It takes no stretch of the imagination to know you’ll look fabulous in stretch jewelry
Stretch jewelry gets the unfair reputation of being associated with costume jewelry, or homemade arts and crafts. But we’ve had enough of this slander! Thanks to modern stretch technology, there is a myriad of fine jewelry options that also happen to be stretch jewelry. Just think of it: all the glitz and glamor of a diamond bracelet or an 18k yellow gold bangle without any of the hassle of a clasp or hinge. Sounds like a dream right? Well, we can assure you this dream is reality—no pinching needed! Your friends at Deutsch have compiled a list of our favorite elegant stretch jewelry, so make sure you’re wide awake to take in the perfect combination of class and comfort in fine stretch jewelry.
High class and high comfort
Hulchi Belluni as a brand was founded based on three central tenets of harmony, wearability, and femininity; at its core, the brand draws its deepest inspiration from the ancient Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui: an art form that seeks to create bliss, harmony, and balance by carefully arranging objects, designs, or space in a certain environment. Carefully designed so as to radiate a positive “Chi”, Hulchi Belluni pieces most frequently feature stretch technology, which allows for comfortable wear without compromising on style. Pieces like the Hulchi Belluni Tresore Bracelet in 18K White Gold with three sliding star stations and handset pavé diamonds reflect the brand’s signature aesthetic of easy femininity, timeless grace, and simple elegance. An adaptation of the quintessential Tresore design, this 18k white gold bracelet features three lovely star-shaped stations, each studded with pavé white diamonds totaling .13 ctw. Set deliberately off-center—another brand signature—the three charming stars give the dainty bracelet a sense of fun and playfulness, meeting the simple beaded design of the Tresore bracelet to create a vibrant, feminine design with enough character to set itself apart while still remaining effortlessly elegant.
For a bolder look that is still equally comfortable and wearable, the chunky design of the Hulchi Belluni Tresore Bracelet in 18K Rose Gold with 1.10 ct of pavé-set diamonds has captured our hearts. Featuring the very same stretch technology that makes the classic Tresore bracelets so perfectly comfortable, this more daring approach to stretch bracelets incorporates much larger 18k rose gold beads, each shaped like a rounded triangle that fits flush against its neighbor. Along the front of this rose gold bracelet, glittering pavé diamonds cover the surface of one upper triangle-shaped bead, which is met by a solid lower bead, a solid upper bead, and finally, one more pavé diamond-studded lower bead. Once again, the motif of deliberate asymmetry appears in Hulchi Belluni’s designs, disrupting the visual space and, at the same time, disrupting design convention in order to achieve its own quirky kind of balance—a personal Feng Shui.
Continuing a long family tradition of work in fine jewelry, Roberto Demeglio’s entry into the world of design began when he opened his own goldsmithing laboratory at the tender age of 18. A few years later, he began making bespoke jewelry with his brother. Because of their proximity to FIAT factories, Roberto and his brother spent time learning about the automobile industry, and in particular, about the materials used in the industry; this formative period led to what would be a lifelong pursuit to discover and improve modern materials to create long-lasting jewelry. Not only did this period of experimentation lead to the foundation of Roberto Demeglio as a brand, but it also led to the creation feature that would become the brand’s signature: the elastic spring, which eliminated the need for bracelet clasps. When Roberto Demeglio eliminated clasps in his design, an entirely new philosophy took over the jeweler. It was a philosophy that prioritized comfort and high-tech materials, all to support the changing lifestyle of the modern woman. High-tech ceramics and stretch technology lie at the heart of pieces like the Small Aura Dama Beads with One Diamond Station, where touches of glamor are found in the form of a diamond station among the 18k yellow golden coated ceramic beads.
It should be no surprise, given Roberto Demeglio’s preference for infusing the everyday with nods to high fashion, that the jeweler’s work with precious gemstones and evening jewelry is equally stunning. Just as everyday collections like Aura Dama turn to geometric designs to break up solid pieces or colors, gemstone bracelets like the 2 Row Diamond and Blue Sapphire Stretch Bracelet incorporate patterns of colorful gemstones in their design. Set in 18k white gold, this sapphire bracelet features an interwoven series of 5 blue sapphires arranged in an “x” shape, linking together to create a stark band of blue against a white diamond backdrop. All of this beauty and drama comes strung along a gorgeously comfortable stretch bracelet—the perfect combination of high class and high comfort.
You simply can’t discuss stretch jewelry without mentioning Picchiotti, and the brand’s world-famous Xpandable™ collection. Invisible Xpandable™ technology allows the jewelry to first expand, allowing it to be put on with ease, and second, once the jewelry has been placed, allowing it to then contract to fit the wearer perfectly. This technology completely eliminates the frustrating problems of stretched-out elastic and too-loose fits that often plague stretch jewelry. Armed with this high-tech Xpandable™ system, Picchiotti creates gorgeous gemstone bracelets and gemstone rings. Vivid colors abound in bright pieces like the Xpandable ™ Turquoise Bracelet, which shows off 48 vibrant rectangular turquoise stones arranged in a grid pattern along an 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold bracelet. Alternating bands of tiny round white diamonds set in strips of 18k white gold accompany the turquoise inlays in this stretch bracelet, illuminating the piece with light captured off the surface of the miniature diamonds.
Xpandable™ technology also allows for Picchiotti rings to stretch from a women’s size 6.50 to 11.50 US. Stun in vibrant stretch rings like the Xpandable™ Coral ring, which showcases an electrifying coral center stone, flanked on either side by a total of 52 round diamonds. The 18k white gold setting of this coral ring meets a glimmer of romance with the subtle inclusion of thin ribbons of 18k rose gold along the band, making for a vivid, and character-filled statement ring.