Looking for jewelry to accessorize your Halloween outfit with some frivolity and fun? Surprise and shock? Maybe, you want just a hint of Halloween holiday with a discreet, little owl pendant that you can wear to work? Or, perhaps, you're in a mood for jewelry that is completely outrageous, eerie and weird... How about an edgy, over-the-top, red-collared skull necklace?
Check-out 13 completely different, masterly, jewelry artists, designers and purveyors for their take on what to wear on the eve of All Saints Day. It doesn't cost a fortune to celebrate the spooky season; in fact, some of these pieces cost next-to-nothing. On the other hand, if you've got the budget, there is an outrageous, collectible, otherworldly bauble lurking out there for you as well.
Regardless of the price tag, each of these one-of-a-kind jewels is sure to be the highlight of your Halloween holiday. Best of all, if you don't find exactly the piece you crave, many of these artists and etailers are happy to custom-create the fantastical Halloween jewel of your dreams (please note, several of these pieces are featured in photos at the end of the article).
Cute Dangly Earrings Look Like Candy Corn, Ghosts, Pumpkins and More
Halloween baubles are all about cuteness and fun at internet shop Creations With Heart. Handmade, dangly, glass lampwork candy corn earrings on sterling silver hooks feature petite Swarovski crystals and detailed silver accents. Also presented are glass ghost earrings, black and orange beaded earrings, bat earrings, spider earrings, pumpkin earrings, sterling silver spider webs and more.
Any pair would be perfect as lighthearted accessories for an adult, as well as a teen or child. Best of all, each hand-crafted pair costs between $5 and $13. And if that doesn't make you smile, how about this: owner Julie (just "Julie" to the public), who makes each piece of jewelry by hand, says that a portion of her proceeds is donated to help animals in need.
Darling, Doll-sized Witch Pendants Dance on Silver-toned Chains
Mixed-media artist Barbe Saint John makes cheery, humorous, one-of-a-kind Little Witch pendants. Each to-die-for, demurely sized dolly has her own name and makes a perfect and unusual Halloween gift or amusing Halloween accessory for celebrations. Imagine one as a hostess, grab bag, or party gift for an adult or youth. For sale at Barbe's Saints and Sinners Etsy shop, each collectible, lovable, spirited Little Witch comes with a 24-inch-long silver-tone chain and costs $55.
Black Cat Dog-Tag Pendant Necklace Won't Raise Eyebrows
Whether you love Halloween, cats, or both, jewelry that is subtle enough to wear everyday without raising eyebrows is the whimsical Spooky Black Cat necklace by Destiny's Creations. Janice Doner's $50 handmade necklace features a dog-tag style pendant hanging on an 18" ball chain. Crafted of pure, reclaimed, fine silver and hand-tinted resin, the piece has a classic, casual look that makes a go-anywhere, casual-wear jewelry keepsake.
Found Objects Make Dramatic, Award-Worthy Halloween Jewelry
Award-winning metalsmith and artist Madelyn Smoak of MadArtjewelry says she haunts flea markets and antiques shops, as well as online sources for her unusual jewelry components. Madelyn has handcrafted a shop full of eclectic and dramatic Steampunk-style jewelry pieces that make showstopping focal points to any outfit or costume.
The red lace Dia de Los Muertos Skull Spoon Necklace is definitely an over-the-top, eerily weird jewelry piece. The bright red lace bib, adorned with red chili peppers and a spoon fashioned into a skull, costs $97. Pair it with a black outfit and one is sure to make an unforgettable impression. However, this is necklace just one of many possibilities: Madelyn produces plenty of mad, wearable art to inspire and ignite your Halloween and Steampunk-style festivities.
Designer Skull Jewelry Finished in Silver and Vermeil
For something small, simple, and sterling silver, try a pair of designer Daisy Knights skull earrings. Available at Net-A-Porter for $150, these handmade stud earrings feature punched holes in a flat skull-shaped piece of silver. They come with butterfly backs and a designer-stamped pouch for storage and gift-giving. Dressed-up or dressed-down, these subtle, petite studs are sure to bring a smile when noticed.
Also, Daisy Knights features more skull-themed and limited-edition jewelry on her website, including hoop earrings and bracelets in recycled sterling silver, blackened sterling silver, and 22 kt gold vermeil.
Pandora Beads Make Frightfully Perfect Halloween Birthday Gifts
Hand-finished Pandora brand charms make fabulous, forever, trinket gifts and collectibles. If you like more traditional jewelry, already have a European-style, cable charm bracelet or necklace, or intend to give a jewel as an everlasting gift, consider an authentic Pandora Halloween charm.
Pandora offers several Halloween-appropriate beads, including a sterling silver smiley ghost bead, a friendly jack-o-lantern bead, and a playful little witch bead. In addition, the company offers a three-stone orange carnelian cabochon and silver bead; handmade Venetian glass beads of many colors, including orange and black; kitty beads; and four three-bead gift sets: the Boo! Gift Set, the Trick or Treat Gift Set, the Costume Party Gift Set, and the Candy Corn Gift Set.
Prices for a single Halloween bead begin at $25 and rise to as much as $165 for the most expensive of the gift sets. Add a chain bracelet for as little as $50. Because charms can be added year after year, Pandora jewelry makes a clever gift for a woman or teen with a Halloween birthday.
Lux Handmade, Personalized Pendants and Chains in Precious Metals
Heather B. Moore specializes in fine, hand-crafted, personalized jewelry made from 100-percent recycled materials. Her gorgeous, heirloom-quality 14 kt gold and sterling silver pieces have a beautiful brushed finish and soft-looking, handmade appeal.
