GO FOR BROKE | TOM BINNS NECKLACE
What: Tom Binns necklace
How much: $750
Who: Anne Christensen, T Magazine’s women’s fashion director.
Years ago, one of the first market appointments I went on as an assistant to Grace Coddington at Vogue, was to the downtown loft of the jewelry maker Tom Binns. I remember walking into this big space and trying to get my bearings — anarchy oil painting on the wall, skull rings (way before everyone was doing them) and then a booming Irish brogue: “Hey what are you doing here?” I was terrified but I held my ground — and have been enamored ever since. Who knew a jewelry maker could be so cool, treating precious stones and found objects with equal esteem? It is Binns’s irreverence that I love most. He works from his gut and each piece he designs — from the rose thorn earrings to fluorescent spray-painted watches (yes, even the faces) — has a punk sensibility. But it’s his necklaces that I think are truly worth the cash.
My favorite one — with colorful diamonds and a few pieces of sea glass that dangle down the décolleté — was a gift from my husband. Every time I wear it, I get a million compliments. I’m not sure if it is, in fact, a one-of-a-kind, but it certainly looks that way. At a glance, you hardly realize that it was cobbled together from found glass and pieces of old necklaces, but that is what I love about it. It’s not too precious, it’s original and it brightens up any shirt, dress, whatever.
The piece pictured here is from Binns’s Faux Real collection, but if you want to drop some serious change, check out his Couture pieces. Moss in New York has one for $20,000. It defies rationalization on all levels.
Tom Binns' amazing creations, his work is so incredible! Do many TFS'ers have his pieces? I have this Faux Real cuff (below), which I absolutely love, but had to take it to the jeweller to mend, as one of the delicate 'branches' was broken, and I didn't want the whole thing to break. Now it's 'snapped' at another little part, which has me upset, as I treat it so delicately, and don't want it to keep breaking (absolutely love it!). Anyone have this problem? If so, do you know the best way to repair it? TIA! 
