Put a Ring on It

For the coolest jewels, look no further than the ateliers of these East Bay artisans.

By Caitlin McCulloch

Published: February 1, 2018

The season of romance is upon us. Treat your wife, gal pal, mom, or even yourself this Valentine’s Day with gorgeous jewelry handcrafted by Lafayette designers—or pick up a sparkler created by Oakland artisans to help you pop the question with style.

Kainoa Designs creates colorful resin jewelry.

Kainoa Designs

Add a healthy dose of color to any jewelry collection with a unique piece by Lafayette’s Marisa Tashima of Kainoa Designs. Her preferred medium is resin, which she infuses with iridescent film, imitation silver and gold flakes, glitter, charms, or even dried botanicals. Select a heart-shaped mold to get into the loving spirit. etsy.com/shop/kainoadesigns.

Irenka Kudlicki Jewelry

Delicate elegance meets modern minimalism in Irenka Kudlicki’s precious-metal jewelry. The East Bay resident’s cool-girl designs— which are inspired by the exotic locales she’s visited overseas—adorn the jewelry boxes of celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson and Miley Cyrus. For a romantic gift, go with a classic freshwater pearl necklace or a pair of hand-hammered gold hoop earrings. irenkakudlicki.com.

Lauren Wolf Jewelry

Achieve “refined imperfection” (think: inclusions of uncommon diamonds) with designer Lauren Wolf’s ethically sourced, one-of-a-kind engagement rings. Wolf, the owner of Oakland’s Esqueleto boutique, boasts an impressive client list that includes Penélope Cruz and Brooke Shields. Treasures such as champagne diamonds set in 18-karat white gold and a 10-stone ring featuring gray diamonds await you. Have a specific vision in mind? Wolf will collaborate with you to bring your creation to life. laurenwolfjewelry.com.

Propose in style with a Crown Nine engagement ring.

Crown Nine

For a twist on timeless engagement rings, visit Kate Ellen—a member of the Ethical Metal-smiths’ guild and owner of the recently remodeled Crown Nine in Oakland. Score a Montana sapphire set in rose gold or a Trillium three-stone ring made from 14-karat yellow gold—the material of choice for Ellen’s signature line. Many of her pieces can be customized, but you can also start from scratch for a personalized experience. crown-nine.com.

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Faces

Always Dream

Neiman Marcus Walnut Creek hosted a fashion show in collaboration with Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation. The intimate gathering at the upscale store included mouthwatering bites, champagne, and a runway show featuring several special-occasion looks. Proceeds from the soiree support the work being done by Always Dream to advance early childhood literacy.

Eat Real Festival

This popular Oakland fest drew droves of foodies who craved street eats and sweets from more than 50 of the Bay Area’s finest food purveyors—plus cocktails, wine, and craft beer from various local vendors. Benefiting the Food Craft Institute, the three-day extravaganza in Jack London Square also featured music, special culinary classes, and activities for kids.

15th Anniversary Celebration

The Monument Crisis Center feted its 15 years with a lively commemoration that featured delicious fare, drinks, and music at its Concord facility. In honor of the milestone, the organization also started a matching campaign to raise $15,000 for its numerous programs that support low-income families and individuals in Contra Costa County.

Moonlight on the Mountain

Save Mount Diablo hosted its signature fundraising gala at the China Wall formation in Mount Diablo State Park, garnering more than $460,000 for the preservation of open spaces. More than 500 guests enjoyed a three-course dinner, wine, entertainment, and auctions while taking in majestic views.

Day in the Park

Ellie Mae Classic

Professional golfers, local celebrities, and athletes—such as Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry—competed at this annual golf tournament held at the TPC Stonebrae Country Club in Hayward. Hosted by the Pleasanton-based mortgage software company Ellie Mae, the weeklong event raised roughly $150,000 for several charities, including the Warriors Community Foundation, which offers education and development programs to underprivileged students around the Bay Area.

An Evening to Remember

The Pleasanton-based Tyler’s Grace Foundation feted its fifth anniversary by hosting a fundraising gala at the Diablo Country Club, where nearly 300 guests gathered to enjoy cocktails, an elegant dinner, auctions, music, and dancing. Proceeds from the benefit will support 30 families affected by cancer.

Taste of Oakland

The 2018 Taste of Oakland festival series in Jack London Square celebrated the unique musicians, culinary talents, and technological innovation coming out of Oakland and the Bay Area. The event benefited Youth Aid Nonprofit, a charity that provides free summer camps and music lessons and teaches business fundamentals to local youths.

Gourmet Gallop

To raise funds for Diablo Ballet and its educational PEEK Outreach Programs, 280 people sipped, savored, and strolled their way through downtown Walnut Creek, where several businesses served special drinks and culinary creations to attendees. business fundamentals to local youths.

California Trail Opening

The Oakland Zoo celebrated the grand opening of its 56-acre California Trail expansion with cake, refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests were treated to a first look at the new permanent exhibition, which re-creates habitats for eight native California species, including the jaguar, grizzly bear, and gray wolf. Twenty-five years in the making, the California Trail aims to highlight the Golden State’s natural history while also promoting wildlife conservation.

Nourish Gala

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano hosted its biggest bash of the year at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo, where more than 200 guests gathered for cocktails and a silent auction before enjoying a three-course dinner with wine. The annual fundraiser supported the Community Produce Program, which provides about 250,000 pounds of produce each month to people in need.

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