Z Folio: Modern, Sleek & Affordable Jewelry

I absolutely loved the worldwide collections of jewelries, so decided to highlight my favorite items this week as part of Fashion Friday.

This past weekend, I discovered a truly global gallery in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley: Z Folio Gallery in Solvang. Owner, Zdena (Z,) was raised is a small farming village behind an iron curtain that divided east and west, communism from capitalism.

The boutique opened in 2003 with a suitcase stuffed with optical crystals destined for the Victorian Christmas Street Fair held annually in Nevada City, California. The crystals were displayed in the frosty winter evening lit by flashlights dangling from poles. So popular was this humble beginning that within a year she invested her life savings, $20,000, in a small inventory of art glass representing the most contemporary designs from her native Czech Republic’s 700 year glassmaking tradition, and in the process she established credibility and solid international business relationships with leading designers and museum quality artists.

In 2006, Z and her husband, Michael, opened their first retail location in Solvang, a Danish community north of Santa Barbara. In 2009 they launched their second location on Cannery Row in Monterey.

I absolutely loved the worldwide collections of jewelries, so decided to highlight my favorite items this week as part of Fashion Friday. These are perfect gift ideas for both men and women, I purposely selected affordable yet chic pieces that modern jetsetters would fall in love with. Every piece is from a different part of the world, has a beautiful story to tell.

1. For Him: Cufflinks design by Bernd Wolf, Germany, textured gold and silver. $249

2. For Him: Etienne Perret white gem ceramic 10 mm concave ring. Virtually indestructible, with a soft white sheen. Designed in Maine, made in Asia. $200

3. For Her: Elizabeth Garvin “Circles” gold and silver ring. Designed and made in New York. $193

4. For Her: XEN steel and enamel stacking rings, white with blue, white with purple, and white with black. Designed and made in Germany. $178 each

5. For Her: D’Argent oxidized silver and button pearl ring. Spain. $180

6. For Her: Kabirski ‘Key’ necklace, silver with gold and blue topaz and cubic zirconia on black steel link chain. Russia. $345

7. For Her: Swarovski crystals and gold plated wire. Designed in California, made in Italy. Monique. Single wire adjustable ring $150, bracelet $185, earrings $198

8. For Her: Fourteen strand freshwater pearl necklace. Pearls vary in size and are strung on a fish line, making them appear as if they float on the body. $190

Wendy Hung

CEO, FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the founder of Jetset Times, Wendy is an avid traveler and fluent in five languages. When she's not traveling, Wendy calls Paris and Taipei home. Her favorite countries so far from her travels have been: Bhutan, Iran, and St. Bart's because they were all so different!