Kent Raible Pearl Earrings

Each piece of Kent Raible jewelry showcases the master goldsmith's love for the craft. The Washington state-based designer uses ancient techniques to create exquisite 18-karat gold cocktail rings, dangle earrings and pendant necklaces. 

Raible’s contemporary accessories are set with the finest colored gemstones and feature layers of incredibly detailed granulation, a method of ornamentation common in Byzantine jewelry (and employed in Etruria as well) that sees a piece’s surface decorated with granular spheres of precious metal. Together with his wife, Lynn, Raible has grown his passion project into a thriving and recognizable brand.

Raible's first exposure to metalwork was in a high school jewelry class in the early 1970s. It sparked his interest in the material, and he would go on to spend years studying goldsmithing and design. Though Raible is largely self-taught and never apprenticed under a master goldsmith, he did seek out knowledgeable teachers to help hone his skill and traveled to Germany to study during the 1980s.

Since then, alongside establishing his studio, Raible has become a teacher himself, leading workshops at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco and the Penland School of Craft in South Carolina. He also offers self-guided online courses and in-person workshops.

Raible's work has garnered acclaim and recognition over the years. One of his masterpieces, the Floating City necklace, is part of the permanent collection at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Finished in 1996 — and partly inspired by the legend of Atlantis — the accessory took two years to make and features diamonds, tourmaline, sapphires, chalcedony and amethysts. A sculpture of Raible’s was included in “The Art of Gold” exhibition organized by the Society of North American Goldsmiths. That same sculpture won the 2015 Saul Bell Design Award competition in the Hollowware/Art Object category. 

Raible continues to offer workshops and make covetable jewelry. He is also inspiring a new generation of jewelry artists, such as Southern California-based designer Loren Nicole, who studied under Raible to learn more about gold granulation.

On 1stDibs, find Kent Raible rings, earrings, necklaces and more.

Earrings are a timeless accessory. Women have been wearing studs and hoops in civilizations as far back as Ancient Egypt. Diamond drop earrings, pearl versions and other antique drop earrings have a long history as well.

While hoops will always be beautiful, drop earrings hold their own as dazzling accessories, and jewelry designers have explored different variations on this style of earring over time.

Although the term is often misapplied, true drop earrings are characterized by a long lean line ending in a pear-shaped stone that drops just below the earlobe. These accessories were popular in the Art Deco era, which encompassed the 1920s and ’30s and ushered in a very distinct look in jewelry design.

There were many influences on Art Deco jewelry; among them, the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. Today, the popularity of long Art Deco drop earrings can be attributed to the influence of Coco Chanel. These earrings are frequently characterized by simple shapes, clean lines and an integration of colorful stones such as blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies to accent the pieces’ diamonds. Indeed, during the 20th century, as technology for diamond cutting improved, diamond drop earrings and other diamond jewelry came into wide popularity. Formal examples of diamond drop earrings pair perfectly with a cocktail dress or fancy pantsuit, while gem-set and gold drop earrings make great daytime accessories.

While there are at least several types of earrings you could be wearing right now, drop earrings work well for anyone who favors a minimalist look. Whatever the occasion, find a wide range of antique, diamond and pearl drop earrings on 1stDibs.