Pearls Just Go With Everything

As a preppy college student, I used to wear pearls with an Irish knit sweater to football games, and that is the closest I will ever get to revealing my age. Now I tend to wear them with suits or silk blouses.  However, while pearls are classic jewelry, they have been popping up recently in the most unsuspecting places and they look fabulous.  From Chanel sunglass arms and Prada earrings to celebrity photographs, pearls have taken center stage.  Recently, the very hip Gwyneth Paltrow and Rita Wilson were photographed in pearls by Town and Country Magazine at an LA benefit.

Pearls are the birthstone for the month of June, and are still the best milestone gift for the graduates and brides,  but they are also so much more.  For more information on the gemology of pearls click here for a “Pearls” Brief.

Looking forward, pearls are for all seasons. Louis Vuitton has created the most incredible pearl necklace (left) with their Fall Collection for 2009. It is an oversized link necklace of gold with pearls accenting each link. This necklace is a stunner, I love it!

Diamonds by the Yard

Diamond-set chains have been popular throughout jewelry history. Examples from the Edwardian Period, early 20th Century, can still be readily found.   It was not until 1974, when the Italian designer Elsa Peretti joined Tiffany & Co. that they became known as “Diamonds By the Yard”.  This name is a wonderful play of words equating diamonds with other common apparel components that are sold by the yard. Peretti’s necklaces are designed as a neck chain, often a cable link, accented with bezel-set round brilliant cut diamonds at measured distances.  This style of chain can make a simple elegant statement or a Wow! with ribbons of never ending diamonds.

Diamonds-by-the-yard-style necklaces come in many variations of size and number of diamonds. The number of diamonds is generally an odd number, beginning with one very small round brilliant cut diamond to the limit of your imagination. These necklaces are elegant, yet casual enough for everyday, but take on a whole new look when worn in a dramatic rope length chain that can be worn long or wrapped around the nape of the neck or a combination of the two lengths. This style looks great with the tunic tops and dresses that are so popular this Summer.

What Your Jeweler Can Do For You

These days consumers and jewelers alike have become more creative.  The first to make the most of their jewelry on a tighter budget, the second to keep creating value for their clients.  This dynamic has created a great service that I hope will continue to be offered long into the future: Collection Review, which is usually followed by redesigning of underutilized or out of fashion pieces.

Everyone that loves jewelry has a collection, whether that is what they call it or not. Every collection does well with a bit of curating. Many jewelers will make an appointment and spend time with their clients to review all of the jewelry in the client’s collection.  With a keen eye for quality, fashion and knowledge of the client, the jeweler can recommend  pieces  that might make the collection more complete. For example, someone that attends charity luncheons should have a nice brooch or a strand of pearls, whereas a client that often attends  black tie affairs should think about dress earrings. Clients can create a “wish list”, trade-in and or redesign.

Many items in your jewelry box can be reused or scrapped and put towards a new design. Earrings or a necklace that never sat right or are just never worn might be perfect with a few tweaks, new findings or a bit of embellishment. The price of gold is also around its record high making it a good time to sell your old gold, but reusing it for a new design remains a great option.

Look for a jeweler that offers Computer Aided Design (CAD) for any custom pieces.  CAD will generate a design that will be specific to your stones; finger, neck or wrist measurements; and to your taste. The design can be easily manipulated during the creative process until the client is completely satisfied.  The system can also be used with a milling machine to produce a hard wax, castable model for preview and approval. This system has replaced the hand carved model, and has brought efficiency and limitless design options to custom jewelry.

So, make an appointment with your jeweler, and if they don’t offer this service ask them to consider doing so, and tell them who gave you the idea!

What’s Hot This Summer: Dangle Earrings

Very feminine and glamorous, dangle earrings are still gaining in popularity.  All different styles from sleek geometric Art Deco drops to more fluid designs inspired by styles of the 60’s are being seen on the red carpet and in your favorite restaurants. Nothing says Summer! like the pink of angel skin coral or the vivid blue of turquoise; Victorian, or Victorian-style, ear pendants with a single colored stone pear-shaped drop are perfect for day. Chandelier earrings, adorned with briolettes and faceted stones in all colors and many shapes are a great way to bring color, movement and sparkle to your evening jewelry. Finally, oversized hoops of warm yellow gold or in-and-out diamonds hoops are hip and very youthful for day or night. You will love the way they feel and look!