Iconic British jeweler Stephen Webster MBE shook everything up when he introduced his Crystal Haze rings in 1995.
The jewelry landscape was almost barren during the 1990s. Fashion dictated minimalism, and stars treading the red carpet wore Armani gowns in earth tones with very few sparkling accessories. Elsa Peretti’s little diamond solitaire necklace for Tiffany & Co. was in vogue. And the gold Cartier Panthère watch was the only item many female stars wore.
The seismic shift was sparked in 2000 when Madonna attended a party for the premiere of her movie The Next Best Thing wearing the Crystal Haze ring. She had purchased it directly from Webster, to whom she’d been introduced by a friend. Pictures of the star singer’s outing popped up seemingly everywhere — on her index finger, Webster’s Crystal Haze ring was so much bigger and bolder than the styles most celebrities were wearing at the time. The press coverage snowballed in the months and years to come as other celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Pink, were spotted in the now-immediately recognizable jewel.
This massive success came to Webster when he was in his 30s, not long after he launched his label, in 1989, but the design was the culmination of a lifetime of experience. At the tender age of 16, Webster found his calling when he toured Medway College of Design in Rochester, England, with a career counselor. He was immediately attracted to the jewelry department, which was “noisy, slightly grubby and lit with orangey, naked flames.” After graduating, he worked for a few years as a bench jeweler in London and the resort town of Banff, in Alberta, Canada, finally settling in Santa Barbara, California.
The luxurious, laid-back style of the city, nicknamed the American Riviera, opened Webster’s eyes to the possibility of a kind of jewelry different from the traditional designs that defined the field in England. He began working with semiprecious stones, an integral element of the Crystal Haze line. The Santa Barbara community embraced the colors and was open to lesser-known gems in fine jewelry, such as apple-green chrysoprase, lavender chalcedony and Peruvian pink opal.
The idea for the Crystal Haze ring came to Webster when he was having lapidaries in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, cut rock crystal into special shapes for big brooches. He wanted to create statement jewels in which two gems cut into a narrow arc would curve over the finger in a gold ring. The contour and connecting of the stones required a couple of years of development, some innovative thinking and plenty of expertise.
Today, Webster’s stores dot the globe, and he has a long list of illustrious collectors. The many lines he has produced over the years — from Vertigo and Dynamite to Fly By Night and Jewels Verne — display the same qualities that characterize Crystal Haze: bold, edgy designs, beautifully manufactured.
Find Stephen Webster rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Stephen Webster Superstud Silver Coral and Quartz Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Southampton, PA
Standing out in brilliant fashion against the wonderfully bright backdrop of white rhodium-plated silver and quartz, the amazing synthesized red coral stones...
Coral, Quartz, Silver
Stephen Webster Pop Superstud Rose Gold-Plated Silver and Quartz Beaded Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Southampton, PA
Extraordinarily intricate decorative work and tasteful exuberance produce an irresistible allure in this spellbinding rose gold-plated silver necklace from Stephen Webster's "Pop Sup...
Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
$150Sale Price|70% Off
L 18.5 in
Floral Themed 13.85ct Blue Topaz & Quartz Sterling Silver Chain Necklace
Located in เกาะสมุย, TH
This wonderful piece is a neo- vintage and has never been worn. This beautiful piece is crafted in Thailand using sterling silver metal. The piece is adorned with 16 gorgeous natural...
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Quartz, Sterling Silver
Rutilated Quartz, Diamond, Oxidized Silver and 14 Karat Gold Beaded Necklace
By Vicki Orr
Located in Naples, FL
Faceted, golden Rutilated Quartz, 14k yellow gold spheres and oxidized sterling silver with accent diamonds beaded necklace. Necklace is 18.5 inches in length, and finished with a 14...
Diamond, White Diamond, Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Ste...
Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso Moonstone and Quartz Bead Necklace Sterling Silver
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in University Place, WA
A rare vintage Tiffany & Co. beaded necklace designed by Paloma Picasso, strung with smooth polished moonstone and quartz rondelle beads in a beautiful range of soft neutral tones, f...
Moonstone, Quartz, Sterling Silver
14K Rose Gold Beaded Necklace with Quartz and Pearls, Italian Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Wear it as one long strand, knot it or double it for 3 different looks! This Italian stunner is in 14 karat rose gold, which is lovely with the beads, quartz and pearls.
Pearl, Quartz, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Coral 18 Karat Gold Citrine Rose Quartz Necklace
By Giulia Colussi
Located in Milan, IT
Necklace with orange end red coral, citrine, antiques Indian engrave gold beads, faced rose quartz linked in gold 18kt gr. 10,40. Total length 44cm. All Giulia Colussi jewelry is n...
