Warmest wishes for the season!

Ben-Amun jewels pictured above:

Swarovski Crystal Diamond Shaped Pin

Swarovski Crystal Small Deco Button Earrings
Swarovski Crystal Feather Shaped Chandelier Earrings

Luxury Love With Ben-Amun!

For a woman who married seven men and was loved by millions, you would think that Elizabeth Taylor would have had a difficult time identifying her greatest romance. It seems, however, that the most passionate affair of her lifetime was also the longest lasting, and in true celebrity style, Elizabeth Taylor herself revealed the details of said affair in a tell-all book entitled My Love Affair with Jewelry.

Yes, trumping both the tumult of her romance with Richard Burton, and her fascinating friendship with Michael Jackson, was Elizabeth Taylor’s constant, and abundant love for jewelry. The collection she acquired over the course of her lifetime was unsurprisingly extensive, and its value was estimated to be unsurprisingly high, but how high was only just determined by a roomful of bidders on Tuesday night.

Breaking the world record for the most money spent in the auction of a private jewelry collection, Elizabeth Taylor’s well loved jewels went for $11.8 million. If that sum makes you cast an underwhelmed glance over your own collection, turn that frown upside down and reignite the flame between you and your jewelry box!

You don’t have to marry a long line of rich men or rise to movie star status to curate a collection you can love as much as Elizabeth Taylor loved her own. Instead you can buy yourself those “Saturday night presents” on www.ben-amun.com ! Take some style tips from Elizabeth Taylor today and perhaps in fifty years bidders will break the bank scrambling to snatch up your jewels!



                       

                            Pearl and Crystal Fan Earrings



Pearl and Crystal Teardrop Necklace





 

         

         Large Crystal Chandelier Earrings



       

Crystal Vintage Deco Bracelet









Do you love our brooches but can’t quite figure out how to wear them? Elizabeth Taylor was known to use brooches as hairpins to add sparkle to her famously dark hair. Update your up-do with one of the pins below!

  


                     

                          

                                      Jonquil Crystal Deco Leaf Pin

 

Vintage Crystal Pin



For more ways to channel the glamour or Elizabeth Taylor check out http://www.ben-amun.com, and just because the auction on her jewelry is over, doesn't mean you have to quell your craving to bid on something! The Goddess Adorned auction is still open! Check it out here! 



-Kristin







Crystals for a Cause!

Isaac loves adornment. He loves beautiful things, and he loves art. The expression of these loves most often leaves his loyal fans and fashion aficionados with covetable collections of jewelry. Recently, however, Isaac was given the opportunity to put his creative energies towards a different project, and though the fruit of his labor was no less beautiful or distinct than his jewelry, the figure to be adorned was not a woman but a glass vase.

The project is called “The Goddess Adorned,” and has culminated in an online auction of one-of-a-kind vases (live now!) the proceeds of which will go entirely to Housing Works, a New York City based charity. The mission of Housing Works, as stated by the organization, “is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.”

In support of Housing Works, Swarovski Elements and luxury interiors brand Gaia&Gino created “The Goddess Adorned,” the auction of limited edition vases designed by Harry Allen and then “dressed” by 15 different celebrities and designers. Those doing the dressing were given one of three versions of Harry Allen’s Gaia Vase to transform via an array of Swarovski Elements’ materials, and transform them they did.

The inspirations behind the one-of-a-kind vases produced were as varied and intriguing as the group of people behind their creation, however, being biased, we were most interested in the story behind Isaac’s vase, pictured below.

Upon seeing the Swarovski Elements that he would be using to embellish his vase, Isaac recalled a moment of awe he’d experienced years ago on a trip back to Egypt. He’d been at the Queen Nut tomb in Luxor, and looking up into the ceiling of the grotto, had been struck by the shade of lapis lazuli encapsulating the tomb. It was a beautiful departure from the reds and oranges that traditionally saturated these spaces, and it honored the “Queen of the Night” as Queen Nut was most often called. The special shade of midnight recalled a midsummer sky scattered with stars, and the Gaia Vase provided the perfect body on which to recreate it.

Isaac’s vase is on display at the Swarovski Crystallized Concept store at 499 Broadway in Soho, as are all of the “The Goddess Adorned” vases for the duration of the auction. However, it is looking for a new home! Not only is this the perfect opportunity to bring Isaac’s art from your wardrobe to your household décor, but 100% of the profit will go to Housing Works, so it’s also a wonderful way for you to support their cause!

Follow the link below to get a closer look at the vase and bid! The auction is open now and ends at 10 pm on December 20th!  

