With Clarity’s Art Deco Collection Goes All In on Gatsby Glamour
With the dawn of 2025 marking a century since the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, the world is once again poised to be swept away by the decadent charm of the Roaring Twenties. It is against this backdrop of cultural resurgence that With Clarity, the New York-based jewelry brand, unveils its breathtaking Art Deco collection, a scintillating homage to an era defined by its audacious spirit and refined aesthetics. This new collection is more than just an assortment of jewelry; it’s a narrative woven in diamonds and precious metals, a story of a time when elegance and innovation danced a dazzling tango.
The collection, which features 11 signature engagement rings, seven wedding bands, 13 pairs of earrings, and two necklaces, is a testament to the enduring allure of the Art Deco movement. It was a period of bold, unapologetic design, where the opulence of the Jazz Age was tempered by a newfound appreciation for clean lines and geometric precision. Anubh Shah, the founder of With Clarity, encapsulates this sentiment perfectly, stating, “Its symmetry, clean lines, and architectural influences feel timeless, and I love how it balanced opulence with precision.” This philosophy is the very heartbeat of the Art Deco collection, which draws inspiration from the legendary jewelry houses of the 1920s and the visionary artists who defined the era. “When creating this collection, we were drawn to the glamour of Cartier’s 1920s pieces, the strong geometric forms of Jean Després, and even the sleek detailing of vintage Tiffany designs,” Shah elaborates.
The Architectural Muse: New York City and Beyond
The soul of With Clarity’s Art Deco collection is inextricably linked to the architectural marvels that came to define the skylines of major American cities in the 1920s and 30s. The design team, led by Chief Creative Officer Leshna Shah, embarked on an immersive exploration of the Art Deco era. “We were fascinated by how the movement manifested differently in architecture, fashion, and decorative arts over time,” she explains. “We then matched our findings with the presence of art deco in New York City, looking at when and how the city was most influenced by the style.”
This deep dive into the “style moderne” is evident in every facet of the collection, with pieces that echo the grandeur and intricate detailing of some of the world’s most iconic buildings. The late 1920s and early 1930s saw New York City undergo a dramatic transformation, with titans of steel and stone like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building piercing the clouds. It is the latter, a paragon of Art Deco architecture, that serves as the muse for one of Leshna Shah’s most cherished pieces in the collection.
The Artisanne Ring: A Tribute to the Chrysler Building
The Artisanne ring is a masterful interpretation of the Chrysler Building’s iconic illuminated crown. At its heart lies an emerald-cut diamond, its clean lines and crisp corners exuding a sense of clarity and strength. This central stone is framed by double octagonal halos of round diamonds, a nod to the geometric repetition that is a hallmark of Art Deco design. What truly sets the Artisanne apart, however, are the four trillion-cut diamonds that fan out like stylized arrowheads, directly mirroring the triangular vaulted windows of the Chrysler’s spire.
“Its four trillion stones instantly take me back to the illuminated crown of the Chrysler Building at night, a view I cherished from my bedroom window, and one that became a symbol of ambition and beauty in my life,” Leshna Shah fondly recalls. The ring’s shoulders are adorned with a baguette diamond, its mirror-like reflection amplified by the brilliance of the diamonds that cascade down the shank and across the bridge. Fine milgrain beads trace the contours of the centerpiece, a subtle yet significant detail that evokes the intricate grillework found in the grand lobbies of the era.
The Gatsby Ring: Echoes of Rockefeller Center
No tribute to the Art Deco era would be complete without a nod to the literary work that so vividly captured its essence. The Gatsby ring, as its name suggests, is a piece steeped in the romance and grandeur of Fitzgerald’s New York. Inspired by the architectural magnificence of Rockefeller Center, another of the city’s Art Deco landmarks, this ring is a captivating blend of artistic refinement and structural grace.
A sleek, unadorned band directs the eye to the stunning centerpiece: a princess-cut diamond framed by a captivating medley of round and baguette diamonds. The round diamond pairs are set in a vertical arrangement, a signature of Art Deco design that emphasizes height and linearity. The step-cut baguette diamonds, set in both vertical and horizontal orientations, create a clean, strong, and symmetrical look that perfectly mirrors the geometric precision of Rockefeller Center’s iconic structures.
A Cross-Country Tour of Art Deco Splendor
While New York City serves as a primary source of inspiration, the With Clarity Art Deco collection embarks on a cross-country and even international tour of architectural brilliance. The Eastern ring pays homage to the enduring style of Los Angeles’s Eastern Columbia Building, a turquoise terracotta jewel of the West Coast.
The Marquee stud earrings, with their distinctive stepped silhouette, take their cues from the layered architecture and dynamic symmetry of New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall. At the heart of each earring, a trapezoid-cut stone is bezel-set, a subtle nod to the geometric motifs that adorn the venue’s daring interiors. The Chevron necklace further captures the era’s glamour, with a hexagonal diamond center stone and sharp, angular lines that are quintessentially Art Deco.
The collection’s journey continues to Detroit, with the Guardian necklace drawing its bold, geometric forms from the city’s magnificent Guardian Building, often referred to as the “Cathedral of Finance.” And in a nod to international Art Deco splendor, the Bacardi earrings capture the ornate sophistication of the iconic Bacardi Building’s lobby in Havana. This dazzling pair of dangling earrings features Asscher-cut diamonds within an octagonal frame of micro-pavé diamonds, with a half-circle of baguette diamonds radiating above like the sunburst motifs found in the building’s decorative panels.
A Modern Interpretation of a Timeless Classic
While deeply rooted in the past, With Clarity’s Art Deco collection is designed for the modern era. The bridal pieces, in particular, offer a contemporary twist on classic designs, a fusion of nostalgia and novelty that Anubh Shah hopes will resonate with today’s brides and grooms. The use of lab-grown diamonds in many of the pieces also speaks to a modern sensibility, offering a sustainable and ethical choice without compromising on brilliance or beauty.
This collection marks a significant evolution for With Clarity, transforming it from a purveyor of fine jewelry into a brand that weaves compelling narratives through its creations. The Art Deco collection is more than just a tribute to a bygone era; it is a celebration of the enduring power of design, the allure of a timeless aesthetic, and the magic of a story well told. As the world prepares to once again embrace the glamour of Gatsby, With Clarity offers a tangible connection to that dazzling past, a sparkling reminder of an age when design was not just a craft, but a bold and beautiful declaration of modernity.
