Elizabeth Cole collections offer feminine, glamorous jewelry that is thoughtfully designed and meticulously handcrafted by artisans in the United States.
Who We Are, www.elizabethcolejewelry.com
Dates of Operation: 2005 – Present
Elizabeth Cole Jewelry was founded in 2005 by jewelry designer Stephanie Owen. She named the company after her sister Elizabeth Cole. The business began in a garage in Southern California where Stephanie created hand-made designs for herself and her sister. Prior to starting her business, Stephanie worked at a Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty PR Firm. Her unique jewelry caught the eye of her clients and stylists who asked for more of the jewelry.
So in that year (2004 – 2005) Stephanie found herself sending jewelry to celebrities such as Faith Hill, Paula Abdul, Alicia Keys and Drew Barrymore. And when Joss Stone wore a collection of Stephanie’s necklaces for her performance at the Grammy’s in 2005, it seemed that perhaps designing and selling jewelry might be the better career path than promoting other designers’ products. And so, Elizabeth Cole was born in May 2005.
Our Story, www.elizabethcolejewelry.com
Elizabeth Cole Owen (Stephanie Owen’s older sister) is also Stephanie’s business partner. Together they run Elizabeth Cole Jewelry. In 2009 their manufacturing business relocated to Rhodes Island where nearly every piece of Elizabeth Cole Jewelry is made today. (Some hand-woven designs are made in Mexico.)
The Elizabeth Cole Jewelry website states that the jewelry is “Proudly Made in America for Women by Women“.
Owen collaborated with Zac Posen on four collections beginning in 2012.The jewelry has been featured in many magazines including Vogue and Elle. She also designed limited edition pieces for Banana Republic.
The colorful Blue Floral statement necklace shown below was designed in 2017 by Owen as a special group for Banana Republic. Owen writes about it in her 2017 blog.
I was utterly obsessed with the floral arrangements at my wedding this past August. And, of course, my first thought was to incorporate those bright colors and stunning flowers into earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. I am beyond excited to share my wedding inspired designs with Banana Republic to create an exclusive, limited edition collection.
EC//FRIENDS: Banana Republic Stephanie Owen September 22, 2017
The symmetrical necklace originally sold on Banana Republic for $177.00. It features a thick gold-plated chain and five stamped metal flowers decorated with capri blue and navy enamel. Faux yellow and turquoise beads decorate each bloom.
The pierced earrings are unsigned but came with their original display card reading Limited Edition Stud Earrings. Two additional coordinating earrings designs were also sold with this Limited Edition necklace called Limited Edition Gem Statement Earrings and Limited Edition Blue Floral Statement Earrings (both shown on the blog).
Brand Trait: Stephany Owen is often inspired by color and nature.
The colors of nature are a huge inspiration when designing my jewelry. Whether it be exotic animals or vibrant flowers. I have always been intrigued by the COLORS!
EC//FACTS: Why are Tropical Birds So Colorful? Stephanie Owen April 26, 2017
Stephanie Owen believes colors evoke emotions and assigns colors to specific emotions.
Bright colors can provoke any one to feel a bit happier. Yellow associates with laughter, while red links to passion and love. Pink can make you feel romantic and sweet, whereas seeing the color blue can bring calmness to anyone.
EC//RESOLUTIONS: A New Year Calls for bright Colors! Stephanie Owen January 1, 2017
Brand Trait: In addition to color Stephanie Owen is inspired by her love of interior design.
The influence of interior design can be seen in her distinctive use of angular shapes, especially navette shaped stones, in her designs; the sculptural construction of many of the pieces, and the blending of colors and shapes to unify the design so the “jewelry eye” is comfortable with the combination of elements.
Brand Trait: Statement earrings are a signature style for Elizabeth Cole Jewelry. Chandelier-style earrings, inspired by interior design, are part of most collections.
Fashion trends will come and go and then come back again. But if I know one thing for sure, jewelry will live on forever. Specifically statement earrings. There was the hoop phase, the bling-bling phase, the cuff phase, the dangle phase, the stud phase…SO the statement earring phase has never died.
EC/HISTORY: Statement Earrings Throughout the Years Stephanie Owen March 15, 2017
The following Elizabeth Cole statement earrings measure 3″. They are a good example of how Owen combines her love for interior design with jewelry design.
The placement and use of navette-shaped stones provides a structural element to the design. Note the detail in these earrings. They are lushly and generously decorated with an array of shapes all in monochromatic shades of black diamond and clear crystal stones.
Brand Trait: Elizabeth Cole jewelry designs are full of interesting details.
Brand Trait: Some Elizabeth Cole jewelry features wide ribbons of metal “folded-over” to stabilize the long earrings and other design elements.
Elizabeth Cole jewelry is usually 14K, 24K gold plated or hematite plate. Many different stones and materials are used, some sourced from the vintage findings inventories still found in Rhodes, Island. The stones are either Austrian, Czech, or Swarovski. Antique coins, a multitude of different style chains, charms and even bone are incorporated into Elizabeth Cole designs. Navette shaped stones are prominent in many of the designs.
