Jewelry News

Dive Into Brent Neale’s New Splash Collection

The joyful jewels debuted at an intimate seafood dinner party last week

by Kareem Rashed

Since launching her brand in 2017, Brent Neale Winston has built her own distinct world — a fantastical wonderland populated by sapphire-studded rainbows, gilded hummingbirds, opal mushrooms, and the occasional malachite pot leaf. Equal parts playful and psychedelic, it’s some of the most fun fine jewelry has had in recent years. The latest revelers to join the party? A menagerie of sea creatures rendered in Winston’s singular style.

The new collection, called Splash in homage to the ‘80’s cult classic starring Daryl Hannah as a lovestruck mermaid, debuted with an intimate dinner at Majorelle earlier this week. Along with a seafood-centric menu (naturally), guests got a first look at designs that hone the high-low eclecticism that has become Winston’s signature (Botticelli’s Birth of Venus was also cited as an inspiration). Much of the collection sees Winston tackling two of the most traditionally conservative materials, white diamonds and pearls, imbuing them with her brand of whimsy. One of the night’s most Instagram-ed pieces is a prime example: a cocktail ring in the form of a golden clamshell, dotted with diamonds, that opens to reveal a single South Sea pearl and a smattering of multicolored sapphires.

“I’m really excited about this collection because it was a chance for me to bring in some new materials, like South Sea pearls,” she says. “Splash is also a much more diamond-heavy collection than what I’ve done in the past, but of course — whether the color is carved or layered or faceted — there will always be a nod to my love of saturated gems.”

Indeed, the carved gemstones that have featured in previous Brent Neale collections make an appearance in the form of chalcedony and lapis seashell pendants. But, for the most part, this collection has Winston proving she can pack a visual punch without any bold hues. The gypsy rings and cuffs that have become Winston’s bestsellers are transformed with a combination of mixed fancy-cut diamonds and pearls both large and small. Volume is another major theme of the collection, in appealingly weighty chain-link bracelets, oversized hoops, and hefty bangles occasionally punctuated with a single, lustrous pearl.

While the collection will be hitting stores in the coming months, just as winter’s chill begins to nip, it has us plotting our next beach getaway. Forget #HotGirlSummer — we have a feeling 2020 may be the summer of Splash.

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