Canadian gems

Homegrown jewelry brands from the established to the under-the-radar labels you need to know

Captve

Each piece by this Montreal-based brand starts from a solid block of wax, which is then hand-carved and cast in precious metals using locally sourced materials. This process, along with the brand’s name, is inspired by a series of sculptures by Michelangelo that depict human figures half-carved from blocks of marble.

Le Lou Ula

Le Lou Ula is the nom de plume of Bramble Lee Pryde, a multidisciplinary artist based in Western Canada. Pryde’s jewelry is made from gold and sterling silver in abstract, sculptural shapes. These earrings are available as pairs or singles, and just like human faces, no two are quite alike.

WWake

Born in Vancouver and now based in Brooklyn, designer Wing Yau launched her fine-jewelry label in 2013 and quickly found a devoted fan base thanks to her understated opal and diamond pieces. Though we can credit Yau, in part, for helping kick off the delicate, dainty, constellation-inspired jewelry trend, the designer is always pushing forward. Her monolith collection of large-scale pieces is stunning without being over-the-top.

Corey Moranis

The designer of this quirky, one-of-a-kind and award-winning accessory brand has a preferred medium: Lucite. Moranis twists and manipulates the colourful and clear material to create bangles, earrings and rings in her distinctive style. Her pieces have grown to gain a kind of “if you know, you know” notoriety. Right now, the designer is donating 15 per cent of sales to organizations responding to COVID-19 and the recipients change every two weeks.

Cynthia Miglio

This designer’s work is influenced by a sense of “artistic restlessness.” Miglio collections are inspired by Brazilian modernism, the movement of water or even the movement of a heartbeat across a monitor.

Jenny Bird

Like every other millennial in quarantine, I got really into The Sopranos, and by extension, the fashion of The Sopranos. The jewellery on the show is basically its own character: full of bravado and maximalist energy. The chunky chains by established, beloved Toronto-based Jenny Bird are like an updated, feminine take on the iconic look. Plus, the brand is currently offering free shipping on all orders.