Happy Stories From our customers

Making pasta jewelry as children made sense: what else could you string more readily than elbow macaroni, with the hole built right in?

But pasta jewelry could never be something you wear as a “grown up” right?

Um…think again.

Pasta company Barilla and Delicacies Jewelry have joined forces to create wearable, fun pasta jewelry for adults with a strong “child within.” The name of the collection? The Al Dente collection of course.

Chef Kristin Kish said the following to say about this distinctly yummy jewelry:

Elbow macaroni is one of those shapes that you see and immediately think of your childhood, and these are the memories that stick with me the most. As a chef and with new dish creation, I pull an immense amount from my childhood memories. To me, the elbow is also a reminder to see the world through the eyes of a child, with innocence, curiosity, acceptance, growth, and resilience.

When I first saw this quote, I confess: it held little to no meaning to me:

Always wear your invisible crown.

It just seemed like more New Age overly simplistic self-help advice. But as a personal experiment, I tried it out for a day, chanting it internally whenever I remembered..and I was really surprised by the results.

At first, I noticed how I was walking. Shoulders slumped and head hanging a little low, I reminded myself that if I was wearing a crown, it would have fallen off my head by now! So I gently straightened myself up and walked with more boldness and grace.

Next during a heated phone altercation with my bank (don’t get me started), I decided to employ my new mantra. Within minutes, I brought my voice down and simply spoke with more authority and confidence. (The “royal” side of me doesn’t have to quarrel after all, she simple needs to firmly request.)

At the gym that evening, I didn’t feel as exhausted by my workout. (Well, actually I felt just as exhausted as any other day, but I felt like I carried it better than usual.)

So this seemingly silly bit of advice had a pleasant ripple effect. The great part? It can be used in a wide range of situations and spoken internally just about any time. Because every moment, we deserve to feel that we matter, that we are someone special and there lies within us a radiant royalty that can’t be occluded by everyday stressors.

Is it merely a fashion trend for the summer? Or is an indication of trends to come, where women wear jewelry with more sustainable and ecologically sound implications?

As wood continues to replace heavier metals in fashion jewelry, the reasons for it are varied.

Of course, there’s the obvious: in the summer, jewelry made of wood instead of metal is simply lighter to wear. (We know how annoying heavy metal jewelry can be in a hotter climate. Come visit us in Scottsdale, AZ! )

“We can see it in artisanal crafts going back 6,000 years,” Katey Brunini says. And unlike precious metals and mined stones, it’s naturally renewable: Her sources for woods such as Costa Rican cocobolo follow rules from the Forest Stewardship Council, an international nonprofit which promotes responsible forest management.

As for Brooklyn-based designer Mark Davis, in addition to sustainable American walnut and African blackwood, he says he reclaims timber from old buildings because it’s a “dense wood that lived its life previously.”

When a diamond in an engagement ring or other prized jewelry has a chip, most owners are beside themselves.

“How could this happen? I thought diamonds were the strongest gem on the planet!”

While diamonds (both natural and lab grown) are infinitely hard, they can still experience cracks and chips unfortunately. The good news? There are some workarounds to consider:

Rotate it. If you have a claw setting and the inclusion isn’t too serious, the diamond can be rotated to hide the chip underneath a claw. If the inclusion is more serious, it’s wise to run solder under the claw to fill the empty space left by the chip.

Change it. If the inclusion has moved up to the table of the diamond, try changing the claws to talon claws which can cover up a larger imperfection.

Bezel it. If the inclusion is running around the edge of your diamond, think about a bezel or semi-bezel setting to hide the inclusion.

We know firsthand how upsetting it is when you notice a chip in your diamond ring. But know there are options other than replacing your diamond or contact your insurance provider.