Sethi Couture Showroom Opens in Los Altos, CA

When Earthworks retired and closed their doors on Main Street in Los Altos, CA, I know I wasn’t the only one who was bummed out and wondering where to go for stylish jewelry in the area. Well get excited, as Sethi Couture has taken over the space and opened a sumptuous showroom! Carrying an array of designers, walking into this showroom is like walking into a bejeweled haven that I just didn’t want to leave!

sethi couture los altos
The perfectly worn rug, the light wood floors, the Murano chandeliers — I was taking interior design inspiration for sure. As I strolled around the cases, I was pleased at the variety of designers. If you like delicate designs, you’ll be happy to see the collection from Wwake.

wwake jewelry
If you love color and pieces with a more exotic flair, then check out Arman Sarkisyan.

arman sarkisyan
Perhaps work in bold silver is your cup of tea. Then you’re surely going to love the work by Jill Platner.

jill platner bracelets
And of course, there is NO shortage of diamonds and sparkle from Sethi Couture themselves.

sethi couture diamond rings
This is just a few of the many designers featured in this chic showroom. In addition to the jewels, there is also a lovely selection of lifestyle treasures, just as pottery, aromatherapy and bags by Basil Racuk.

sethi couture los altos 2
sethi couture los altos 3
By now, I’m sure you’re wanting to visit this new destination, right? Well mark your calendars for this Sunday, December 11. They’ll be having a trunk show with some extra holiday cheer. Hope you can make it!

sethi couture holiday party and trukshow
sethi couture trunk show

Melissa Schmidt: Pyrex Jewelry

Yes, you read that correctly…jewelry made out of Pyrex! Mom and I were strolling through the Sausalito Art Festival over Labor Day Weekend (worth the visit if you’ve never attended — very well curated), and we came across a booth with the sign, “Keep Calm, It’s Pyrex!” Ok, that got our attention. So did this necklace:

melissa schmidt glass necklace

melissa schmidt necklace

Pretty interesting, right? Not only are the glass baubles really intriguing, but so is the chain, with it’s unique links. I was worried about having glass pendants that hang so low as they could possibly get knocked on a table or something when sitting down, but Melissa told us that she has a life-long guarantee on her work. So if something happens to break, she’ll replace it. Now that’s something!

Melissa Schmidt is a St. Louis based jeweler. She is self-taught with her glass blowing and takes inspiration from antique glass buttons. I checked out her Etsy shop and thought I’d share some more images of her work.

melissa schmidt bird watching necklace

melissa schmidt red multi necklace

melissa schmidt jewelry

melissa schmidt necklace close-up

I’m glad mom got the long necklace in the first photo. Can’t wait to see how she styles it!

Tahitian Pearl Event at Manika in SF

If you’re into pearls and will be in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday, February 4th, or Friday, February 5th, then you must visit Manika Jewelry for a very unique event. They are setting up a “Pearl Bar” in the store for their One Love, One Pearl event, where you can peruse thousands of Grade A Tahitian pearls from Black Market Pearls.

black market pearls
And THEN…the talented Paul Bartnik will help you design a custom piece! How cool is that? (Click here to read an interesting interview with him.)

 

Jewelry designer, Paul Bartnik
Jewelry designer, Paul Bartnik

The two-night event begins on Thursday, February 4th. This is “gentleman’s night” from 5-8 pm, complete with a cigar bar, island bites, and cocktails. This would be the perfect opportunity to design a meaningful gift for that special someone in your life.

Then the following evening, Friday, February 5th, it’s time for the ladies. From 5-8 pm you can sip a cocktail, receive a complimentary hand massage and design a one-of-a-kind piece for yourself or someone else. (You know what a big proponent I am of self-gifting!)

Manika Jewelry is located at 645 Market Street, near Montgomery. If this event sounds up your alley, then e-mail [email protected] to rsvp. Enjoy, and I can’t wait to see the incredible pieces to come.

black market tahitian pearls

West Coast Craft: San Francisco

Over the weekend, I had had the opportunity to attend West Coast Craft for the first time, held at Ft. Mason in San Francisco. According to their website the fair is, “…a craft and design show featuring carefully selected designers, artists, and crafts people inspired by the mood and aesthetics of the West Coast lifestyle. Cool but sunny, laid-back yet innovative, they represent the best of West Coast craft.”

