Alex Jona Twiggy

When Alex Jona joined the Italian jewelry purveyor that his father, Giorgio Jona, had founded in 1961, the Jona brand began to offer elegant bracelets, cufflinks, necklaces and other accessories subdued enough for daily wear yet visually splendid and skillfully handcrafted using precious metals and stones.

Tucked in a 1690 Baroque building on Torino’s Palazzo Balbo di Vinadio is a 3,000-square-foot showroom. This is the headquarters of Jona, home to luxury jewelry designs that are complex, yet often understated. For example, a slender pair of yellow tourmaline drop earrings set into 18-carat gold has a juxtaposition creating just the slightest contrast, which might be noticed only upon close inspection.

Alex travels frequently, and precious stones collected from around the world are a common fixture in Jona jewelry — he personally designs pieces with stones like lapis lazuli shaped into eye-like cufflinks, sapphires caged in 14-carat-gold rings and quartz crystals stacked into modern beaded necklaces. Enamel, which is one of the oldest forms of surface decoration, is often arranged to create graphic, abstract patterns or cheekier winks, like miniature tennis balls on cufflinks. Even sparklier pieces, like diamond-encrusted earrings, bear an organic quality when arranged in the shape of a blooming daisy.

An innovative spirit can also be found in Jona’s collaborations, such as the partnership with Italian architect and jewelry designer Tiziana Redavid that yielded radical bracelets and necklaces made with stainless-steel springs. The result is a brand whose modern shapes and precious stones ride the line between traditional elegance and modern daring.

Find a wide range of Alex Jona jewelry on 1stDibs today.

If you’re shopping for antique and vintage band rings, you likely know that this particular kind of ring is among the most versatile in jewelry.

You don’t need a special occasion to dazzle friends with a flashy sapphire band ring or to make a statement with a wide band ring — this accessory knows no boundaries, and many different iterations have materialized over the years. Whether you’re seeking an unadorned modern sterling-silver band ring for everyday wear or dual gold wedding bands for the big day, there are lots of options waiting for you.

On 1stDibs, there are enduring antique wedding bands to be found dating from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Jewelers who were active during the reign of Queen Victoria — specifically, the Romantic period — designed rings with large colorful gemstones and decorative motifs, while the jewelry of the latter era was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron. Matching wedding bands, which may reduce the stress of wedding-band shopping if you prefer a traditional route, afford you and your partner the chance to have the engagement ring and wedding bands in the same metal and design.

And because band rings aren’t necessarily relegated to black-tie events, they’ve come a long way, design-wise. David Yurman’s band rings, for example, are well known for their integration of mixed metals, and the celebrated jewelry designer’s powerful silver and gold bracelets, rings, pendants and earrings frequently express his iconic industrial-cable motif.

A simple and chic band ring goes with anything, from the evening gown you’ve chosen for a weekend gala to the jeans and vintage tee you’ve thrown on for a casual lunch with colleagues. Browse a distinctive collection of contemporary and vintage diamond band rings, gold band rings and other accessories on 1stDibs today.