For a very subtle nod to Halloween, with versatile pieces that may be worn just about anywhere, the yellow-gold-on-silver Owl and Star Oval Charm ($810), Owl Oval Charm ($720), and small Moon Charm ($345) each would make a beautiful addition to a silver or gold necklace or bracelet. An all-gold Halloween-appropriate jewel, is the Moon Charm with Star ($1,530). The collection offers gemstone pendants as well as several drool-worthy gold and silver chains to pair with charms, notably the luxurious 4.8 mm yellow-gold open chain, perfect for layering several special charms.
Heather Moore Jewelery is available in sterling silver as well as white, yellow, rose and green 14 kt gold. Wearers may mix and match several pieces together, for an exquisite dangle on the end of a long chain necklace, or grouping on a bracelet. Best of all, charms may be engraved with personal messages and initials.
Bottega Veneta Blackens Silver for a Stunning, Dark Halloween Look
"Dark glamour" is the description Net-A-Porter gives to a pair of dangly Bottega Veneta Blackened Oxidized Silver and Zirconia Earrings for pierced ears ($590). "Wear them with pinned-back locks and a dramatic lace dress to exude vintage-inspired elegance," reads the description. Sounds perfect for a Victorian take on Halloween, or an accessory to a black witch or sorceress gown. Pair the earrings with the Oxidized Sterling Silver Cameo Bracelet ($2,200) to continue the antique-inspired look, or with the Oxidized Sterling Silver and Zircon Necklace ($1,950) for a more modern look.
The Eyes Have It — Eyeball Lariat Necklace Anyone?
Whether you consider it fashion, costume, art, or jewelry, this goofy piece is a must see for Halloween. Owner Kim at fashiondivacrochet offers an eccentric eyeball lariat necklace that is hand-crocheted. Hanging on the ends of a crocheted red lariat, each of two, big, handcrafted eyes features veins and eyelashes. The piece measures 32" long, eyeball to eyeball, and when worn hangs at 16" long. Each black plastic safety eye at the center of the crochet work has blue coloring and is stuffed with polyfil. Kim says she "lovingly" crocheted the piece and hand-sewed the appliques and trim. The piece is hand-washable and is made to last. The lariat is priced at $15.
Beetle and Skull Jewelry Makes Creepy, Fasion-Forward Statement Piece
Back at international luxury etailer Net-A-Porter, the stunning and whimsical Philippa Holland beetle ring is sure to bug someone as a creepy statement piece. Great worn as a Halloween accessory, the $1,260, edgy, woodland-themed piece is not only current, fashion-forward and trendy, it is versatile enough to be worn year-round and for years to come. The well-made insect ring is meticulously hand-crafted of recycled oxidized sterling silver and dipped in clear gold enamel. There is detailed etching work and the beetle is set upon a textured band that looks like a vine or twig. Also, for the same price, Net-A-Porter offers a companion Philippa Holland raspberry colored beetle pendant on a silver chain.
In addition, Net-A-Porter offers a stunning $1,010 Philippa Holland 22 kt gold-plated bat skull ring and $800 bat skull necklace. Each is sure to be a collectible and features a movable "jaw." The ring has a sinuously textured band. Somehow, as creepy as the subject may be, both appear quite etherial. UK designer and celebrity jeweler Philppa Holland makes many fairytail- and natural-themed jewelry pieces that make excellent Halloween accessories, including spiders and scorpions.
Say 'I Love You' Halloween-style with Orange Diamond Wedding Rings
If it is a Halloween engagement or anniversary you've got planned, how about a matching pair of orange diamond rings from Diamonds by Lauren? Although orange diamonds are quite scarce, and relatively pricey, owner David Friedlander specializes in colored diamonds and with some time, is sure to be able to scare-up the perfect orange sparklies for a custom set of rings. If you are not into rings, anniversaries or marriage proposals, how about a custom orange-diamond pendant or right-hand ring?
'Queen of Steam' Makes Freaky, Steampunk-style Wearable Art Jewelry
For a serious jolt of Halloween funk and freakiness, visit edmdesigns for all sorts of wild and whacky industrial textile fashion and Steampunk jewelry. "Queen of Steam" artist Ricky Wolbrom and textile artist Teresa Stanton of 1/2 Street Studios, collaborate to create showstopper, outrageous, adventurous, one-of-a-kind cuffs. Also available are Ricky's necklaces, rings, cuff links, tie bars, goggles and more for men and women. There are simple too many wild and whacky pieces to link to them individually; just go to the site and scroll for scads of Halloweeney possibilities...
Make no mistake, wear one of these odd and curious pieces and you will be noticed! What better way to make an eerily unforgettable entrance to a Halloween celebration than to wear an oversized, overstuffed, fantastical, mounstrous, fur- leather- or fabric-wrapped cuff featuring chains, watch parts glass vials, ravens, wire mesh, skulls, crossbones, chains... you name it, it could be there. Top it off with a pair of whacky, tinted-lens Steampunk-style goggles created from rare, vintage driving goggles and no one will forget you.
Once in a Lifetime Investment: Vintage Collectible Jewel Encrusted Skull Ring
Venetian jeweler Codognato's vintage, 1980s Renaissance-style gem-encrusted skull ring, the very same iconic ring that was on display at a museum in 2010, is offered for sale at Richard Bray's Phenomenal Jewels for $25,000. Famous (the ring is featured as cover art for Pierre Hebey's book Codognato) and often copied, the otherworldly enamel, rock crystal, and 18 kt yellow-gold ring depicts a realistic, three-dimensional miniature skull with bejeweled crown. Sure to be cherished as an heirloom, the opportunity to reveal your true Halloween spirit, with this spectacular, unearthly keepsake, most definitely is now.
Claire Eddins - Writer/editor, award-winning photographer Claire Eddins collects gems, horses, and obsesses over home, art, and design.
