would make it easier for customers seeking handcrafted fine jewelry to find me," says Brana of his business strategies. "And when they do find me, I want to be sure I’m giving them the styles they want."  Brana is known for his handcrafted jewelry designs inspired by the landscapes of San Francisco and has been consistently experimenting with new textures, such as embossing, or adding new layers to his metallic collection of "SOMA" jewelry. New styles are available online now.
 

 

For more information and to view all jewelry styles please visit:

 

Handcrafted Fine Jewelry by John S. Brana

Handcrafted Gold Jewelry by John S. Brana 

Handmade Silver Jewelry by John S. Brana

Handmade Copper Jewelry by John S. Brana

 

For more information and media requests regarding John S. Brana – Distinctive Jewelry, please contact Karri Ann Frerichs at 402.490.2579 or karriann@altitudepromotion.com.

 

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John S. Brana Claims the BayList Best 2008 Best Designer Jewelry Award by SFGate.com

John S Brana - Handcrafted Fine Jewelry Claims sfgate.com BayList Best 2008 Designer Jewelry Award
2008 BayList Winner Best List 2008 Logo SFGate.com

October 21, 2008 / San Francisco – SFGate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle’s online newspaper, announced the winners of its annual voter decided BayList 2008 Best of the Bay for 13 fashion and accessory categories on October 7. John S. Brana – Distinctive Fine Jewelry won first prize for Best Designer Jewelry based on a voter tally that began in August. He sits in good company as Ashley Morgan Designs, Peggy Li Creations, Gallery of Jewels and Silver Moon Jewelers rounded out the top 5 respectively. “I’m really thankful to all of my customers,” said Brana whose client reviews may be read online at SFGate – Reviews – John S. Brana. “They really came through for me!” And the internet honor couldn’t have come at a better time as John S. Brana prepares to be featured in two trunks shows and two fashion shows within the next 30 days!

On Saturday, November 1, members of the Asian American community will see John’s jewelry showcased in the grand finale segment of the Hatwalk 2008 Fashion Show featuring cancer survivors. This annual fundraising gala is hosted by the Asian American Cancer Support Network, www.aacsn.org, and will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Burlingame.

Retail buyers and the public are invited to John’s featured trunk show and fashion show in artistic collaboration with fellow San Francisco artist, Klaus Lange, www.seaklaus.com, hosted at Art People Gallery in San Francisco, www.artpeople.net, Thursday, November 6, 4p.m to 7p.m. And finally residents of the Ritz Carleton San Francisco, will enjoy his distinctive jewelry at an exclusive trunk show featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres for residents only, Thursday, November 13.

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