SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
TrendsJun 15, 2018
Jewelry Brand to Know: Leslie Paige
The new brand’s signatures are off-kilter settings and interlocking rings.
This is one of Leslie Paige’s signatures: a creatively-set solitaire gemstone ring. The 14-karat rose gold and amethyst style sells for $2,400 at retail.
Portland, Ore.—Like a lot of great ventures, designer Leslie Paige McElroy’s fine jewelry line began when she couldn’t find a specific ring she wanted to wear.
“I really just wanted to find a ring that was set with the stone on its side, so you could see the back of the stone as well as the front,” McElroy explained. “When I couldn’t find anything like it, I decided to have the first one made just for me.”
McElroy ended up making two, and before she even picked them up from the jeweler, people had asked to buy them from her.
“From there I continued to design other pieces I basically wanted for myself and found people loved them,” she said.
McElroy is a former pastry chef who had just finished a year of teaching culinary arts at a college when she had the idea for her “Perched Setting Ring,” or her signature design, which sets stones on their edges in a bezel, creating a sort of alternative solitaire ring.
“My inspiration comes from wanting to create something new and different while using classic components, like channel-set baguettes or bezel-set emerald-cut stones. I love geometric shapes and mechanical things, so these thing always end up in my designs. Some of my pieces almost have a machine-like feel to them.”
Leslie Paige’s Double Screw bangle in 14-karat rose gold with rhodolite garnet and green tourmaline ($5,000)
Perched ring in 14-karat yellow gold with London blue topaz ($2,400)
Five Band Puzzle ring in 14-karat white gold with diamond baguettes ($6,000)
Two Square Puzzle necklace in 14-karat yellow gold with diamonds ($2,000)
Perched ring in 14-karat white gold with 1-carat diamond ($11,800)
Bezel Cluster necklace in 14-karat yellow gold with kunzite, rhodolite garnet, aquamarine and multicolored sapphires (price available upon request)
The most industrial of McElroy’s pieces is a hefty cuff, with two screws topped with her untraditionally-set stones. McElroy plans to make a non-gemstone version for men in the future.
Another of the designer’s signatures are her interlocking square rings and necklaces, which she calls her “Puzzle” series.
McElroy officially launched Leslie Paige in 2016 with a trunk show at Marios—a part of the Mitchell Stores chain—in Portland, Oregon, where she resides.
Now, she’s stocked at Broken English’s range of stores in New York and California, as well as Hot Box Betty in Bend, Oregon.
Describing her design ethos as “a classic twist on a modern design,” McElroy is just beginning to find her voice in her new medium, having left the pastry world behind.
“I always wore very classic jewelry--beautiful, but traditional,” she said. “What I want to wear and create now are small pieces of art, conversation starters and things that prompt intrigue.”
Retail prices for the 14-karat gold, gemstone and diamond line start at $200 for a single earring and reach up to $11,800, though most of the range falls between $2,000 and $6,000.
For
more information, visit LesliePaigeJewelry.com.
A post shared by LesliePaige (@lesliepaigejewelry) on May 15, 2018 at 3:05pm PDT
More on Trends
The Latest
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
Weekly QuizJan 22, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
SourcingJan 27, 2026
GemGuide Launches Pricing for Montana SapphiresThe initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.
TechnologyJan 27, 2026
Clientbook Launches Appointment Booking ToolThe new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Tucson Preview 2026: Earthy Tones and Innovative Shapes Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Angolan Diamond Cos. Join NDC as Rio Tinto, Murowa Exit Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
Francesca’s To Close All StoresThe retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
BIJC Names 5 New Board MembersThe new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.
CollectionsJan 26, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates 189 Years of Love StoriesThe jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.
GradingJan 26, 2026
DCA Updates Colored Gemstone CourseThe new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Watches of Switzerland Acquires 4-Store Jewelry Chain in TexasFamily-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.
WatchesJan 23, 2026
Damiani Group to Acquire Baume & MercierThe Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.
MajorsJan 23, 2026
Rembrandt Charms Names New Director of Creative, Brand StrategyElla Blum was appointed to the newly created role.
Supplier BulletinJan 22, 2026
The Rise of Centralized Sourcing in the Colored Gemstone MarketSponsored by RapNet
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Lugano Diamonds Finds a BuyerInvestment firm Enhanced Retail Funding, a division of Gordon Brothers, was the successful bidder.
SourcingJan 22, 2026
De Beers To Release ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ BookIt explores the history of the iconic tagline and the company’s strategy to redefine the role of diamonds in society.
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Swarovski Appoints New North America PresidentRetail veteran Sindhu Culas has stepped into the role.
MajorsJan 22, 2026
Stuller Names New Chief Merchandising, Marketing, Sales OfficerTaylor Burgess, who has been at Stuller since 2013, was promoted to the newly created role.
PodcastsJan 21, 2026
Episode 1: High Gold Prices, the Diamond Dilemma, & What’s NextWas 2025 a good year for jewelers? Did lab-grown diamonds outsell natural? Find out on the first episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
EditorsJan 21, 2026
6 Jewelry Designers Poised to Have a Breakout Year in 2026Whether you recognize their jewels or are just discovering them now, these designers’ talent and vision make them ones to watch this year.
CrimeJan 21, 2026
4 Men Charged in $1.7M California Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Store RobberyPlus, JSA’s Scott Guginsky discusses the need for jewelers to take more precautions as the gold price continues to climb.