west coast craft
The booths ranged from hand-carved spoons to eco-friendly clothing to jewelry(!) to surfboards and more. I was most definitely surrounded by the craftiest hipsters of the Bay Area. Was I hip enough to be here?! Not so sure…

Though when I spy a jewelry booth, there’s nothing else in my mind except seeing the line. The first one I encountered was Gabriela Artigas, who I’ve been following on Instagram for quite some time. It’s always fun to see things in person that you’ve only seen in a little photo on your phone. Her designs are clean, current, and edgy.

gabriela artigas jewelry
gabriela artigas bracelet
Strolling along the first row, I was also loving the necklaces with horsehair tassels by Faye Kendall.

faye kendall necklaces
faye kendall necklaces
I had to stop and try on these brass, quartz, and crushed pyrite cuffs by Dea Dia.

dea dia bracelets
Meeting Corey Egan in person was definitely a highlight of the show, as I’ve been following her online for quite some time.

cory egan necklaces
cory egan rings
I was also completely in love with the hair pins by her neighbor, Kirsten Muenster.

kirsten muenster hair pins
kirsten muenster hair pin
There were so many talented artists displaying their wares. After two laps around the show, I decided I had to go home with this set of stacking bowls by Portland artist, Relm Studios. It’s been quite a while since I’ve added any decor to my little apartment, and I smile when looking at them.

relm studios stacking bowls
If you want to check out this fair, it’s held twice a year in San Francisco, so be sure to check their website for show information.

Behind the Scenes at Jewelry Week in Las Vegas

When people hear that I’ll be spending six days in Las Vegas, they instantly assume I’ll be lounging by the pool, seeing shows and gambling. I cannot tell you how far that is from the truth (OK, I did donate $40 to the slots one evening.). This was my fourth year attending Couture and JCK, and I thought I’d give you, my lovely readers, a glimpse into what really happens when I’m there. WARNING: There will be no beautiful jewelry showcased in this post. SECOND WARNING: If this is TMI and not quite your cup of tea, then I won’t be offended if you skip this post and wait (eagerly, of course) for my next article, which I promise WILL showcase beautiful jewelry.

 

Year #4!
Year #4!

So for me, it all starts weeks in advance, when I realize that I, the girl who is used to the cool temps in San Francisco, need about 10-12 Vegas-worthy, photo-ready outfits. Not only do I need to stay cool in 104 degrees (yes, that’s how hot it got this year), but I know that the countless photos I’m in with designers and jewelry industry peeps will be on the internet forEVER! No pressure there, right?!

If you know me, then you’ll know that black is my color of choice, but it’s a bit challenging to make that look resort-worthy. Oy vey…all I can say is that Eileen Fisher saves my a** in situations like these. Some of you may be asking why I can’t re-wear certain pieces and mix-and-match them. And I will tell you, that 104 degrees combined with peri-menopause does not bode well for re-wearing. You get my drift.

And then there’s the shoes. Given that I will be walking miles a day, flats are the only option for me. While #VegasShoes took on a life of its own on Instagram, I believe I was the sole woman that went for flats only. And yes, there were Birkenstocks in the mix. It’s OK–think what you must. I can deal with it.

 

#VegasShoes
#VegasShoes

My fellow image consultant, Jennifer Bressie, was (as always) my accomplice for the first few days of the show. Not only is she instrumental in interviews, but she is also a guest blogger for this site. Though we did manage a few hours of shopping right after we landed, we were soon immersed in the land of jewelry.

One of our first missions was to attend the JCK Talks session, The Power of Blogging. I was honored to be there to support my fellow jewelry bloggers, Monica Stephenson (iDazzle), Barbara Palumbo (Adornmentality), Danielle Miele (Gem Gossip), Katerina Perez (KaterinaPerez.com) and moderated by Diane Warga-Arias (Jewelry Activist). It was great to hear their perspectives on our niche space — they really represented! And as an added bonus, Robyn Hawk of A Fly on The Wall was seated right next to us!! (Not only is she completely in the know in the industry, but she was fabulous with introductions. Grazie!)

jck the power of blogging

Photo courtesy of Peggy Jo Donahue
Photo courtesy of Peggy Jo Donahue

And while hanging out in the hallway afterwards, I was psyched to meet Danielle (from the panel) and Jean-Noel Soni, gem-cutter extraordinaire, from Top Notch Faceting. Though I’m “virtual” friends with both of them, it was our first face-to-face meeting. This is one of those times when I’m so thankful for social media, as we probably wouldn’t have met if not for that. (Side note: It would have been even better if I hadn’t been inhaling a sandwich on the sidelines while all this was happening, just sayin’, but a 3:00 lunch is late for me, and my blood sugar was plummeting!)

