More than a century after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, fascination with vampires continues, as seen in film, television, fiction, fashion, and jewelry.
Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series has not only dominated the New York Times Best Seller list and the box office, it’s also unleashed a torrent of vampire-themed shows and movies, including Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and coming in 2014, Vampire Academy.Vampires are found in nearly all cultures and across the centuries. They are powerful symbols of forbidden love, death, immortality, and our shadow side. Adding to their appeal, modern vampires tend to be sophisticated, handsome loners brooding away in aristocratic environs.
Considering the excitement over vampires, it’s no surprise to see vampire-inspired Gothic designs in magazine spreads and on the runway.
In the September issue of Vogue, ads from Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu, Proenza Schouler and others paid tribute the Gothic trend in some form. As quoted in the Business of Fashion, Valerie Steele, fashion scholar and director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology said, “This darkly romantic look has, pardon the expression, entered the bloodstream of fashion.”
The fanged villain, not surprisingly, is also leaving his mark on the jewelry industry. The MJSA Journal’s GemVisions 2014 Forecast said, “Twilight movies and TV shows such as Once Upon a Time are fueling interest for fantasy-inspired jewelry – dark, amulet styles with gem cabochons, diamond slices, and blackened metals.”
We dub this new neo-Gothic jewelry ‘Transylvanian Chic.’ Here are a few examples of jewelers combing the dark and glamorous sides of vampire lore with fine jewelry.
Griffin
These silver and titanium rings from Edward Mirell’s appropriately named “Guardian Collection,” looks like something you might find on Dracula, especially as the design has a griffin protecting the center stones.
Right: Black Ti™ Sterling Silver Guardian .08 ctw Dia Carnelian Signet Ring. Left: Gray Titanium Sterling Silver Guardian .08 ctw Dia Lapis Signet Ring. Images courtesy of Edward Mirell.
Nocturnal Creatures
Bats and vampires seem to go hand in hand, and the mysterious nocturnal creatures might have been an inspiration in this bracelet from Bochic (with Miriam Salat). Carved in black jade, bats decorate this 18k gold bracelet and are accented with 3.99 carats diamonds.
Image courtesy of Bochic.
Crosses
In the book, Dracula, the cross was used as a defense against the vampire. This black onyx piece with “M” shaped fleurys of platinum set with rose-cut diamonds looks like something Transylvanian villagers might have used to ward off the count.
(c) GIA and Tino Hammid. Courtesy of Neil Lane, Inc.; Beverly Hills, California.
Dracula’s Cape
This award-winning piece of jewelry art by Steve Walters is reminiscent of Dracula’s cape blowing in the wind. Created in 14K white and yellow gold, it features a 2.73 carat shield shape tanzanite, free-form carved black onyx and free-form blue chalcedony with 0.18 carat diamonds.
1994 AGTA Spectrum Award, 1st Place Black onyx and blue chalcedony carved by Steve Walters.
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