Ben-Amun vase for "The Goddess Adorned"

Before you dash off to duke it out for this priceless piece of Ben-Amun art, we have one more piece of exciting news to share. On Tuesday evening Swarovski Elements and Gaia&Gino hosted an event to kick off the auction. In attendance were several of the project's participants, and we were particularly thrilled to see both New York socialite Tinsley Mortimer, and Dancing with the Stars Contestant Carson Kressley sporting their favorite Ben-Amun pieces! Check out the pictures below!




Tinsley Mortimer in our Pearl Tassel Earrings and Crystal Bracelet
and Carson Kressley in the crystalized version of our Breguet Pin!

 

Tinsley and Isaac!

 Ok, now bid!

-Kristin



Time to Get Timeless at Ben-Amun!

Swanky and prestigious Paris department store Le Bon Marché has sent out its annual Holiday catalogue. A glossy source of eye-candy for the accessory lover, the catalogue features a mere fifty of the most coveted holiday wardrobe must-haves, and yes, you guessed it, Ben-Amun was included! With a caption that speaks to the timelessness of the jewelry, the bracelet featured is said to transcend time with its promise to deliver moments of supreme refinement. Oo la la how desirable! Check out the star treatment they gave our bracelet in the shot below, and perhaps treat yourself to some timeless refinement at www.ben-amun.com!

While the holidays are the perfect time to splurge on accessory merriment, if your wallet has a leash on the gift-giver in you, we have good news. The bi-annual sample sale at Ben-Amun is just around the corner, which means that glamour can be yours at a fraction of the price! In keeping with Le Bon Marche’s flattering observation that Ben-Amun jewelry is timeless, we’ve decided to showcase a few pieces from the sample sale loot. Much of the jewelry on sale this Wednesday and Thursday at the Ben-Amun offices is either from seasons past (so if you missed it then you can buy it now!) or is a one of a kind piece. That said, there are pieces from current collections mixed in as well, so the lucky shopper may just snag a deco necklace for under $75 or a pair of Kasbah earrings for under $50. See the pictures below for a little taste of our sample sale selection, and join us this Wednesday and Thursday from 12pm to 6pm at 246 West 38th Street, Suite 12A, to pick out your own timeless treasures!  

Looking forward to seeing you soon!
-Kristin

Black Friday with Ben-Amun!

Only once a year is it acceptable to plow someone’s grandma down in a mad dash toward discounted fashion must-haves. Yes, people, that day is Black Friday, and it’s just around the corner. If you’re like us, there’s a crazy sale-seeker inside of you, and she’s been preparing for this day for some time now. Whether you’ve been setting the alarm early to train yourself for the 3 am wake up call, dusting off your running shoes so that you can be at the front of the pack when doors open, or assembling a team to fight off shoppers as scrappy as yourself, you’re committed to securing the best Black Friday deals in town.

Well, we have good news for you: For the FIRST TIME EVER Ben-Amun is opening its virtual doors to the Black Friday madness. Not only does the First Annual Ben-Amun Black Friday Sale offer 25% off of everything on www.ben-amun.com, but you won’t have to shake yourself out of a Tryptophan induced slumber to get the fabulous deal! Check out the details below, and join us anytime from midnight on Thanksgiving to midnight on Monday for our first ever Black Friday sale!

 
Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Black Friday!
 
-Kristin

Spotted: Neon on the Rise

From the runways to the rooftops neon is having a serious moment right now. And I’m not just saying that because it sounds good. Rather, if you were to stop by the Ben-Amun offices this afternoon, and in tearing your gaze from our beautiful jewels turn your eyes toward the window, you would find yourself looking out on a small herd of neon-clad male models.

It’s true, as a little Friday afternoon treat for the Ben-Amun bachelorettes, the Garment District rooftop that our offices overlook is currently serving as the set for a menswear photo shoot. So I grabbed the camera, and yes, I zoomed.

But it’s not what you think! As lovely as it is to have our workplace vista dotted with men who make money by looking good, the real treat was to find yet more evidence that the neon trend is Everywhere. We’ve got some excitingly saturated things up our Ben-Amun sleeves for Spring, and from the looks of this unknown photo shoot we’re not the only ones!

That said, if you’re looking for a way to brighten up your day, and the candid snapped from our window didn’t do it for you, get a head start on rocking the trend, and try some of the colorful styles on www.ben-amun.com now!



Brazilian Brights Orange and Red Stretch Bracelet $105



Thin Yellow Square Resin Bangle $22



Bright Yellow Resin Bangle $25



Lemon Thick Resin Bracelet $145



Check out www.ben-amun.com for more trend-ready pieces, and cheers to the new TGIF! (Thank Goodness It's Flourescent!)

-Kristin



Salute in Style with Ben-Amun!

