Jewelry Education and Advice

Losing an engagement or wedding ring or any other significant piece of jewelry can be a devastating loss. Many experience immense guilt for being careless and bemoan the loss, often for years. So what can you do to move on, after you’ve lost something so precious to you?

Remember that you’re human. And as such you make mistakes. Instead of internalizing the loss of a favorite piece of jewelry (aka beating yourself up), acknowledge that every one of us makes mistakes. If a friend lost a favorite ring, you wouldn’t think any less of her or him, right? Accept you failabilities and don’t be hard on yourself.

Allow for grief. Most people think of grief only when it comes to the loss of a loved one. But its alright to grieve over an object. Just do it in a healthy manner. Remember what the piece of jewelry signified to you, pour over the memories, cry if you need to. Jewelry can represent a phase of your life; acknowledge that phase with respect.

It’s alright to replace. Nothing will ever completely replace a lost engagement ring but its alright to try! Just as a lost necklace can symbolize old memories, a replacement piece can represent a new phase in your life.

Nothing is easy about a lost piece of jewelry that you love. But remember the most important thing: don’t be angry with yourself. It’s amazing, considering the extensive wear of our favorite pieces, that we’ve kept them this long. Celebrate its presence in your life and move on. Because guess what? You can’t take it with you anyway.

This woman makes an important point that we’ve seen time and time again; often the wearer doesn’t realize that his or her engagement ring has a certain dull look after years of wear. As you’ll see, it only takes a few minutes to give that ring of yours that new sheen.

My friend was in a quandry a few days ago because he handbag had silver accents and she was wearing a gold necklace. The fashion gods were going to strike her down!

I assured her that mixing metals was more than allowed; its encouraged. Colors in metals compliment one another quite nicely whether piled on top of one another or in the same piece.

This article in Getting Jessed Up gives some really great examples of daring metal mixes that obviously work.

Some examples of David Young  jewelry:

Read more tips here.

A client of ours recently told us about her need to find a necklace she could wear frequently, on just about any occasion. It got me thinking about “everyday” jewelery–those pieces that fit the wearer like a favorite pair of jeans or perfectly fitted leather gloves. Comfortable jewelry that simply became part of who you are.

Here’s a piece that definitely fits the bill. It’s not ostentatious nor does it simply fade into the background. Its simply a nice personalized touch for daily wear.

Four Prong Princess Cut Pendant With Round Stone Bale starting at $445.

Often women (and men) are focused on the “ooh and ahh” factor when purchasing jewelry. They want something stunning and eye-catching. Practicality becomes a distant second…until they start wearing it for a while. Unless you’re buying a piece just for that special event, jewelry needs to pass a strict practicality test. Floridian jeweler Richard Alan has this to say:

A ring that is to be worn 24/7 has to be able to take the wear and tear of every day life. It’s that simple. Or is it? Even something as simple as gravity has to be considered. A ring that is top heavy or bulky will always slip to the left or right if improperly designed. All pendants require first finding the center of gravity to assure they hang correctly on a chain or omega necklace. Naturally rings, bracelets, and even pendants with clusters of stones requiring multitudes of prongs will snag clothing. Prongs also require constant inspection and maintenance. The loss of one prong on four prong settings will result in stone loss.

Designs that incorporate channels or bezels to hold diamonds or gemstones are absolutely snag-proof; there are many ways to hold gemstones in jewelry without the use of prongs.

I’m not saying that I’m totally against using prongs. In many design applications they are required to achieve a certain look. On my contemporary pieces I try to avoid the use of prongs.  As long as the prongs are short, strong, minimal in quantity, and not high up in the air, they are less likely to snag.

One of the worst design mistakes is attaching a pendant directly to a chain or omega. More times that I can count, I face an unhappy new customer with a new expensive pendant (not my design) that refuses to lay flat, or it flops to the left or right, which can be annoying.

Most of the time the problem is with the original designer who failed to address an obviously simple fact… GRAVITY. A pendant on a neck display in a showcase will lie perfectly. On a moving human being it’s another thing. Shape a chain or ome

Read more here.

Below is a great example of a pratical wedding band that doesn’t sacrifice beauty and designs. These comfort fit bands were created for serious wear, as a well-designed wedding band should be.

Platinum Comfort Fit Band With Satin Finish Center And High Polished Sides

Did you ever wonder how a jeweler’s work makes it to the red carpet? Does the celebrity own the jewelry or is it on loan? How is in insured? Does the jeweler seek out the celebrity or visa versa?

Jorge Adeler, an Argentina-born custom jeweler, had a crash course on award ceremony jewelry.

