Jewelry Education and Advice

Our customers frequently ask, “How do I keep my jewelry clean?” Well, unfortunately, there’s no one answer (because much depends on the metals and gems of your particular piece as well as your average usage).

Gold has its own particular “rules” which were recently detailed in June’s InStyle magazine.

1. Create a mild cleaning solution with warm water and a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap.

2. Soak the piece for 15 minutes.

3. Gently scrub the piece with a soft-bristle toothbrush to reach every nook and cranny.

4. Rinse with warm water.

5. Blot dry with a soft cloth and let air dry.

We like the simplicity!

Oh…and don’t forget: keep your gold jewelry (as well as other types) away from chlorine bleach, which will discolor metals over time.

We love style expert Lindsay Albanese and have featured her on our blog several times in the past. She’s pumped about jewelry and offers up quick and easy advice that you can apply to your style today.

In this YouTube video, Lindsay talks with special guest, model and actress Molly Sims on how to layer jewelry, mix things up, and have fun with the jewelry you have.

Remember: take chances and don’t get stuck in the same, old jewelry-wearing rut.

Today, wear something in your jewelry box you haven’t worn in a long time!

Maybe you’ve dabbled in jewelry design. Or simply love jewelry and want to take it to the next level. But what does it take to become a professional jewelry designer? Well, as you guessed…it starts with education.

But first, what exactly is a jewelry designer?

According to Study.com:

Jewelry designers work with precious metals, diamonds, beads and gemstones to create wearable pieces of art. A jewelry designer may create one-of-a-kind pieces for high-end jewelers or an entire line for a mass-market fashion designer. They may also sell their jewelry themselves. Designers can create jewelry entirely by hand or they can begin the design process by using computer-aided design (CAD) software. As with many artists, jewelry designers are often freelance workers and must continually seek assignments or customers in a competitive market.

Now back to the education:

If you’re interested in a career in jewelry design, check out this list of the Top 10 Best Jewelry Design Schools in the US. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll work together!

Sure, you’ve read that certain seasons call for a particular piece of jewelry (like brighter, bolder jewelry during the summer months, for instance). But let’s think meta for a moment. Could every day of the week benefit from a certain style of jewelry?

Let’s take Monday, for instance. For most, it’s the day of the week where we have to start again, jump back into the work week or get the kids safely off to school. The weekend still hangs on us like a cozy sweater but the reality of all the “stuff” that needs done looms overhead. Often we’re feeling a little…uninspired.

For this reason, our staff has decided that Monday is a good day to keep it simple. Bold jewelry may be a little too taxing and no jewelry might be a little too lazy. So here’s our “less is more” on Monday approach.

Minimalist Gold Rectangle Necklace Minimalist and chic rectangle necklace, measuring 7.5x29mm. Available in 14kt white, yellow, or rose gold, with a 16″ chain. Price: $365.00

Modern Circle Necklace Modern and minimalist Circle necklace with a 13mm diameter and an 18″ rope chain. Available in all metals. Price: $310.00 – $345.00

Turquoise has a very unfortunate bad rap. It’s often considered passe and hokey, evoking a bygone 70’s era fashion style (think early Cher or Jimi Hendrix). Because of its early popularity, turquoise jewelry was often mass produced and poorly designed. But at its essence, turquoise is a wonderful versatile and stunning gem that many designers have brought back to life in a wide array of fashionable and contemporary forms.

Okay before we get into the whys of a split shank, let’s take a moment to look at one of our latest pieces, shall we?

Sweet, isn’t it? And split shanks are increasing in popularity. Why?

Well megastar Beyonce may have helped matters with her  off the hook engagement ring.

Shanks can be twisted, woven or just plain metal. Often you’ll see pave diamonds on the shank, but that’s not always the case. Some come together at the back of the ring, though some maintain the split all the way around. The center stone is generally very secure in this type of setting, so its a good choice for a larger stone.

Split shanks are also unique and leaves more room for individual touches in custom design.

We love custom designing split shank rings so if you’re not convinced, call our studio and we’ll extol their virtues even more!

We must admit, some of the statement necklaces over the years have not always suited our tastes. But we certainly like the recent trend, where these more ostentatious pieces are balanced by simpler, cleaner fashion lines (like pictured above).

According to Robb Report,

The main reason is that fashion is becoming less intricate. Instead of prints, we are seeing monochrome fabrics in a variety of different textures and shades, with clear-cut silhouettes increasingly favored over multiple layers. It is a clear shift toward minimalist, finessed styles.

Save 30% Now!! Round Moissanite Pave Set Necklace Pave’ set pendant featuring approximately 2 5/8ct t.w. (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round moissanite stones, 32mm in length. Available on an 18″ snake chain in 14kt white gold only. On Sale! Save 30% on select items. Use coupon “Discount30” at checkout. (Discount will be calculated at checkout) While supplies last

Black rhodium can be seen trending in jewelry publications this season and we’re certainly no stranger to its beautiful and practical beauty.

First of all, what is rhodium?

It’s a very rare member of the platinum family and one of the most expensive rare metals. While the price can fluctuate considerably, an ounce of rhodium can go for around $2,500 dollars (!)

Due to its extreme toughness, it can easily resist corrosion and scratches.

What are the benefits of black rhodium?

It’s highly reflective so its sultry silvery color makes a perfect plating material. It creates the perfect backdrop for gemstones to really “pop.”

Here are a few examples of black rhodium:

Black Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver 925 Nickel Free Engagement Wedding Ring Set.

Diamond Pyramid bangle in black rhodium–plated 18k gold; $20,000; Sutra, Houston;  sutrajewels.com, found on JCK.

Note how the gems really pop against the inky backdrop of black rhodium:

Diamond, sapphire, tsavorite, and onyx ring in black rhodium–plated 18k gold; $13,900; Lydia Courteille, Paris; lydiacourteille.com

A friend of mine got herself into a bit of beauty quandry. She wanted a “big change” in her life after moving across country so decided a short haircut would help define this new phase. Only one small problem: she can’t stand her new haircut.

“My face isn’t the right shape for a cut so short. It makes me look like a boy.” I didn’t think it looked that bad but I did make a suggestion that I knew would increase the femininity quotient: earrings, of course.

It’s not only that earrings add that certain feminine touch to a short do, but also helps balance a cut that doesn’t fit the face the way it should. (Earrings also draw attention away from the haircut!)

We often here our customers complain about organizing their jewelry. And we get it. Jewelry boxes (while often beautiful works of art) aren’t really the most practical way to store jewelry. If you’ve ever spent hours untangling necklaces, you know firsthand its limitations.

Luckily, there are tons of crafty and fun techniques that help you store your jewelry and accessories in a way that saves space and time. But more importantly, these methods are a fantastic way to display your jewelry so you can easily see the jewelry in your collection!

Don’t think you need any type of organizer. Go to that jewelry box (or drawer) of yours and start sorting. Undoubtedly you’ll find pieces that you love but haven’t worn in a while. Because you forgot about those pieces! Jewelry matters too much to get lost in a box or drawer, right?