Brand Trait: Elizabeth Cole Jewelry includes elaborately designed statement necklaces that modernize the vintage statement necklaces collectors love.
After taking a look back at statement earrings throughout the years, I couldn’t help but do the same with statement necklaces. Whether costume or fine, jewelry is timeless.
EC//HISTORY: Statement Necklaces Throughout the Years Stephanie Owen March 20, 2017
This richly decorated necklace illustrates many Elizabeth Cole Jewelry design traits including structural, angular shapes; generous, lush use of materials; detailed decoration; and multiple heavy chains.
In addition, this design features tear-drop shaped sapphire center stones, blue pearls, and a rectangular top stone.
Six decorative arrow-shaped charms line the heavy double chains. In this necklace design, the charms are solidly fixed in place. The double chains treat the “jewelry eye” to quality design all of the way around this necklace.
The signature hang-tag is attached to the decorative spring-ring clasp.
The back view shows the interesting fold-over construction often found in Elizabeth Cole Jewelry. Wide ribbons of metal anchor the heavy pendant design. Smaller ribbed ribbons of metal attach the six charms to the chains.
Brand Trait: Elizabeth Cole creates coordinating designs at various price points.
The following necklace is a smaller version of the statement necklace above. It is normal for a good brand to create jewelry of the same or similar designs at different price points. Not only do these smaller pieces cost less, but they are also easier to wear. Even the lower cost Elizabeth Cole jewelry includes quality design and quality materials.
The smaller necklace below has many of the same design traits as the statement piece above: navette shaped stones, fold-over construction, heavy attached chain, and a wonderful center stone. The center stone in both necklaces sparkles when turned to the light.
Brand Trait: Stephanie Owen not only loves vintage decor but is also inspired by vintage jewelry designs.
For example, the following necklace and earrings set are a modern version of famous Art Deco designs.
Art Deco design is characterized by sharply defined geometric shapes and colors. This amazing Elizabeth Cole set features a “quilt” of different shapes arranged to please the “jewelry eye” including semi-circles, rectangles, triangles, ovals, and circles. Designer Stephanie Owen builds the design with these shapes.
The back view shows the sculptural, dimensional, and layered construction. The rose gold plating gives the set a pink glow.
The large ruby rectangular stone is the point of central focus in this bracelet design. Two semi circles of rhinestones encase the ruby stone. This is a clamper bracelet that opens on one side of the ruby rectangle. When viewed from the front, the opening is completely concealed.
The color scheme for this set is monochromatic. The ruby and rose rhinestone colors and the rose gold plating are from the same color family. In this instance, the black diamond stones – a gray neutral – add contrast to the design.
Design Trait: Stephanie Owen often designed collections based on one interesting element or shape varied by position in the design or by the color scheme.
The two necklaces and bracelets shown below all feature the same tapered rectangular shape sometimes called keystone. The top necklace consists of fourteen keystone elements decorated with blue zircon, light topaz, and black baguette stones. The “Y” necklace on the bottom left features the same keystone element in light topaz and black diamonds. Two ruby keystone elements decorate the top of the bracelet.
Design Trait: Elizabeth Cole Jewelry is often versatile and adapts to the needs of the wearer.
The necklace below is a large, statement piece consisting of 14 keystone elements strung on a wide gold-plated chain. The necklace can be worn with all keystone elements in place. However, since the keystone elements move freely along the chain one or more can be removed. Doing this changes the weight and the design of the necklace.
One of the most interesting design elements in this necklace is the unusual color scheme. It requires an expert colorist to be able to combine black, light topaz, and blue zircon effectively. It is distinctive and beautiful.
The following necklace has the same unusual color scheme. However, the design and construction are different.
The following “Y” necklace has the same keystone element but with a different color scheme: black diamond and light topaz.
A “Y” necklace has a long tail in the front, so the necklace resembles the letter “y”. In this design, the keystone element easily moves along the chain, so the length of the tail is adjustable. Once the length is selected, the weight of the design holds the keystone element in place.
The keystone element continues to appear in the following bracelet design. In this design two keystone elements are placed nose-to-nose like decorative ribbons.
Today Stephanie Owen’s designs are available in many high-end stores and online at www.elizabethcolejewelry.com. The designs have adapted to the current fashion trends of minimalist, smaller designs; however, statement pieces, especially earrings, are still available in dozens of beautiful designs.
Author’s Prediction: Elizabeth Cole Jewelry designs are distinctive, recognizable and MADE IN THE USA. The eighteen-year-old company continues to produce high-quality jewelry even in the face of changing fashions, the loss of retail stores, and the disruption from the pandemic. I believe it will continue to do so and I believe the quality of this jewelry will stand the test of time. I predict twenty years from now, or even sooner, collectors are going to be looking for and collecting vintage Stephanie Owen designs.