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Creating exceptional, wear-able art is a family affair for Ju-dith Ripka. Her son and Presi-dent of Judith Ripka Creations, Brian Ripka, witnessed the birth of a bejeweled empire from their Long Island living room. Judith was taught by her mother, a Euro-pean couturier, to see beauty in the details of the world around us, the latest collection, Aurora, was inspired by Aurora Borealis to appear as a luminous display of forms and colors seen in the night sky. “I was moved by this magnificent display during a trip to north-ern Canada and immediately began sourcing stones which resem-bled the same brilliance, luster, iridescence and mystery that I saw in the sky,” Judith Ripka muses.

Ripka and son recently showcased pieces from the new line and other collections at Neiman Marcus at the NorthPark Center in Dal-las. Guests mingled with the designer and were able to try on her top picks for entertaining under the starry summer sky. “I love my Ambrosia bracelet and Monaco rings, which are happy and fun,” she enthuses. “They feature big, bold gemstones and color is always per-fect for summer.” True to form, both pieces are accented by Ripka’s favorite materials, her signature 18k yellow gold and every girl’s best friend: diamonds. “The celadon gold I use in my jewelry is propri-etary and combined with the matte finish, which I championed be-cause of its understated elegance gives my jewelry a distinctive and recognizable look,” she explains.

Although her self-described “classic with a modern twist” cre-ations are in high demand from celebrity clientele such as Kelly Pres-ton and Angie Harmon, Ripka essentially designs for every woman. “Adding jewelry to an outfit makes a woman feel like she shines; she feels more glamorous, more beautiful and more confident,” says Rip-ka. “I approach jewelry design like many fashion designers approach clothing design. It is about building a collection and understanding that fashion is about style and creating a total look – including ac-cessories.”

In the near future, enthusiasts will be able to incorporate the “look” into their wardrobes and homes when the company expands to include a lifestyle brand, which means designing other products such as handbags, scarves, sunglasses, and more in addition to new and innovative jewelry collections. “Each piece of jew-elry in all of my collections is designed to complement each other,” Ripka reveals. “Pieces designed 20 years ago remain relevant and can be worn with the designs of today.” For more information, visit judi-

thripka.com. Amber eLLiott

all that glittersFor over 40 years, Duncan & Boyd

Jewelers has enticed Texans with ex-ceptional customer service and an extraordinary inventory. The El Paso-based company has since ex-

panded to open stores in San Antonio, Amarillo and most recently, in Austin.

Here, Andrew Ware, owner of the Austin store, opens up about the company’s philoso-

phy, elegant estate jewels, and stunning summer trends. Continuing in his stepfather Ron Boyd’s footsteps, Andrew Ware

and his wife Chandler opened the doors to the Austin store in 2006. Though the company has grown in size, Duncan & Boyd has not lost its comfortable and friendly feel. “We believe that our customers de-serve exceptional service,” says Ware. The company happily caters to clients’ special requests. “When I get a call from a customer looking for a 1930’s emerald and diamond necklace they may have seen at an auction or in a magazine, I make some calls to see if we can find a piece that meets their description.”

The store’s most crowning jewel is their inventory of extremely sought-after estate pieces. “Duncan & Boyd Jewelers has relation-ships with collectors throughout the world of the finest estate jew-elry,” reveals Ware. The company prides itself on its one-of-a-kind pieces. The rarity makes it that much more desirable, especially in Austin, where people are looking for something unique. “An estate piece can be as simple as a diamond engagement ring with one former owner to an original art deco piece passed down in a fam-ily from generation to generation,” explains Ware. In the selection process, the company finds pieces with provenance they know their customers will cherish.

When going the designer route, there is no end to the exquisite pieces that will light up your ears, neck, or wrist. Duncan & Boyd also carries an extensive selection of styles, including classic Penny Preville pieces, Michele Watches, and timeless Waterford crystal. It’s easy to be seduced by the Penny Preville bow-shaped white gold ear-rings frosted with diamonds; they have an antique appeal but still exude a modern style, making them a treasure in any collection.

With summer in full swing, estate pieces can be the perfect com-plement to that whimsical frock. “Timeless classics such as diamond pendants and pearl necklaces are the biggest sellers right now,” says Ware. “There is also a strong demand for diamond hoops, lockets, and charm bracelets.” Summertime stirs up the need for vibrant hues

and big statements, and even a vintage, oversized cocktail ring may be the perfect accessory for that soirée this weekend. For more information, visit duncanboyd.com

Jenn ZwiLLenberg

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