This Fall the look is a balance of budget and beauty. Basically, things just have to be worth its price yet also dazzle enough to make us swoon at best and earn a few compliments as least. No question, the designers have it tough, but it’s also interesting to see who steps up to the challenge. For the Fall 2009 collections, we particularly liked Italian designer Marco Bicego and Brazilian line H. Stern’s mix of gold, semi-precious stone and diamonds.

While the prices are reasonable for the quality of materials used, don’t expect the pieces to hit the sales racks; the pieces are contemporary but have a classic quality to them that we bet will last. Plus the craftsmanship, such as hand-engraved details, and thoughtful design make for good investments. We hear prices of gold are steadier than the market these days and might as well invest in something beautiful.

MARCO BICEGO: 18K GOLD, HAND-ENGRAVED AND EXOTIC DESTINATIONS

Italian-made and often with details like hand-engraved lines, the collection is influenced by Marco’s travels. The latest collection is tinged with Indian flavor and aptly named Jaipur. The organic shapes from hand-engraved gold beads, semi-precious gemstones to pearls have a lovely textural quality to them. Tennis star Maria Sharapova is a fan and Hillary Clinton has worn the Confetti collection pieces. Pieces are carried at fine department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

JAIPUR DIAMONDS, TENNIS BRACELET

JAIPUR STACKABLE COCKTAIL RINGS

PARADISE COLLECTION-FEATURING SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES

CONFETTI COLLECTION

CAIRO COLLECTION

MARRAKECH COLLECTION

Photos courtesy of Marco Bicego

H.STERN: GRACEFUL LINES INSPIRED BY DANCE

For Fall ‘09, the Brazilian jeweler was inspired by modern dance troupe Grupo Corpo. The result was sinewy, twisting pieces in 18K yellow and “Noble” gold, colored gemstones and diamonds. H. Stern’s president and creative director Robert Stern explains the process that went into the pieces,”[W]e had so much material to work from, to work with…textures, depth and movement that are dynamic, ever-flowing… but needed to be captured. [T]his project required a level of intuition, of feeling and improvisation we had not experienced before.” Check out the fruits of their hard work for yourself.

Photos courtesy of H.Stern