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Heavy metal
Bicoastal jewelry rocks out at Topaz
By CHRISTINE LIU
del.ico.us
reddit!
Perched along Mass. Ave. halfway between Harvard and Porter Squares, Topaz seems like a diamond (or perhaps some other gem?) in the rough. In this haven of precious things, you'll soon find your bearing—but if you're still unsure, titles scattered about like Boyfriend-training Flash Cards, Girls' Guide to Wine and 50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America will set things straight. Nevertheless, the goods at Topaz prove more remarkable than merely girly.
The contents of the airy, track-lit boutique include supple vegetable-tanned leather belts from Italy, handbags of every persuasion, Mine Pure White soy candles and an array of hair accessories than could stylishly wrangle the most abusive mane. Mind not only the coffee-table mermaid—the sculpted siren lies underneath, her grand tail seductively splayed up and over the glass surface—but also the countless jewelry cases that seem to appear at every corner. Styles range from a graceful yoga-inspired pendant collection to chunkier lemon quartz-studded necklaces or mod geometric earrings that employ tiny daggers (and a steady hand) to secure them upon fleshy lobes. "We carry something for everyone," says sales associate Jenn Pici. "There are six of us here [at Topaz] and we're all so different, so it's nice to have a range."
This Saturday, Topaz hosts the jewelry designers of Boston's NYX and San Francisco's Jené DeSpain during an in-store event. A live DJ, various discounts throughout the store and a heady dose of wine and cheese will make one hell of a party. With bold swoops of silver encompassing semi-precious stones, NYX gives off a bohemian flair with meticulous detailing along the lines of custom necklace fastenings. Jené DeSpain's pieces, on the other hand, feature thin elements of hammered silver and gold, the components often working in delicate balance like a Calder mobile. For the event, the two collections work in complementary tandem—and with price points about $100, these one-off designs are worth a compulsive peek.
1ST ANNUAL SPRING BLOOM EVENT
WITH JENÉ DESPAIN AND NYXSTUDIO
SAT. 3.29
TOPAZ
1702 MASS. AVE.
CAMBRIDGE
617.492.3700
6PM-9PM/FREE