Stainless Steel gets the Golden Treatment
When I think of stainless steel, skyscrapers come to mind—not luxury jewelry. The German originated jewelry company TeNo is hoping to change that notion with its luxury semi-precious line that uses the industrious metal as its main ingredient.
I literally stumbled across TeNo's boutique on a recent stroll through SoHo. The logo on the sign conjured up a flashback to a Vogue ad I’d seen in the 798-page September issue. Walking in, I was welcomed by friendly staff and a line of semi-precious jewlery that had a natural yet luxurious vibe.
Schwartz, Gmb H the prestigious German jewelry and watch manufacturer delivers necklaces, watches, rings, earrings, and bracelets that are composed of the finest nickel free stainless steel. The price range ($215 to $3,100 and up) might be slightly more justified when you consider the fact that gold, silver, rubber, wood and even diamonds are added to the inexpensive metal to create pieces that express “both innovation and tradition.”
Up until this point, TeNo has slipped under the radar and only been known for their men’s jewelry. The success they’ve acquired from their masculine men’s line in combination with the popularity of the David Yurman's, Judith Ripka's, and John Hardy's of the jewelry industry have propelled a brand of new fully customizable YuKon collection.
The YuKon collection centers on their rubber or steel unisex bracelets that can be personalized by added different “elements.” The elements are rings that slide onto the bracelets that are made of different semi-precious metals and/or diamonds. I found myself arranging my very own bracelet and it reminded me of picking out a more expensive, grown-up version of my beloved Nomination bracelet. Worn stacked up or on their own, they are sure to give Yurman bangles a run for their money.
Stainless will definitely outlast your sterling and doesn’t require any polishing but are you willing to dish out for otherwise cheaply priced steel jewelry?
