fool's gold: ghost

I recently discovered a partiality to all things clear/transparent, of course including jewelry. Perhaps it is the imminent summer heat? Or my self imposed minimalist phase? Clear jewelry is the perfect accessory for a minimalist. There is something strangely alluring about their barely-there appearance. (image from Moma store)

Clear jewelry is usually simple in construction since a lot of the techniques are impractical. They more than make up for it with their unique optical complexity however. Smooth clear lucite bangles layered atop one another cast playful shadows in the sun and quietly recede into oblivion when in the dark - the perfect chiaroscuro; the sculptural quality of faceted pieces such as crystals mimic chiseled ice cubes and are visually cool and calm - they remind me of an ice princess's castle; and when mixed with colored pieces of any kind they become floating jewelry. Transparent materials can be playful, cheeky, ghostly, and surreal all at the same time. They tease and taunt and seem to defy reality. Versatility and simple elegance are just two of the many reasons they have been and still are popular. The always chic Tina Chow was a designer of many fabulous pieces of lucite jewelry.

There are many clear materials: crystal, quartz, lucite, and glass to name a few. The application of transparency extends beyond jewelry making of course. I share with you some of my non-jewelry favorites.