CADAR: Elegant Minimalism Embodied in Gold and Diamonds

June 25, 2017

By Simon Martner

4 min read

Choosing CADAR to be the winner of the Couture Design Awards “Gold” category was perhaps one of the easiest decision that we, the judges, had to make during the course of the competition’s selection process. Yossi Harari, Melissa Geiser, Daisy Shaw, Julie Thom and I decided unanimously that the heart-shaped Endless Cocktail Ring was the perfect example of a refined gold piece, and it clearly stood out from the other jewels thanks to its unusual design. Who created the cocktail ring, which has already begun to win over hearts?

Michal Kadar, the main driving force behind the American brand, CADAR, was surrounded by art from her childhood, thanks to her father who worked as a sculptor and created life-size pieces of art. Little Michal spent hours by the sea, collecting shells for her father’s sculptures, and this is how she developed an attention to detail, which has been of great advantage to her in her adult life.

CADAR colourles and black diamonds ring in yellow gold. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR colourles and black diamonds ring in yellow gold. Photo by Simon Martner.

 CADAR TU engagement rings with jackets that can be put on top of a classic ring. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR TU engagement rings with jackets that can be put on top of a classic ring. Photo by Simon Martner.

 CADAR Endless cocktail ring - the winner of COUTURE Design Awards in GOLD category. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR Endless cocktail ring - the winner of COUTURE Design Awards in GOLD category. Photo by Simon Martner.

It took some time for the creative director of CADAR to come to jewellery art. She worked in the fashion industry for many years and managed her own boutique in Tel Aviv, dressing celebrities and stars in her exquisitely designed casual wear, as well as evening dresses. Michal kept her finger on the pulse of trends, easily creating stylish and elegant looks, which of course in many ways influenced her future career as a jewellery designer. Michael formed an unconventional view of the form and aesthetics of jewellery, and in turn she transforms jewellery materials into objects of conceptual art and integral parts of one’s wardrobe.

How does Michal’s past in fashion affect her present in jewellery, you ask? To understand this, one must pay special attention to how CADAR pieces “sit” on the fingers, skirt the neck and hug the wrists. For example, the Duplex Necklace from the Water Collection is made from several dozen semi-circles folded into an intricate pattern, and resembles ripples of water, or lace made from gold. The earrings and necklaces from the Bloom Collection are adorned with playful tassels which, like a jewelled fringe, flutter and shimmer with every passing movement. And the hoop earrings, pendants and rings from the Light Collection are “embroidered” with round and baguette-cut diamonds along the “skirting” on each piece.

CADAR Bloom and Endless ring in yellow gold and diamonds. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR Bloom and Endless ring in yellow gold and diamonds. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR does not try to astonish its clients with statement gems, and Michal is not shy about not having a gemmological education. She only uses diamonds in her brand’s jewellery, and their quality is easily identified from a certificate which can be done even without a degree in gemmology. Michal specialises in the design aspect of jewellery, building on the purity of lines, perfect balance and elegant minimalism. There is nothing superfluous, and when you look at the gold rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces with her accentuations of colourless or black diamonds, there is no desire to remove or add a single thing.

What comes across as minimalistic design, features a variety of interesting and sophisticated stylistic elements. For example, in almost every collection there is a piece with moving parts. In the Water Collection Duality Earrings, there are semi-circles of gold around the rotating central sphere, some of which are decorated with pavé diamonds. Inside the flower-shaped TU Trio Engagement Ring from the Bloom Collection, one of a handful of TU  Collection rings, the engagement piece is hidden inside the ‘jacket’, but can be taken out and worn separately. And as for the heart-shaped ring from the Endless collection that won the Couture Design Award, it is possible to raise and lower the blades of each half of the heart on the top of the ring, allowing you to play with the piece.

CADAR yellow gold necklace from Water collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR yellow gold necklace from Water collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

 CADAR yellow gold, white and black diamonds necklace from Reflections collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR yellow gold, white and black diamonds necklace from Reflections collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

 CADAR  yellow gold, white and black diamonds earrings from Endless collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR yellow gold, white and black diamonds earrings from Endless collection. Photo by Simon Martner.

