Jewelry…own it, love it, wear it!
I remember when those thin, gold chain ankle bracelets were all the rage back in the 1980’s. I still unfortunately sometimes see them still worn (under suntan hose even!), but I think the idea has morphed into something new — dare I say MUCH bolder. This was the look on the Calvin Klein spring/summer 2016 runway.
I apologize for the delay in my monthly birthstone report, but I just returned from a family vacation at the beach where the Internet was spotty, to say the least. (Did you see any of my beach pix on Instagram?) I was just forced to take some time off the computer. 😉 But I’ve just returned, and the writing resumes.
Now I must say that opals have been and continue to be one of my favorites stones. The only downside I’ve discovered over the years is that they are quite fragile, so the opal eternity band I once purchased quickly had two stones break. I find them better suited to rings with the opal featured on the top, as well as in earrings, necklaces and bracelets, of course.
Opals come in a wide range of colors, from white to orange to green and more. There are also many different varieties. Some you may have heard of are Peruvian, Black, Boulder and Fire. (If you’d like to read more about the different types, you’ll enjoy this detailed article I found on CrystalVaults.com) The name opal comes from the Sanskrit word “upala” which translates to precious stone. Sometimes referred to as the “eye stone,” opals are known for inspiration, hope and optimism. They are purported to aid with:
-memory
-self-esteem
-inspiring love and passion
-centering the mind
-protection from negative energy
I like it! And I also like so many of the stunning pieces of opal jewelry I found this month. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites.
Katherine Jetter Opal Corner Ring
I’ve always written Jewelry Judge about someone I’ve spotted live, but when I came across this video by Maggie Rose, I felt it was a perfect candidate for the series. Now granted, I’m not condoning the song, its message, the gun in the video, or anything like that. I’m just commenting on the jewlery.
While I could quickly ascertain this was not a high-budget video, I was drawn to the sound of Maggie’s voice (yes, there’s definitely a bit of a country girl inside me) and her five RINGS. Her ears and neck are naked, and her face has very minimal makeup. The two tops she dons are black and basically a non-color. This brilliantly draws your attention to her voice and her fingers.
Today I found myself in my local bookstore searching for sports magazines for my soon-to-be 16 year-old nephew. (The wedding is just around the corner!!) I know you will SO not be surprised that the jewelry on the sales associate is what really caught my eye…nothing against Sports Illustrated, of course. He was a very tall (maybe 6’3″?) super-masculine man with flowing grey hair that reached well beyond his shoulders. And on his wrist, were these two mesmerizing cuffs.
Not only did I truly enjoy this pairing, but it was so well suited to his Levi’s charcoal shirt and dark washed jeans. The overall impression was so pleasing, with the bracelets being the focal point.
When my client BB got engaged, she received a VERY special ring — a family heirloom sapphire and diamond ring dating back a couple generations. How cool is that?! As soon as she showed it to me, I knew just the designer to make her wedding rings… San Francisco’s own Sethi Couture.
I knew this would be the right fit, as Sethi Couture has this ingenious way of designing jewelry that is utterly modern, yet with an heirloom feel. This is precisely what was needed to complement her engagement ring.
The first step was for BB and I to meet with Prerna Sethi (one of the two sisters behind the brand) for a design session. She had oodles of diamonds to work with, and she quickly visualized two bands with graduated diamonds that would fit snugly with the engagement ring. My client loves the bling (a girl after my own heart), and we wanted to get the diamonds as big as we could, yet not overpower the delicateness of the ring. Prerna was up for the challenge!
Once Perna had all the measurements taken and a firm idea of what BB was looking for, she was off to the design board. She presented us with a CAD design to see what it would look like. This is fantastic, as it’s not always easy for everyone to visualize what it’s going to look like.
Thank you so much for your amazing work, Sethi Couture, and I’m sending the happiest of wedding wishes to you and your fiancee, BB!! xoxo