Innasense Gems

Profile

In 2000, a trip to India prompted former marketing director Anyuta Zelikson to make jewelry inspired by nature and the natural beauty of stones. Soon, everyone was asking her where she bought her pieces. She and her younger sister Inna began designing their own jewelry line, selling it mostly at trade shows, artist showcases, and artist markets before opening Innasense Gems in early 2007. Red walls and a large, custom-built mirror on one wall give the small space a majestic feel. Jewelry is displayed on tables covered in black fabric. Teardrop-shaped turquoise earrings have small white pearls clustered at the top. A necklace’s tiny green peridot beads contrast with drops of purple amethyst that hang at the base of the throat. Some of the pieces feature unusual stones, like pietersite (a black-and-gray swirl of rock from Namibia) or kyonite (colored the deep-blue of the Mediterranean). The sisters travel for six to eight months a year, sourcing their gems from all over the world and finding inspiration for new designs. — Laura Shin