Our Brands

Saundra Messinger

“Nothing about my jewelry should be predictable.”

Two rivers – the Mississippi and the Hudson, connect Saundra’s life. The metallic luster of steely gray water and the uneven, imperfect surfaces, which resemble the weathered sea glass she loves, combine to create the signature of her collection.

Saundra was born in Memphis, Tennessee surrounded by music. At seven years old, she began singing professionally. Her singing career eventually took her to Manhattan where she recorded an album and fell in love with her producer, Chuck Irwin. Saundra’s nightclub engagements were all about the unexpected – from the traditionally up-tempo tunes transformed into aching ballads, to the intense character treatment given to old standards.

In 1993, Saundra went to work with clothing designer Eileen Fisher and quickly rose to become Executive Vice President of the company. At a time when simplicity and foundation were an unusual approach to fashion, Saundra launched national advertising campaigns and produced fashion shows that helped define the company.

In the summer of 1999, Saundra struck out on her own to become a jewelry designer. The strong, clear vision of her first collection immediately caught the attention of Vogue magazine, who declared Saundra’s distinctive style “cutting edge.” Her designs are at once luxurious and primitive, simple and unpredictable, rough and sophisticated. Saundra found a voice in this new medium, as if it had been with her all along.

Since then, Saundra has designed many more collections, appeared on many pages of Vogue, several pages in InStyle, Lucky and More. She has been the focus of feature stories and editorial coverage in trade magazines such as Jewelry Quarterly and several publications under the JCK umbrella. Saundra has also been featured in More magazine, At Home In Memphis and on the television show “Extra.” Her jewelry is worn by celebrities such as Deborah Messing, Queen Latifah and Sheryl Crowe.

Saundra was honored by The Fashion Group International as a Rising Star in 2003 and as one of the Ten New Designers of the Year in 2002 by the International Jewelry Design Guild. Her jewelry is sold in over 150 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. She is a featured designer on the Sundance Catalog website, as well as the Neiman Marcus website. She is also sold in both of those catalogs. She is sold at some of the finest specialty stores, jewelry stores and galleries, including Elements, The Clay Pot, Kittie Kyle, Art Effect, Reinhold Jewelers, San Francisco MOMA, The Museum of Art and Design in New York, Peridot, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas and Motto, to name a few.

Although the jewelry designed by Saundra Messinger is sold under her name, the corporation and the company she has formed, along with her husband, Chuck Irwin and good friend, Pamela Ross, is called TWO RIVERS – the forces that continue to connect the different parts of her life.

<< back to all brands

Visit our Blog
for fashion musings and tips for living the good life.