Brecken Branstrator

This month celebrates the popular gemstone that was named for its resemblance to the pomegranate seed and which, according to lore, balances energy.

After a year of attending gem shows, press previews and looking at a lot of jewelry, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator talks about which gemstones rocked 2015.

It’s Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator’s turn to pick out what she would get her family and friends for the holidays if money were no object. Here are the pieces she’s got in mind.

The last month of the year is lucky enough to have three birthstones--turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. Here are 10 pieces of jewelry that show off this month’s star stones.

See the whimsical, colorful pieces created by two Czech designers using colored pencils. They have Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator smiling.

Citrine and topaz are the birthstones for November babies. Here are 10 pieces of jewelry centered on these two colored gemstones.

A few days after the AGTA revealed the winners of its annual Spectrum Awards design contest, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator highlights a few of her own favorites from the contest.

After an afternoon spent perusing jewels at Jewelers of America’s annual press preview, Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator presents her (non-exhaustive) list of favorites.

October is the first of three months in a row with two dedicated birthstones. They are opal, the stone of hope, and tourmaline, the stone of strength.

When it comes to jewelry, art, home décor and the like, I can really appreciate a skull motif. When it’s done right, and especially with interesting materials or play with colors and accents, it can be edgy without being too moody.

Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator highlights eight pieces set with this blue gemstone in the corundum family, a gemstone that’s believed to protect from envy and harm.

Upcycling used objects isn’t exactly new or groundbreaking, but when one company finds a way to do it that not only makes cool jewelry but brings together a few things that I think almost everyone loves--music, fashion, sustainability and giving back--I’m all about it.

One of my first jobs out of college was for a content marketing company where I was helping to monitor the flow and publishing schedules of text for multiple websites.

Associate Editor Brecken Branstrator highlights six pieces of jewelry set with peridot, the green gemstone that has long been associated with light, healing and happiness and is the birthstone for this month.