Happy Veterans Day! Since honoring our servicemen and women is always in style, we’ve decided to celebrate this lovely, perfect-for-a-parade afternoon by sharing some of our favorite military inspired Ben-Amun pieces.

From khakis to cargos to the many shades of “army green” - fall has always been the season to revive the military trend. In fact, military jackets, bomber jackets, and their cropped and updated versions have become such staples for fall to winter wardrobes that it’s probably time to spice up the look with a new Ben-Amun brooch! Try one of the three below and you can't go wrong, they've all appeared in the pages of Vogue or Lucky! Click their links to see for yourself...



Single Star Military Pin



Triple Star Military Pin



Wings Military Pin with Star



Have a very happy Veterans Day, and if you're missing your five-pointed star, let us help you at www.ben-amun.com!

-Kristin

Ben-Amun’s Blockbusters

With Halloween having come and gone I thought the chance to dress as my favorite fictional character (ahem, Wonder Woman) had expired for the year. Little did I know, H&M is preparing to launch a new collection that may just make today’s bestselling fiction tomorrow’s fashion reality!

In collaboration with Trish Summerville, the costume designer for the book-to-movie series The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, H&M has created a 30 piece collection of leather-heavy, dark-hued apparel inspired by the series’ anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander. Since pairing jewelry with everything possible is one of our favorite pastimes here at Ben-Amun, we thought it would be fun to follow H&M’s lead and experiment with a few fiction-to-film-to-fashion inspired looks.

Starting in the middle of December you can pick up some daring separates from H&M’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo collection. The look won’t be complete, however, until you add some edgy Ben-Amun pieces!

    



Looks from the H&M collection







Industria Silver and Gunmetal
 Pyramid Earrings



Large Pyramid Necklace



Industria Silver and Gunmetal
Rectangle Bracelet 

Between Mad Men and the bestselling novel turned box-office hit The Help, the 60's are having a moment. Grab some of the spotlight by acessorizing your inner Minny with button earrings or pearls! 



Small Crystal Earrings with Pearl Drop



Maharaji Flower Earrings



Classic Pearl and Sapphire Necklace





Another vintage choice for your fiction to fashion adventure would be to take a cue from Water for Elephants, the tear-jerking novel that came to life this spring with the help of Reese Witherspoon and a menagerie of beautiful animals, Robert Pattinson among them.   





Byzantine Filigree and Pearl Neckace



      Byzantine Brass Cuff                    Byzantine Purple Chandelier Earrings



Speaking of Robert Pattinson... if you're eagerly awaiting the on-screen nuptials of Bella and Edward, why not spend some time picking out the perfect wedding jewels on www.ben-amun.com? 



Multi Strand Pearl Necklace with Crystal Pendant

Crystal Leaf Earrings with Pearl Drop





Whether you look to Bella or Southern belles for style inspiration, check out www.ben-amun.com and bring your favorite fictional heroines into your jewelry box today!   



-Kristin







Loving Leather at Ben-Amun!

With Fall charging toward Winter, the sidewalks and subways of New York City are peppered with leather jackets. It’s a look that’s easy to rock, easy to make your own, and easy to add to any outfit, but it’s not exactly breaking news. To call the leather jacket a trend would be like calling pants a trend. So I won’t, but that doesn’t mean that the powers that be haven’t found new and exciting ways to keep leather current!

This season, leather is making its way indoors. Perhaps in an effort to keep the leather jacket effect going all day long, our second favorite of the leather-centered trends, is the leather sleeve (our favorite of course being leather accessories.) Check out the Jonathan Simkhai look below and delectate on the two trends together!

Want to skip the sleeves and ease into this trend? All of the leather accented bracelets paired with the look above are available for purchase now at www.ben-amun.com! Fabulous stacked, these bracelets can give some edge to your outfit, or pick one and mix it with some more feminine pieces to make the trend work for you.


              

                          Double Tassel Chain Bracelet





Gunmetal Chain and Leather Bracelet



             

                 Crystal and Jet Square Bracelet
               Try mixing this one in with your leather
              collection for something more flirty!

Leather Chain Bracelet



Tassels are the classic luxury adornment, so why not adorn yourself with our leather version this fall? The compliments will keep on coming when you wear the leather tassel earrings below from day to night, or, if you're looking for something bold but basic enough to wear again and again, try the lariat necklace.  

                                 

                                         Leather Tassel Earrings



Leather Tassel Lariat Necklace



As the weather gets cooler, so can your wardrobe! Give the leather accessory trend a spin today with the help of www.ben-amun.com and keep the cool confidence of a perfect leather jacket going all day long.

-Kristin