While in LA recently, I wandered through the Rose Bowl flea and antique market and was delighted to come across the jewelry of Patti O’Neill and her husband Bill. Warm and personable, they are clearly passionate about what they do, working with precious and semi-precious materials to design and craft elegant and wearable pieces. They offer a variety of stones – opal, pearls, turquoise, lapis, jade, bone, among others – set in handmade silver, bronze, zinc or brass settings.

Patti explained her designs as, “painting with gems and pearls to create a forever artisan piece.”  It was impossible to walk away without buying something and as I write this, I am wearing her lovely deep blue opal and sterling ring.

She sells to wholesale clients but her work is also available online and is very reasonably priced. Below, some of the items she had in Pasadena (a stunning bone and black jade statement necklace; sparkling earrings reminiscent of the Deco period); and online. Have a look at her website for a wider variety.