The Jewelry Brief » Recommended Past Briefs

Mix Fine and Fashion Jewelry?

The Briefer — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:01:17 +0000

Absolutely. Today, fashion is fast. I don’t think twice before pairing an Hermes scarf with a Zara suit. Gucci purse and flip-flops from Target? On a daily basis in South Florida. Many items of clothing and jewelry are timeless, but for trends why not try fashion?

Jewelry is sentimental, it’s about marking milestones. It is also about refining and polishing your look. So, you can love your Art Deco engagement ring and spring for bohemian chic dangle earrings for a flirty night out!

Jewelry Trends: Everything is Coming up Rose Gold

The Briefer — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:47:05 +0000

Rose gold is the hottest trend for jewelry this Spring.

Its warm hue is a perfect match with the neutrals, pastels and florals that are in for Spring. The characteristics of rose gold are flattering to any skin type.

The pink color comes from copper, which is alloyed with yellow gold. Yellow gold is always mixed with another metal for use in jewelry to improve strength. The result is the various colors of gold that we love to wear: rose, green, white, yellow.

Rose gold jewelry can be found in every price range. Fun, affordable vermeil pieces can be found like this rose gold over brass hammered cuff by Diana Warner NYC. Cartier and Etienne Perret are showing timeless classics in rose gold, and Ivanka Trump is showing fantastic rose gold, rock crystal and diamond earrings in her collection.

The groundhog says Spring is coming early this year. Are you ready with your rose gold jewelry?

Tales from the Appraiser’s Desk: David Yurman Before the Cable

The Briefer — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:46:28 +0000

Recently, while conducting an estate appraisal I came across this necklace. Dated ’75, it was in keeping with the style and time period of the jewelry in the collection I was appraising. But this particular one was signed David Yurman.

Very exciting! My first step was to e-mail Patricia Faber of Aaron Faber Gallery in New York. Patricia is a wealth of information on artist jewelry. She confirmed that it probably was an early necklace by “the” David Yurman, and not by another artist of the same name. Next, I contacted the David Yurman Company. In very short time, they authenticated the necklace for me.

In the meantime, I did my own research on the jewelry artist now synonymous with silver cable jewelry and luxe lifestyle. Born in 1942, David Yurman grew up on Long Island, N.Y. He discovered his creative and artistic abilities at an early age through the medium of sculpture. In the 60′s he was apprentice to the master sculptor Jaccques Lipshitz. After spending time in an artist colony in California, David returned to Greenwich Village where he met his wife Sybil. Together they formed a lasting artistic partnership. They opened Putnam Art Works the precursor to the brand of the David Yurman Company, which was created in 1980. In 1983 David Yurman launched the iconic cable jewelry collection and the rest is history. The company celebrates its 30^th anniversary this year.

Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Faraone Mennella

The Briefer — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:42:20 +0000

This is the first post of a “Style Setters” series brought to you by The Jewelry Brief. In each post of the series, the Brief will reach out to the creative minds behind today’s best jewelry, and ask the about their inspiration, style and influences.

Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S. was founded in New York City in 2001 by two longtime friends, Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, who moved to the United States to further their professional design interests after growing up in Italy surrounded by art and beauty. Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S. produces jewelry of timeless style and elegance for every woman, from collections sold at major retailers to one-of-a-kind jewelry couture featured on the large and small screen made for some of the world’s most glamorous women.

Their complete collections can be viewed at www.rfmas.com

A while back, Amedeo sent me a thank you e-mail for a post that I had written about Faraone Mennella earlier this year. Amedeo and Roberto graciously agreed to answer a few questions for The Jewelry Brief, reaffirming once again my belief that the world is small and people are kind.

What is the source for your design inspiration?

We like to think of ourselves as “artisans” of the jewelry design, so while we draw inspiration from many sources (Capri, the 60′s Dolce Vita, Romy Schneider…) we are mostly driven by the beauty of creation. The “bench” is our main source. It drives our work.

Is there a secret to your contemporary yet timeless style?

The secret is staying focused on the message: We want our pieces to be a beautiful adornment for women, constructed with elegance. Classic is discreet, when jewelers conceptualize too much they get lost in the process.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?

Our grandmothers: Augusta (for Amedeo) and Stella (for Roberto).

What do you love most about what you do?

When a woman stops us in a restaurant to say she loves our work and that she gets compliments every time she wears our pieces. That is the ultimate goal, the look on that face.

What is the greatest luxury that you treat yourself to?

Luxury is quite an overrated word nowadays, and overused. To us luxury is a not repeatable “experience”. Having dinner with friends on my terrace, overlooking the Capri’s marina and the entire bay of Naples in Summer, is priceless.

The Brooch as Messenger

The Briefer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:02:33 +0000

Labor Day has come and gone. For most of us this symbolizes the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall. Cooler weather is coming and our favorite light fabrics of Summer will give way to jackets and suits, which brings me to this week’s fashion trend.

The brooch is one of the most interesting and often most versatile pieces of jewelry. This is not my hottest fashion trend to send you (read “Off the Cuff” for one), but there are still a large number of women who wear suits and dresses to work each day and there is no better way to add style and self expression than with a brooch to a collar, lapel or shoulder. Brooches are versatile because neckline or sleeve length of each outfit need not be taken into consideration, which is not the case with bracelets or necklaces. One famous lover of brooches is Madeleine Albright, Former US Secretary of State and Founder, The Albright Group LLC. She said that she used pins as a diplomatic tool; reinforcing the message of the day, choosing among pieces that depict an eagle, dove, balloon or bumble bee to name a few. “Read my Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection” will go on display this month at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City. There is also a book entitled “Read my Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box”, written by Ms. Albright, which accompanies the exhibit.

My message today: stop and smell the roses.

Pearls Just Go With Everything

The Briefer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:18:52 +0000

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!