Erickson Beamon

Founded by Karen & Eric Erickson and Vicki Beamon (Vicki Sarge) in the early 1980s, Erickson Beamon was born out of the same spontaneous spirit that carries the brand forward today.

Erickson Beamon opened a European division in 1985, and the opening of a flagship boutique in London's Belgravia soon followed. Though the collection has grown exponentially in the past 30 years, the same handcrafted aesthetic is still Erickson Beamon's trademark. Walk into their design studios in Manhattan's West Chelsea and visitors will find artisans sitting before trays laden with crystals and semi-precious stones, meticulously assembling each piece by hand.

With a fount of creative energy to tap into, it's little wonder that Erickson Beamon is an in-demand collaborator (for over 30 years) with fashion houses like Chanel, Dior, John Galliano, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Anna Sui, Dries Van Noten, Ghost, Copperwheat Blundell, Raf Simons for Jil Sander, and Emanuel Ungaro. "Erickson Beamon is really an overdose of beauty and creativity," says Dries Van Noten. "The jewellery from Erickson Beamon is original and has such variety that every woman, from romantics to the hard core, can fall in love," says Olivier Theyskens, explaining an endless list of private clients like Madonna, Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna and Nicole Kidman. Daphne Guinness regularly arrives at photo shoots with suitcases full of her own favourite pieces. And while the jewellers have created magnificently insane looks for Gaga ranging from a diamanté cage mask to a Spanish jet-encrusted lace mantilla, Michelle Obama favours the more demure floral brooches and pearl necklaces.

Such inspired artistry has been immortalised in the collections of London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum, where the "Dollhouse" chandelier earrings are permanently housed. Erickson Beamon has also been honoured with a retrospective exhibition, first curated in 2003 by Simon Doonan for the windows of Barneys in honour of the brand's 20th anniversary. The retrospective has since traveled as far afield as Hong Kong's Lane Crawford. The house now boasts a fine jewellery collection, offering the brand's signature style in diamonds and 18 karat gold. An eyewear license was added in 2007, and the designers launched a limited edition capsule collection Erickson Beamon for Target in February 2009. Heritage and hand-craftsmanship are the Erickson Beamon hallmarks.