Simply put, jewelry can be complicated. What do you buy? When (and where) do you wear it? As men we’re conditioned to aspire to own things like Rolexes. And that’s fine, BUT there’s gotta be more to life than a twenty thousand dollar watch, right? Much more – like gold signet rings set with white diamond pavé, or a classic Casio with a Turquoise-set watch strap. So, in the spirit of embracing rings, bracelets and bangles, I visited Izzy Tuason’s carefully curated jewelry collection. A brief Q&A with the fashion blogger, below:
Your collection of jewelry and watches is impressive. Do you buy pieces based on specific color-stories you have in-mind?
I’d say I have different approaches to buying fine jewelry vs. costume. I buy fine jewelry with a metal color-story in mind. Last summer, it was rose gold and earth-toned diamonds, in the winter it was white gold and white diamonds. Right now I’d say I’m having a yellow gold moment. I’d like to start collecting emeralds, but that’s more of an aspiration for the future, I guess. I wouldn’t really wear emerald pavé, I would like it in big chunks. Maybe I should stick to my much less expensive birthstone, turquoise? With costume jewelry I just buy pieces that excite me and that I can see working with my current collection, and with my clothes.
If you could be a piece of jewelry what would you be?
There’s this Lorraine Schwartz band of emerald-cut emeralds, rose-cut diamonds, and black enamel that I thought was very me: luxe, storied, and a little dark.
What’s your most prized piece?
Probably the Cartier watch I got for graduation. They don’t make it in that exact same style anymore.
How old were you when you received your first watch? What was it?
My grandfather gave me his steel and gold Rolex when I was in first grade. I wore it every Friday.
How should men approach jewelry, but more specifically diamonds?
With a taste for design, a sense of humor, and a little subtlety. But ultimately, they should wear what makes them happy.
Are you stalking anything now to potentially own?
A Cartier Tank Americaine in rose gold, an IWC Pilot Watch, the older Bvlgari-Bvlgari watch in all-gold. Also that Lorraine Schwartz emerald band, anything animalia by Boucheron or Stephen Webster, and my mother’s eternity ring in diamond baguettes. I’d like to design a couple of pieces as well: a long rose gold necklace with a collection of little pendants, and a large oval turquoise ring with sapphires and amethysts.
– Photographs by Alexander Atkins.
