From luxury costume makers to Etsy experts to jewelry designers, the jewelry industry is getting in on the hype surrounding the new series, which debuted August 21 on HBO to great acclaim.
There is a good reason for the hype: People of all ages love the new series. In the week of its premiere, nearly 25 million people watched the episode.
It was the biggest premiere for any HBO, media accounts say. The second episode, on Aug. 28, had 10.2 million views from its first night, according to Nielsen. Based on those numbers and the fan base, HBO has already renewed the series for a second season.
For Elemental Designs founder Susie Holmes, the Dragonslayer ring is her “pride and joy”. It's something she hopes dragon fans will appreciate for its detail. She uses #dragonjewelry and other hashtags on her dragon scale-inspired ring to catch the eye of House of the Dragon fans.
Designer Susie Holmes created the Dragonslayer ring with a dragon scales motif. It was laser cut to create a groove for an opal insert in a whiskey barrel base.
I drew a dragon scales pattern in Illustrator and through much trial and error, got it set up with my laser to cut out the design for the whiskey barrel ring bases. I also create the raw whiskey barrel pieces directly from the wood itself, Holmes says. Customers have many options for designs of their own version of the ring. From the ring itself to the opal colors and shade.
CosmicDeva, also known as jewellery designer Claudia Tuliszewski, creates dragon themes as part of her overall work. Mostly handmade, boho-chic, kiln-fired metal jewelry made of sterling silver, copper and bronze.
It is inspired by ancient symbols, ancient cultures, ancient ritual symbols, as well as medieval and tribal jewellery. Especially from dragons like the ones that are the protagonists in the new HBO series House of the Dragon.
Her dragon necklace highlights how this creation is a guardian that can serve as a protector of the person wearing it. The necklace has been hand-sculpted and features a natural red pigeon-blood ruby.
At Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry, a San Francisco-based retailer and e-commerce site, dragons are definitely the stars these days, says Lang's marketing director, Nicole Corsini.
Corsini says Lang Antiques has a large collection of vintage jewelry, so her staff is always happy when there are important cultural cornerstones. Like House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones, which remains the biggest HBO series to date. Take also Carrie Bradshaw and Tony Soprano as examples.
We like to style our vintage jewelry using inspiration from current events through our Instagram account, says Corsini. For example, episodes of “Get the Look” after the Met Gala or the Oscars. Also the green diamond features after J. Lo's engagement or anything to do with the Netflix megahit Bridgerton.
Monsters like the ones found in House of the Dragon are a joy for anyone to work with. But these figures in particular inspire the jewelry industry, Corsini says.
Dragons and other mythological creatures are an eternal source of inspiration for jewellers. Sometimes they are outright, such as the diamond brooch, the dragon pendant or the modernist lorgnette, says Corsini.
Other times they provide inspiration for details such as textures or nail placements, such as a mid-century bracelet and brooch.
And, sometimes, we are lucky enough to be able to reproduce an accurate image from the series. Like the fringe necklace on Alicent Hightower from the second episode, Corsini says.
Whether you believe in dragons is not the point, Corsini says. Having fun with the jewelry is always the best part of working with such incredible creations.
I think people are drawn to dragons in jewelry for their symbolism. They represent themes such as strength, protection, freedom of flight. Because they have lifelike features and wonderful textures (scales, fire, teeth) that metalworkers and jewelers can reproduce wonderfully, says Corsini.
