People say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but vintage is mine. Canadian jewelry designer Alan Anderson showcased his collection at Holt Renfrew last week and it was nothing short of eye catching. Anderson designs his collection out of his own studio in Toronto and each piece is handmade and one of a kind.

I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Anderson whose pieces made every woman trying it on stand in confidence. Anderson’s collection is inspired by 1940s and ’50s Hollywood glam. The designer admits his interest in old movies is the creative wheel behind his designs.

If his jewelry could talk it would have a lot of interesting stories to tell. My favourite aspect of his collection is his use of old precious stones he seeks out from all over the world to create a piece of jewelry. He deconstructs the stones from its original setting to integrate it into creating a new piece. It’s breathtaking to imagine that each stone in a necklace or bracelet has had a long-standing history.

Anderson’s pieces make a statement and are versatile enough to pair with a cocktail dress or t-shirt and jeans. His jewelry has been seen on actress Blake Lively and on Katie Perry for the cover of Spain Vogue.

Anderson’s favourite piece out of his collection is the emerald necklace. His long emerald necklace was also a favorite because of its versatility in converting into a shorter necklace or turning the pendent to the back for a low back dress. That will surely turn some heads in the room.

This Canadian designer is worth looking out for and it’s his ability to focus on details and creating a story behind a piece of jewelry that distinguishes his work from others. His work creates conversation and encapsulates moments in history through his use of vintage stones. Truly as one of a kind as the jewelry he creates, Anderson embodies the lesson that fashion is not just about how something looks but what it represents through time.

Check out his collection in the photo gallery.

***

Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.