Sophisticated jewellery that’s affordable isn’t easy to find. To me, wallet-friendly pieces fall broadly into two categories: either ersatz flashy or just plain cheap looking.
I know because I was on the hunt for some inexpensive gold hoops and I wasn’t striking gold.
I wanted a classic design that had an almost vintage presence, at a price point that wouldn’t make me blanch or freak out if I lost a hoop (why, oh why, do I only ever lose expensive earrings?).
At my desk and pretending to work, but really googling “gold hoops,” I came across Vimeria. I liked that it was founded by a Canadian woman and, even more, I liked the hoops!
They weren’t the completely circular single hoop I was shopping for, rather a mix of half hoops: one thick, one thin, connected together.
My Solange hoops.
The Solange, as they’re known, were also just $72. “Add to Cart” it was, followed by a reach-out to founder and OCAD University grad Anna Laskin. “I studied Industrial Design and it gave me the foundation to understand the design process and how to translate an idea into a physical item,” she says. “I shifted my vision to jewellery because of its small scale, wearability and I just found it more interesting than other objects.”
Laskin founded Vimeria in 2017. “The name was coined as a pseudonym,” she says. “To me, it sounds like a name of an abstract artist who makes all sorts of interesting creations that haven’t been seen by the world yet, and that’s how I want Vimeria to feel. There’s a little bit of mystery behind her, so there’s always something new to discover.”
The base of each piece is brass, an especially strong metal, which is dipped in a thick layer of 14-karat-gold – so while you wouldn’t want to go swimming in this jewellery, you won’t have to worry about it tarnishing or looking anything other than 14-karat-gold gorgeous.
The debut Extruded Collection is small and tightly edited. “Like an artist’s body of work, some pieces are limited in their run, and once an item sells out it, it’s gone for good. However, as the brand grows, I do plan on having select pieces translate to a permanent collection.”
The Bridget choker.
My collection to date? I added the Bridget Choker to my cart – it’s super delicate, adjustable and looks like it cost much more than its $54 price tag.
The Tamara necklace.
Current best-sellers include the Tamara necklace and Georgia cuff, and Anna plans to make the next collection using silver from local refineries (she uses as many Canadian materials as possible and her goal is to get all Vimeria materials sourced entirely in Canada).
The Georgia cuff.
The pieces have an edgy quality but there’s also a quiet allure about them that’s compelling. Anna says, “Vimeria makes a subtle statement – it’s meant for the wearer to enjoy. It’s expressive, without being too loud.”