There’s no bigger stage upon which to announce your arrival into the jewelry big leagues than that scarlet-clad sidewalk leading into the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy or MTV Video Music awards shows.

Landing a stunning bracelet on Reese Witherspoon, diamond pendants on Angelina Jolie or a six-figure gem suite on Sandra Bullock can transform a well-kept secret into a household name overnight.

Just ask Jorge Adeler, an Argentina-born custom jeweler whose studio in Great Falls, Va., makes one-of-a-kind jewelry for the wives of movers and shakers in nearby Washington, D.C. Once Hollywood’s A-list caught a glimpse of Adeler’s artistry, he received so many requests to borrow his pieces that he was forced to open his own showroom in Beverly Hills, Calif., just to accommodate them.

“Hardly a week passes now without us being in one magazine or another: Redbook, InStyle, Martha Stewart, Brides magazine,” says 65-year-old Adeler. “It is a great compliment.”

Read more at Fox News.

Jorge Adeler and his work.

 

This video walks you through quick and easy ways to tell if your pearls are fake. Plus, check out this woman’s amazing akoya pearls. Wow!

This morning, I perused several articles extolling the latest and greatest fashion and jewelry trends for 2013. Geometric shapes, rose gold, color blocking…the list goes on.

It got me thinking: how can you create style resolutions that suits you and not the latest trend?

1. What don’t you like about your current style? We all have “fall-back” fashions–those things we wear that are easy to toss on but not the most flattering. Maybe its time to donate those clothes to charity and move on to clothes that show off the best in you. As a matter of fact, revisit your closet and truly ask yourself if that dress really does suit you or if that blouse fits well. If not, let it go, like 2012.

2. What clothing or jewelry would you like to add? Most of us harbor an inner wish list of fashion items we really want but just haven’t purchased them yet. Maybe it’s a romantic necklace or a pair of sexy boots. This year, allow yourself those purchases. You only go around once!

3. How can you “grow up” your wardrobe? If there are items that represent you ten years ago, what does that say about your personal growth? We often hang on to styles that we’ve outgrown because of nostalgia or just plain laziness. This year, choose fashion that fits the 2013 you.

It’s easy to be lead around by the latest trends, but you have a personal style that is distinctly your own. With that said, even that can be revised and improved not because of external pressure, but just because it will make you feel good this upcoming year.

Our Round Journey Pendant Necklace, perfect for any outfit in 2013. Starting at $725.

We love the way jewelry enhances beauty. Heck, we’ve built a business based on it. But on this last day of the year, let’s talk about the ways you can turn on your inner brilliance. Seriously, these easy steps can re-align you energetically so you simply look more relaxed and naturally beautiful.

1. Breathe. We hear it but don’t take the time to do it. Spend 3 – 5 minutes focusing only on deep, diaphragmatic breaths and full exhalating. Clear your mind of nagging thoughts. Deep breathing is a natural de-stresser and oxygenizes your system, making you look and feel more refreshed.

2. Count your blessings. Most of us are in a constant state of focusing on what we want and what we don’t have. But if you start your day doing a quick inventory of what you do have, your perspective shifts. A positive attitude based in gratitude naturally destresses and allows your inner diamond to shine.

3. Take in the air and light. Even if it’s cold where you are, a quick walk energizes and stimulates your entire system. It also makes you feel more connected with your body. Sunshine (not too much of it) naturally makes you look and feel better as well.

4. Water, water, water. Holidays are often a time of excess. Why not give your body a break? First thing in the morning, before coffee or food, drink a glass of water. Tonight at that party, remember to alternate between your beverage of choice and just plain water. A hydrated body always shows.

For 2013, remember that beauty always starts from the inside. When you feel healthy and stress-free, it shows. You, like our diamonds, simply radiate!

When asking around the office yesterday, only a few knew the story behind the tennis bracelet’s name. (I must confess, I was one of them.) But apparently, it has to do with one famous tennis player and a faulty clasp:

Evert was wearing a George Bedewi-designed bracelet sparkling with an inline string of individually-set diamonds when the clasp snapped, sending the precious piece of jewelry scattering across the court. The six-time U.S. Open champion requested a pause in play to search for it.

The image of the “Ice Maiden” coolly recovering the missing ice on court resonated well beyond the baseline, and since then bracelets containing an inline array of diamonds have been called “tennis bracelets.” Their clasps seem to be more secure these days, as tennis bracelets have spread from the court to the red carpet as an accessory to the stars.

Source: Tennis.com

Here’s our exclusive rose gold tennis bracelet, guaranteed to withstand a good tennis game!