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Michelle Obama's earrings had a familiar sparkle

By Lorraine DePasque
March 02, 2009

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Michelle Obama, hugging President Obama, wore Loree Rodkin's "The Triple Constellation" pave diamond three-tiered chandelier earrings in 18-karat white gold after his victory in November. LoreeRodkin.com

Chicago--No matter who they voted for, most people will never forget the historical moment on the evening of Nov. 4 when newly elected President Barack Obama walked onto a stage in Chicago's Grant Park with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters to deliver his victory speech.

Beverly Hills, Calif.-based jewelry designer Loree Rodkin was one of those who, like many others, had gathered with friends in front of a television screen, waiting and watching. But for Rodkin, the moment was not just historical--it was also an artistic milestone.

"I was so emotionally moved by the fact that we won," says Rodkin, an Obama supporter. "And then, suddenly, I realized that Mrs. Obama was wearing earrings I had designed."

At first, Rodkin, who's been a luxury jewelry designer for two decades and sells her high-end baubles all over the world, thought someone had knocked off her design. Rodkin knew that she herself hadn't sold the diamond chandelier earrings to Michelle Obama, and she was unaware of any of her stores selling them to the future First Lady.

"But then, I realized, 'Oh, but they are mine,'" she says.

Rodkin is one of a select group of contemporary jewelry designers that regularly accessorize Hollywood A-listers for red carpet events, movie premieres and their personal wardrobes. A diverse clientele, from Madonna and Mary J Blige to the members of Aerosmith, have been drawn to her nonconformist, sometimes irreverent, modern-meets-Medieval style.

"Last year, one of my skull rings even went to the moon with one of the astronauts--and that was amazing," she says.

But this was different.

"In fact, this was sort of the highlight of my career," Rodkin says. "It was an emotional and historical moment, and I felt I was part of it--in my own tiny way, of course."

Initially, when Rodkin recognized the 18-karat white gold and pave diamond three-tiered dangles as her "Triple Constellation Earrings," she says she didn't say anything to the others in the room "because we were all so transfixed and watching the moment. And under the circumstances, the fact that Mrs. Obama was wearing my earrings really seemed so insignificant."

Later on that night, however, she did casually mention it to a friend, who mentioned it to another friend. Within days, the word had spread--during which time Rodkin was able to discover that a retail partner in Chicago had indeed sold the earrings, rather than loaned them, to either the future first lady herself or to a friend of hers.

But that is about as much as both Rodkin and the jeweler wish to say about the sale.

"I'm used to working with high-profile clients, so we never intentionally put the word out there," Rodkin says of the sale. "We respect their privacy."

Still, as word has trickled out, orders for "the Michelle Obama earrings" are being called in to Rodkin's Los Angeles studio.

"I think it's because they've become an identifiable object that's related to an historical moment," she says.  

And so, for $10,500, fashionistas everywhere can shine in the moment.

Lorraine DePasque is a freelance writer who specializes in fine jewelry and gems.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the January 2009 print edition of National Jeweler.
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