To Ruzzo, that means truly embracing and loving who you are, in all of the forms that may take.
The “Lady” collection expresses this through pieces that encourage self-love by admiring one’s appearance in a compact mirror pendant, adorning the hair with combs, hair pins and hair sticks, and beautiful feminine jewels including necklaces, rings, and a bracelet.
As much of Ruzzo’s work is inspired by music in one way or another, the idea for the Lady collection came when she was listening to Aretha Franklin’s song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
“It got me thinking about what it means to be a woman, a lady, today. To truly feel good in yourself. As a mother to a young girl, this is extremely important to me,” said Ruzzo.
“A lady isn’t one fixed, polished thing, she’s a collection of selves. She changes. Contradicts herself. Wants different things on different days. That’s the whole point and honestly, I think too many women are taught to feel guilty for wanting more—more beauty, more attention, more softness, more edge, more space for themselves. We’re done with that.”
The Lady collection creates new takes on old beauty standards through objects that have been reimagined into wearable jewelry crafted in 18-karat yellow gold.
These pieces are a symbol of womanhood in all of its strength, softness, and complexity.
Ruzzo added, “The true art of being a lady is knowing yourself well enough to stop apologizing for what you want. Splurge on the thing. Celebrate yourself. Become whoever you feel like becoming next. There’s an elegance in a woman who chooses herself without guilt.”
The “Lady” compact mirror (seen at the top of the article) transforms the item many carry in their purse into a pendant that can be worn on a chain.
The functional piece opens to reveal two mirrors and when closed displays the 20.02-carat green tourmaline cabochon Ruzzo hand selected.
The 18-karat yellow gold “Lady” comb necklace centers a 4.56-carat sugarloaf emerald and is styled on a cable chain ($19,400).
The “Lady” comb is a piece that can be worn in multiple ways, on a cable chain as a necklace or in the hair as a comb.
Ruzzo also offers versions of this piece without the bail to only be worn in the hair. It centers a 11.68-carat green tourmaline cushion-cut cabochon over the 4.56-carat sugarloaf emerald.
The “Lady” hair stick showcases a 3.24-carat old mine-cut diamond accented by a round green tourmaline cabochon set in 18-karat yellow gold ($59,600).
The “Lady” hair stick bridges the many green-colored gemstones used in the collection with cushion-cut diamonds as it features a 3.24-carat cushion-cut diamond accented by a round green tourmaline cabochon.
The hair stick can also be worn as a brooch.
The “Lady” hair pin features three green tourmaline cabochons totaling 12.43 carats set in 18-karat yellow gold ($32,400).
Meanwhile, the “Lady” hair pin continues Ruzzo’s use of cabochons via three green tourmalines totaling 12.43 carats.
Lady also includes a diamond-accented chain, a cushion-cut champagne diamond bracelet, and versions of the “Lady” ring with gemstones like white diamond, champagne diamond, green tourmaline, Malayan garnet, emerald, ruby, blue sapphire, and terracotta zircon.
The more than 30-piece collection is entirely made up of one-of-a-kind pieces, with prices starting at $5,800.
It debuted at Couture and is available on the Jade Ruzzo website.