The Two Jewelry Brands That Should Be on Your Radar

Photo Credit: Fie Isolde

While we love our Cartier Love bracelets and our Tiffany & Co. hardware, every so often, we want to mix it up. And there’s two brands that we’ve been turning to that you might not be aware of: Fie Isolde and KATKIM. 

Both contemporary fine jewelry brands are making innovative pieces that elevate everyday accessorizing. Fie Isolde focuses on personal craftsmanship, with founder Fie Isolde Rode Baek hand-sculpted each piece from a block of wax. Katherine Kim emphasizes timeless jewelry with unique touches in her eponymous label. Both founders are producing bespoke, beautiful items that feel thoughtful, intentional, and intricate. We chatted to both Kim and Isolde to learn more about both of their brands, as well as their favorite pieces from each.

Photo Credit: KATKIM

Haute Living: What was the inspiration behind your brand?

Fie Isolde: Fie Isolde was born from a desire to create jewelry that feels personal, lasting, and deeply connected to the person wearing it. Growing up in Denmark, I was surrounded by Scandinavian design principles—simplicity, craftsmanship, and the belief that beautiful objects and original designs should stand the test of time. When I moved to Los Angeles, I became inspired by a completely different energy: freedom, individuality, and a more effortless approach to luxury. Fie Isolde is the meeting point between those two worlds. My inspiration rarely comes from trends. It comes from everyday life, art, architecture, nature, film, travel, and human connection. I wanted to create a brand that values design over trend cycles and encourages people to invest in beautifully crafted, high-quality pieces they will love for decades.

Katherine Kim: I’m inspired by transformation. The most interesting designs often come from ordinary things. A familiar object, a simple line, a subtle gesture. Through proportion, material and perspective, something ordinary can become unexpected. I think of jewelry as something living. It changes with the body, with light, with the person who wears it. What inspires me is that interaction. The goal is never just to create an object. It’s to create an experience between the piece and the wearer.

Photo Credit: Fie Isolde

HL: Why did you decide to start your brand? What gap in the market were you seeing?

KK: I didn’t start because I saw a gap in the market. I started it because I couldn’t find what I wanted to wear. I was drawn to pieces that are timeless but felt unexpected. Coming from a graphic design background, I approached jewelry a little differently. I was interested in creating pieces that challenged conventional silhouettes. I wasn’t thinking about building a business at the time. I was making pieces that excited me. The brand came later.

HL: What sets Fie Isolde apart from other jewelry brands?

FI: At Fie Isolde, design always comes first. Every piece begins as a block of wax that I hand-sculpt into a design before it is cast in solid gold and set with diamonds. This process allows for an organic quality and individuality that feels closer to collectible designs than traditional jewelry. We are known for our sculptural silhouettes, substantial gold weight, raw bezels, and a modern yet timeless aesthetic. While many brands design around trends, we focus on creating pieces that feel just as relevant twenty years from now as they do today. We also take a highly personal approach to jewelry. Whether it’s an engagement ring, a redesign using existing stones, or an everyday piece, our goal is to create something that becomes part of a person’s story and identity. Every design is rooted in craftsmanship, originality, and longevity.

Photo Credit: KATKIM

HL: What is your favorite piece or collection and why?

KK: The Ear Pin will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the piece that really established the brand’s point of view. What I love most about it is that it challenged a traditional jewelry category and created a completely new silhouette on the ear. More than a decade later, it still feels relevant and modern, which is something I strive for in every design. It embodies everything I love about design: simplicity with a bit of surprise.

FI: It’s difficult to choose—I have a special connection to all of the collections. My first collection, the Alfa Collection, holds a particularly meaningful place in my heart because it was the foundation that launched the brand. At the same time, the Boulder Collection embodies so much of what Fie Isolde stands for: boldness, texture, craftsmanship, and effortless luxury. The Boulder Collection was inspired by naturally weathered boulders that have rested in the earth for generations, slowly shaped by time and the elements. I was fascinated by how these organic forms appear to melt into one another while maintaining their strength and individuality. Through hand-sculpting, I translated those forms into solid gold. I love that the Boulder pieces feel substantial and powerful while remaining timeless. The tennis necklace is a classic jewelry staple that many people gravitate toward, but the Boulder Diamond Necklace offers a more sculptural and unexpected interpretation – one that stands apart from the crowd while still feeling enduring. To me, every collection captures the balance between rawness and refinement that defines the brand.