Citrine, Coral, Quartz, 18k Gold
$260Sale Price|60% Off
L 31.5 in
Marina J. Rose Quartz & Amethyst Necklace with Gold-Plated Toggle Clasp
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous stone necklace by Marina J. This lovely piece is made using multi shaped Rose Quartz, Amethyst and 14k Gold Plated Silver Vermeil findings. Due to their translucent nature, ...
Amethyst, Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
Stephen Dweck Multi-Strand Blue Coral Brass Necklace
By Stephen Dweck
Located in New York, NY
Stephen Dweck 3 Strand Necklace The necklace is brass There is blue coral, Smokey quartz, agate, pearls, etc. The necklace is 19" Long The necklace weighs 183.9 grams
Agate, Coral, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Brass
Carved Rose Quartz And Freshwater Pearl Necklace
Located in Chesterland, OH
The length of the necklace is 17 inches (43 cm). The size of the carved beads is 18 mm. The beads have a delightfully soft, gentle, rose tone. The color is authentic and natural. No thermal or other treatments were used. This necklace alternates beads of quartz with 4 mm natural freshwater pearl beads. The necklace is fastened with a beautiful sterling silver gold pale toggle clasp with a natural freshwater pearl. Necklace weight 160 grams (5.6 oz). Gently rose mineral belongs to the world of feelings and emotions. In the culture of the East, rose quartz is called the “stone of the heart.” Rose quartz evokes gentle, touching sensations and has a romantic, dreamy, refined, and soft aura. This is not loving itself but rather a premonition, the origin of feelings. The ancient people believed that rose quartz sent down the god of love, Eros (Cupid), to Earth. But according to another version, rose quartz is the “juice” of the Earth, which crystallized over many centuries and became a stone. Regular wearing of Rose quartz jewelry...
Freshwater Pearl, Quartz, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Stephen Dweck Long Carnelian and Agate Brass Necklace
By Stephen Dweck
Located in New York, NY
Stephen Dweck Long Necklace The necklace is brass There is Smokey Topaz, Agate, Crystal, etc. The necklace is 33" Long The necklace weighs 258.2 grams
Agate, Carnelian, Rock Crystal, Topaz, Brass
Art Deco Coral Necklace Antique Silver Natural Coral
Located in New York, NY
A stunning Art Deco - Victorian Coral Necklace of great beauty. The necklace is 54 inches long - a stunning length. It is Silver with gorge...
Coral, Silver
Aria Jewelry Design 18-Inch Madagascar Rose Quartz Beaded Necklace
By Aria Jewelry Design
Located in Raleigh, NC
This elegant 18‑inch Madagascar Rose Quartz necklace showcases a strand of smooth, highly polished 8 mm beads that glow with the stone’s signature soft pink hue. Each bead is care...
Quartz, Silver Plate, Mixed Metal
$280Sale Price|30% Off
L 21 in
Marina J. Rose Quartz, Amethyst and Silver Rhodium-Plated Beaded Necklace
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing stone necklace by Marina J. This lovely piece is made with multi shaped and faceted Amethysts, Rose Quartz, Pink Aquamarine and Rhodium plated Silver findings all strung toge...
Amethyst, Quartz, Rhodium, Silver
Stephen Webster Fly by Night 18ct Yellow Gold Diamond Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
This necklace by Stephen Webster is from his Fly by Night Collection and features a central pave set diamond butterfly surrounded by a further two polished yellow gold butterflies co...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Stephen Webster Jewels Verne 18 Carat Yellow Gold Diamond Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
This necklace by Stephen Webster is from his Jewels Verne collection and features a pave set central feature in the design of a fish complemented by further white diamonds set on a y...
Diamond, White Gold
Stephen Webster Pop Superstud Rose Gold-Plated Silver and Quartz Beaded Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Southampton, PA
Extraordinarily intricate decorative work and tasteful exuberance produce an irresistible allure in this spellbinding rose gold-plated silver necklace from Stephen Webster's "Pop Sup...
Quartz, Gold Plate, Silver
Stephen Webster Superstud Womens Silver Draping Chains Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Southampton, PA
Mesmerizing, wonderfully bright and simply astonishing, this extraordinary lariat necklace from Stephen Websters Superstud collection is comprised of scintillating chains and intr...
Silver
Stephen Webster Blue Topaz Pendant Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Coral Gables, FL
This simple pendant necklace is crafted in sterling silver by designer Stephen Webster. It features a 0.5 inch by 0.5 inch checkerboard cushion cut blue topaz center stone. The topaz...
Topaz, Sterling Silver
Stephen Webster 925 Silver Chrysoprase Quartz Crystal Necklace
By Stephen Webster
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Type: Chain Wearable Length: 36" Pendant Measurement:14 mm * 14 mm Metal: Sterling Silver Metal Purity: 925 Stone Type: Chrysoprase and Clear Quartz Crystal Hallmarks: 925 Stephen Tr...