The most powerful source of inspiration for Michal is nature. Despite the fact that this theme is very often reflected in jewellery art, everyone interprets it in their own unique way. The creative director of CADAR embodied it in the first collection Light and the second collection Water, which explore these two elements: baguette diamonds representing sun rays, and golden semi-circles that explore the way form diverges on the surface of water. Together, these two elements are necessary for life to come forth, which inspired the third collection, Bloom, with its floral motif.

CADAR Bloom necklace in yellow gold with diamonds. Photo by Simon Martner.

CADAR Bloom necklace in yellow gold with diamonds. Photo by Simon Martner.

Sautoirs, cocktail rings, long earrings and wide bracelets are permeated with stylistic components from Art Déco and Art Nouveau trends, fractal geometry and features of Japanese art. Such a mixture of styles is the result of Michal’s broad outlook, as well as the cultural heritage from her parents whose families hail from Europe and North Africa. I am sure that this will continue to be reflected in the future creations that bear the CADAR name.

Maria Canale: Elegance and Luxury in Its Purest Form

continue reading

Instant Charm: Celebrating New Creations with Karina Choudhrie Jewels

Let's take a closer look at the latest pieces that have emerged from Karina's incredible imagination…

by Katerina Perez

Key Facts About Gold: An Ancient Symbol of Power and Luxury

In an age where digital currencies rise and fall, gold remains a universal symbol of stability, beauty, and lasting worth. It is worn on the skin, locked in vaults, and passed down through generations as a living legacy.

by Hirshi Sujanti

Little Legends: The History and Power of Pinky Rings

Pinky rings have long carried cultural weight - from Ancient Mesopotamian seals to Egyptian signets and Japanese kamon heirlooms. Today, the style is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to contemporary designers and a growing list of high-profile wearers, including Meghan Markle, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

by Joshua Hendren

Forever in Bloom: The Timeless Charm of Flowers in Jewellery

Flowers may fade in a vase, but flowers in jewellery—they bloom eternally

by Hirshi Sujanti

Double Vision: The Art and Allure of Reversible Jewellery

With versatility driving today’s jewellery trends, reversible designs are enjoying a quiet resurgence. From transformable lockets to rotating rings and earrings that change with a flip, these reversible jewellery creations reflect a growing desire for multi-dimensional design.

by Joshua Hendren

Coloured Diamonds: Why They’re Rare, Valuable and Incredibly Collectible

In the world of diamonds, white may be the standard, but colour is where the magic really happens. From blush pinks and oceanic blues to canary yellows and rare violets, coloured diamonds are nature's most extravagant anomaly

by Claire Roberts

Jewellery Manifesto: Tracing Three Pivotal Decades with Pomellato Collezione 1967

With Collezione 1967, Pomellato is presenting its ‘Jewellery Manifesto’ through 75 pieces, each inspired by one of three revolutionary decades in its creative history: the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Let’s take a closer look at the Maison’s artistic signatures, reinvented for a new generation of high jewellery lovers… 

by Sarah Jordan

Pink City Style: The Best-Selling Reversible Jewels of Gyan Jaipur

I would like to tell you more about the brand, its origin story, design inspirations and its popular Jaipur and Yami collections

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Futures: Le Vian Unveils its 2026 Jewellery Trends in Las Vegas

Here's a rundown of what was included this year…

by Sarah Jordan

Exceptional Splendour: Jaipur Gems Celebrates 50 Years with Abu Dhabi Opening and New High Jewels 

Let me take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Abu Dhabi boutique and share some of my sparkling highlights

by Katerina Perez

Radiating Confidence: The Mother-Daughter Energy Behind Growing Brand Aponine

As one of this year’s Couture show debutants, Turkish brand Aponine impressed me with its blend of colourful creativity, timeless elegance, and stylish femininity. Let’s take a closer look…

by Katerina Perez

Sensual Silhouettes: Jewels with Curves in All the Right Places

Is it getting hot in here, or is it just us? As jewellers swap sharp lines for shapely swirls, we look at new collections that are embracing the raw power of sensuality inspired by the female form

by Rachael Taylor

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Epic Evolution:Miseno Launches the Arco Collection to Celebrate a Fabulous Decade

I am pleased to present to you my highlights of the new Arco High Jewellery collection, which was formally showcased to the jewellery world at Couture from June 4-8, 2025

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

In Conversation:Discussing Paraiba - The Legacy of a Color

with Vogue Singapore

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.