The Creators of Premium Jewelry Site Stone & Strand School Us on Fancy Gems

Editorially driven e-commerce fashion sites are no novelty, but when we discover a high-end e-destination with carefully curated fine jewelry, we know we’ve found something special.  Premium jewelry site Stone & Strand is our latest Web obsession, and the online gem — pun intended — focuses on the woman buying jewelry for herself. Launched in May 2013, the site was created by  New York entrepreneur Nadine McCarthy Kahane and W magazine’s former jewelry and accessories director, Brooke Magnaghi, who created Stone & Strand to fill a void in the luxury online jewelry space.

When Nadine and Brooke came to Chicago last month to exhibit the latest collections offered by the site, we knew wanted to pick their brains about fine gems, curating a jewelry e-destination and get advice for women who want to begin investing in fine stones. So read up and find out what makes the dynamic duo tick, and why you should mark Stone & Strand in your favorites list immediately.

FashionFiles: Tell us a little bit about the idea behind Stone & Strand.

Brooke: Stone & Strand is the leading online destination for luxury fine jewelry, offering access to exclusive products, glamour infused editorial and a highly intimate concierge service.

Nadine: The idea first came about from a personal need as I am a huge online shopper and buy everything online, from groceries to clothing including my wedding dress! However, the one thing I consistently found difficult to find was fine jewelry. We wanted to bring the old world and the very personal relationship one had with a family jeweler into the modern era create a very personal, intimate approach to discovering, learning about and shopping for jewelry online – sort of an online club for jewelry lovers. We share stories, about the craftsmanship, the people behind each piece, and how to wear and style jewelry on a daily basis.

FashionFiles: How is it different from other fine jewelry websites?

N: At Stone & Strand we focus on the woman buying jewelry for herself. A confident stylish woman with discerning taste who wants to wear something different and special. Our collection is carefully curated with this woman in mind, and we work closely with leading designers from all over the world to offer exclusive pieces to our clients, ranging from the truly exquisite one of a kind pieces contemporary heirlooms, to the every day staples that form the basis of a girl’s jewelry wardrobe.

B: Stone & Strand is more than an online destination. We aim to build a community for jewelry enthusiasts and shoppers, and provide them with insider’s access to the often-veiled world of fine jewelry through our private events, pop-ups and educational sessions.

We provide a highly personal suite of services focused on removing the stresses typically associated with the purchase of expensive jewelry ranging from appraisals to consultations with jewelry experts such as gemologists and personal stylists. We also offer exceptional warranties on all of our products.

FashionFiles: What advice can you give those who are ready to start investing in jewelry?

B: It is really important to understand what is most important to you and making the right tradeoff. Do you want to invest in a beautiful, unique stone, or you more interested in a gorgeous design? Do you prefer to wear rose, white or yellow gold? Are you fine with 14K gold or do you only wear 18K gold and platinum?

Sometimes if our clients are trying out a new style for the first time they will buy an affordable gold plated version to try it out. Once they realize they love it and are wearing it on a daily basis they then purchase a similar piece in precious materials.

At the end of the day it really comes down to buying a piece that you truly love. Jewelry is so personal. You wear it on your skin and each piece recalls a moment in time and reflects your sense of style.

FashionFiles: Walk us through your process of selecting and editing the pieces.

N & B: As a team, we’ve worked in the jewelry industry for more than 10 years, so we are very familiar with many designers, and have worked with them for many years. We seek to partner with artists who are exceptionally talented, and get many applications from potential new designers day. We conduct extensive background screening on all applicants focusing on the originality of their designs and the quality of their craftsmanship.

When editing pieces all our attention is paid to the Stone & Strand woman, keeping in mind her different needs on various occasions and reflecting her mood at different points in the day. Our design aesthetic combines the best of the old and the new, and we look for traditional craftsmanship with a decidedly modern perspective. Pieces that are contemporary, clean, beautiful, unique and highly wearable.

FashionFiles: We are in the heat of the holiday shopping season, and a piece of fine jewelry makes a great gift for the holidays. Could you share your favorites pieces with us? (hover over each image to reveal description)

FashionFiles: What pieces will you be sporting this holiday season?

N & B: We are currently obsessed with statement earrings including ear jackets, ear cuffs and crawlers. They are right on trend and perfect for the cold winter when everything else is covered up with warm layers! Jacquie Aiche, Halleh and Zoe Chicco all make gorgeous pieces that are great to mix and match.

FashionFiles: What trends should we look forward to for Spring 2015?

N & B: In general, we’re seeing the revival of bolder and chunky statement pieces and lots of color. There’s also a really exciting range of enamel work, applied in nontraditional ways. Alison Lou’s new SS15 Decadence collection really captures all of these trends and we especially love her black diamond encrusted caviar ring –it’s the ultimate splurge!