Spotlight: Elisabeth Bell by Beth Yorn
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photo Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Beth Yorn, founder of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry, grew up scouring her backyard near the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut for oddities and objects in nature. “Our property backed the Appalachian Trail so I was always out exploring and seeing what I could find,” says the Santa Monica–based designer. “I used to chisel garnets out of a giant boulder, and there was a Native American cave on our property where you could find arrowheads scattered about. I would often string these found objects into necklaces or bracelets, and turn them into gifts for my friends.”
After college and a modeling stint in New York, Yorn decided to pursue her passion for jewelry design full-time. “On a free day, I wandered up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” she says. “They have the most amazing collection of ancient jewelry. I was inspired by the intricate detail and beautifully-worn stones that were set into these incredible pieces of jewelry.” She signed up for a metal-smithing class at the Jewelry Arts Institute in New York, and later began making everything from earrings and bangles cast in materials such as 14-carat gold, white gold, platinum, and pave diamond.
Her collection of organic-inspired jewelry—recalling sea shells, bear claw, stingray, and feathers—has been worn by the likes of Gwenyth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz. Her latest line, Sea Urchin, takes cues from local tide pools. “I was up in the Malibu Lagoon not long ago,” she says. “There are amazing tide pools and in them gorgeous sea anemones, starfish, and sea urchins. I thought that the urchin shape and form was something special. Their spines are elegant, yet offer safety. I thought they would translate well into jewelry, and I’m really happy with how they turned out.”
By Jennie Nunn
Pictured: Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
Photos Courtesy of Elisabeth Bell Jewelry
