MM Druck - Artisan Jewelry Thoughtfully Designed

Earrings sit at eye level in every conversation, which makes them one of the first things people notice. MM Druck's 18K gold vermeil earrings can change how a plain white shirt or navy blazer looks. Up close, the curves and edges show they were hand-finished.

Founder Molly Zimmermann, a citizen of both the US and Switzerland, designs every piece in Los Angeles. Her references rarely agree with one another. Ottoman textiles, Celtic metalwork, tribal art and 1980s Armani all feed the work, and the tension between them is what drives the process. MM Druck jewelry is the result: sculptural earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets, each one balancing ideas that pull in different directions.

Every design starts in the brand's own studio, and production stays local with crafters it has worked with from the beginning. This is handmade jewelry made entirely in Los Angeles. The silver casting grain comes from a Fairtrade-certified trader, and the studio recycles its own metal stock while working toward using only recycled metal. Gold vermeil is 18K gold layered over sterling silver, so each piece has the color of solid gold on a precious-metal base. A pair of gold vermeil hoop earrings can be worn alone with a sweater, with other gold jewelry, or a few more accessories for evening.

A wedding toast or a birthday dinner calls for earrings people will notice from across the table. Gold vermeil hoops look right there, especially with a dress cut and sewn in small runs in New York City for special occasions.