Something of an iconoclast in the fine jewelry world, Marie-Hélène de Taillac makes semi-precious pieces that feel decidedly un-stuffy. Her designs are special, but playful, and have enjoyed a cult following since 1996. Each piece is made by artisans in Jaipur, India (the gem capital of the world!) and carefully crafted to bring out the natural rainbow colors of the stones. This is a wildly elegant (and surprisingly lightweight) pair of drop earrings in smokey quartz.