Britt’s Pick: Guita M’s Emerald Heart Necklace

It’s the final heart-themed Britt’s Pick of Valentine’s season, with Feb. 14 coming at us quick (and I have yet to purchase my annual box of cheap, indulgent chocolates).

The unexpected and unconventional are always welcome here, and one of Guita M’s newer heart-shape designs fits that bill. Heart jewelry, though it comes in a variety of sizes and even colors, is usually associated with warm tones like red and pink. But in green and brown, Guita M’s heart necklace is an earthy delight—and makes a big statement to boot.

“This is a very recent creation from a pair of unusually large Colombian emerald hearts I had acquired in Tucson some years ago,” designer Guita Mortinger tells JCK.  “The detachable heart pendant is made from a flawless emerald adorned with mauve sapphires in 18k yellow gold, and the strand is made of emerald and chrysoberyl cat’s-eye beads.”

She continues: “The inspiration for this piece were desert colors—nature is always inspiring—and a counter to the more elegant design I chose for the other heart.” (See that other emerald heart piece here.)

The necklace this pendant resides on reminds me of those cool surfer bead styles—albeit an elevated edition—with gorgeously jardin-filled emerald beads and opaque cat’s-eye, a very of-the-moment look.

Should one choose to rock such a piece at the beach, the necklace can be worn with or without the pendant, and sandy environments might well call for the latter. But coming in at a weight over 80 cts., the emerald heart pendant will draw attention everywhere else, from the restaurant to the red carpet (or even the office).

Top: Detachable pendant in 18k yellow gold with 80.7 ct. Colombian emerald heart and mauve sapphires on a necklace in 18k yellow gold with emerald and chrysoberyl cat’s-eye beads, $14,900; Guita M