Happy Stories From our customers

As most of you know by now, Elizabeth Edwards passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Elizabeth Edwards 61, wife of John Edwards, the former presidential candidate, was also a best selling author, attorney and a health care advocate. She is the mother of Cate, Jack and Emma Claire.

A few photos of the quiet, sophisticated beauty of Ms. Edwards:

The simple elegance of Elizabeth Edwards

In July 2004, Elizabeth Edwards and her daughter Cate take the stage during the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Knowing her final hours were imminent, Elizabeth Edwards posted this reflection on her Facebook page:

“You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces — my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.”

— Elizabeth Edwards, Dec. 6, 2010

Christmas can be chockful of fashion faux pas. And nowhere is this more evident than in the holiday jewelry department (though holiday sweaters run a close second!) Here are some hand-picked pieces for you to avoid – or embrace – depending on your personal tackiness potential!

Ho, ho horrible!

Mice and earrings - not such a great combo.

Intimidating-looking Santas

Pendant Gone Wrong

We think they're Christmas trees...maybe.

Wow. Just...wow.

With Prince Williams to soon marry, we decided to take a stroll down memory lane and gaze at some of the beautiful jewelry his mother adorned:

Spencer Tiara

Princess Diana Attending a State Reception Princess Diana wears a suite of sapphire and diamond jewels presented by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the Spencer family tiara.

Diamond Teardrop Earrings and Pearl Choker

Gold "D" necklace

This ring has a large oval sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold. The oval sapphire is NOT 18 carats in size as reported after Kate Middleton received this ring. It is set in 18K white gold which has been misinterpreted as an 18 carat oval sapphire.

As per usual, award shows often showcase up-and-coming jewelry and fashion trends. And this year was no different, with colored gemstons, diamonds and sapphires sparkling strong:

The CMA carpet brimmed with head-turning looks, as many of country’s leading ladies selected gowns in saturated hues, from Miranda Lambert in magenta and Swift in true red to Katherine Heigl, actress and wife of singer Josh Kelley, in sapphire blue. To accessorize, Heigl and Lambert both turned to colored gemstones, with Heigl donning her own diamond and sapphire stud earrings and a pendant necklace, and Lambert wearing ruby and diamond earrings from Amrapali. The nearly shoulder-grazing drops (below) feature carved ruby and colorless diamonds that pop against their blackened metal setting. Lambert topped the look off with a wrist full of Amrapali stacked rose-cut diamond bangles.

Sheryl Crow also looked to color for her CMA night out. The singer wore stacks of diamond, gold and coral bracelets, plus coral and gold chandelier earrings and a diamond cocktail ring, all from celebrity favorite Neil Lane.

Meanwhile, diamond jewelry alone got plenty of play. Swift, who performed her new single “Back to December,” made her red carpet arrival in a suite of diamond jewelry from Neil Lane, including long leaf earrings, plus a bracelet and ring, all featuring diamonds set in platinum. Gwyneth Paltrow, who hit the stage to perform the theme song from her new film, Country Strong, wore earrings in a similar silhouette. The actress, who wowed critics with her vocals, accessorized with long curling leaf-like earrings reportedly from S.J. Phillips.

In addition to the evening’s many bold earrings, classic jewelry—including smaller diamond drops and studs, paired with simple line bracelets—also continued to make its red carpet mark. Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott selected a diamond earring and bracelet combo from Bulgari, while Nicole Kidman looked to classic styles from Fred Leighton. The evening’s co-host, Carrie Underwood, set the sartorial stage, appearing on the red carpet in a gray-tiered frock, simple diamond earrings and a bracelet, followed over the evening by a bevy of quick-changes and a rotating accompaniment of jewels.

Source: National Jeweler

Miranda Lambert in Amrapali statement earrings and a series of bangles:

Taylor Swift in Neil Lane diamond dangle earrings

Katherine Heigl in sapphire button earrings with a starburst pendant from Ryan Ryan

Tiffany’s economics up and downs have been quite indicative of the general outlook of our economy overall. And it’s no surprise, right? If you can afford a diamond anniversary ring for your wife, chances are your pursestrings aren’t as tight!

Here’s the latest:

Tiffany & Co. sounded an optimistic note for the holidays, saying its sales in the retail industry’s most important season are running ahead of target.

The comments from luxury jewelry company come as retailers are gearing up for the frenzy of Black Friday weekend and a holiday season that the National Retail Federation forecasts will be the best in four years.

“We are now a few weeks into the all-important two-month holiday season, and sales growth is exceeding our expectations,” Tiffany Chief Executive Michael Kowalski said.

The comments followed a strong third quarter for the company, which raised its profit forecast for the year. Tiffany’s shares rose to a record high in early trading Wednesday, and the outlook gave a boost to companies like Coach Inc., Nordstrom Inc. and Saks Inc.

The luxury-goods industry has rebounded sharply this year after a disastrous 2008. Coach said in October that it is pleased by its sales trends, and French luxury goods company Hermes International predicted earlier this month that it would have a record year.

Punctuating the rebound, Tiffany said it is seeing the most strength in its higher-end goods. “We continue to see bifurcated performance, with declines in sales and transactions below $500, but double-digit percentage increases in most every other higher priced category,” investor relations chief Mark Aaron said on a conference call with analysts. “This indicates to us diverging effects to one degree or another that the economy is having on consumer spending.”

Tiffany has benefited from higher pricing of late. For the period ended Oct. 31, Tiffany posted a profit of $55.1 million, or 43 cents a share, up from $43.3 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier.

Sales jumped 14% to $681.7 million following last year’s 2.9% drop. The company’s gross margin widened to 58.5% from 54.8%, due in part to higher prices.

Sales in the Americas rose 9% and climbed 5% on a same-store basis excluding currency impacts. Internet and catalog sales in the Americas climbed 7%. At Tiffany’s New York flagship store, sales declined 3%. Sales were up 24% and 22% in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe, respectively.

—Matt Jarzemsky contributed to this article.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Shared Prong Princess Cut Diamond Anniversary Band - Click on image for more information

It’s been a trying time economically but we’re starting to see a glimmer of light at the end of a long tunnel. Fashion, as usual, displays hints and themes that are relevent to our current state of affairs. Hence why the winter jewelry trends of 2010 – 2011 show a return to the basics, with a few over-the-top pieces showcasing an emerging sense of hope and celebration.

Take pearls for instance. Pearls are seeing a definite resurgence and for good reason – they imply a sense of purity and hope. They represent simple beauty and remind us of jewelry “way back when.” This gives us a connectivity to our past that’s needed when times are tough.

In addition, eco-friendly jewelry has never been…friendlier! People are becoming increasingly aware of the global implications of their fashion choices.

Here are some other pieces to include in your collection:

• Antique, Vintage, Retro & New Combinations
  Dramatic, unique, unusual necklaces (simple… yet exotic)
  Ornamented Bracelets
  Eclectic Natural Look
  Crystal, Rhinestone & Venetian Art Glass
  Black, Grey and Neutrals
  2011 Color Predictions
  Faux & Real Pearls
  Over-The-Top Rings (not gaudy, but daring)
  Enormous Hoops and Chandelier Earrings
  Green Eco Aware Movement

Source: Squidoo.com

Fresh water pearls - a Constant Classic - click on image for more info

From one of our Australian customers:

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