Jewels jewels jewels… with some shells, wood and plastic cows thrown in. Unless you live under a rock (pun intended) you’ll have noticed Christmas creeping up on us. If you need a cutting-edge gift for that special someone, check out these crazy/cool pieces from my favourite jewellery designers.

“When great herds of wild, mad cows rise up en masse to slaughter those who once slaughtered–
Will humankind be ready for the Animal Armageddon to come?”

Stevie B’s latest collection addresses our fears about disease transmission from animal to human with a dash of humour. Much of his work aims to disgust – just look at the severed finger pieces here.

For something a little more wearable, I love Ruth Tomlinson. She’s fascinated by change in nature, the natural processes of creation and decay and works very delicately. For example, for her Hoard and Encrustations collections she used a kind of electrolysis to make silver and gold ‘grow’ on the pieces in natural formations, trapping the stones. The resulting pieces look like they’ve grown onto the body. Heartbreakingly lovely.

         I’ve never seen anything like this sterling silver piece by Jennifer Crupi. It looks like a medieval torture device, but it’s actually meant to imbue the wearer with grace. It holds the wearer’s hand in a beautiful position more commonly seen in paintings. As Crupi puts it, “Rather than wearing a bracelet to adorn your hand, this is a bracelet that positions your hand in a decorative and elegant way.” She does a lot of work with body language, highlighting the small gestures that convey vital information and structure our social exchanges.

Fiona Paxton produces wearably epic pieces using traditional Indian beading techniques. Geometric patterns and hand-beading predominate in her signature necklaces. Paxton counts the Bauhaus movement, contemporary Japanese fashion and British punk among her influences.  Her training in textiles might explain the luscious flow and drape of her pieces. Conjures visions of urban tribeswomen spearing gazelles in Hyde Park.

It’s difficult to envision where you might wear this necklace by Edgar Mosa, but practicality isn’t his strong suit. This necklace is from a collection called The Mountain, created with unconventional materials including wood and hair. Mosa describes the collection as a form of wearable time with “natural materials that encapsulate a rite of passage in their constitution” like rings in wood or nacre in a shell. This dramatic necklace is made of driftwood and a perfect abalone shell. I love the dialogue between the splayed pieces of wood and the circled shell.

We’d recommend you start saving up now. Alternatively, we’ve got some great designers on the Exchange with jewellery experience. To get a design in time for Christmas, brief the Exchange today