danielle miele, amy roseveare, jean-noel soni
On the way back to the Wynn, there “may” have been a little retail therapy side-trip at Ceasar’s. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know how I got into a bit of trouble. 😉 And then there’s Jen…I don’t know quite how to break it to you, but she was convinced she needed a selfie stick. (It’s all you fault, Ray Griffiths!) Not only that, but she wanted one that was totally blinged out. Say what?! Yes. She found it it in the cheesiest of shops, and I was not happy about it at all, to put it mildly.

 

I was NOT in favor of her purchase!
I was NOT in favor of her purchase!

Thursday night of Couture is the big opening night party, and that’s always one of the highlights of the trip. They have a cool band, yummy food, and it’s a chance to reconnect with jewelry peeps and make new friends. Thank the lord that Jen’s selfie stick did not fit into her clutch!

 

Darn...it's too big to bring to the party!
Darn…it’s too big to bring to the party!

This year they had acrobatic tree climbers, and Fitz and the Tantrums were the headliner.

Couture 2015 opening night party
Couture opening night party
Fitz and the Tantrums at Couture 2015
Since Jen didn’t have enough time with her new selfie stick, I did indulge her with some play time back in our room. (OK, it was a wee bit fun.)

amy roseveare and  jennifer bressie
amy roseveare and jennifer bressie
amy roseveare and jennifer bressie
A (quite) late night (for the girl who usually sleeps 9+ hours a night) meant ordering room service for breakfast. I know this is completely indulgent, but there’s no way I wanted to be late for my first interview in the morning, and skipping breakfast is so not an option for me.

This brings me to a pertinent point — why I’m even at the shows. These shows are not for the public to go buy jewelry. This is where stores go to place their orders for their establishments. I’m there as editorial — interviewing designers, interpreting the trends, etc. I’m there to write, which I love. My goal is to share the world of jewelry with you.

 

Pampered!
Pampered!

The majority of the remaining days are spent seeing collections, trying on gems (someone has to do it!) and interviewing designers. Most of my time I’m wearing my reading glasses, with pen, notebook and iPhone in hand. (Many people comment about how old-school I am with my lined notebook.) I bought an extra-pretty one this year, as it will live on my desk, and I like to look at something that makes me smile.

 

pretty Christian Lacroix notebook
pretty Christian Lacroix notebook

It’s not as glamorous as you may think…but it’s damn fun! One day I interviewed for 7 hours straight! Yes, there are the deodorant breakdown times, such as on the shuttle between JCK and Couture, but even on those rides you’re bound to meet some interesting people.

amy roseveare at couture
I try to spend some time each night processing all the cards, pamphlets and flash drives I get each day, but it’s hard to keep up. Just trying to find/follow everyone’s social media takes hours.

 

Trying to keep up
Trying to keep up

Sadly, this is what the desk in my room looked like the last morning.  I you know what an organizing maniac I am, you’ll know this was painful for me to look at.

messy desk at couture
Saturday night of Couture is the big awards ceremony, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

couture awards
I was lucky enough to sit with a posse of CJDG designers, and we cruised across the street for a Mexican dinner after the ceremony. (Sorry that I didn’t manage to grab the massive skull bottle, Jack!)

couture awards 2015
After all the excitement, and a last full day of interviews, I was content with a sandwich in the cafe and the spectacular view from my room.

 

Water and a tuna sammy
Water and a tuna sammy

view from the wynn
There is never enough time to see all the people that I want to see, and I know you may find that hard to believe. Between seeing new designers, and catching up with those that I already know, the time just flies by. But the good thing is that it always leaves me wanting more and looking forward to next year. When I came home, I immediately blocked out the dates for next years’ shows. And if I’m really crafty, maybe I’ll even work in a day at the Antique Jewelry Show, which takes place at the same time at Paris. A girl can dream, right?!

So now, for those of you who want to see the BLING, let me get to work on that. I know that I have months of articles to come that will not disappoint!

WJA Designers by the Bay

This is the second year I’ve attended the Women’s Jewelry Association’s big event, Designers by the Bay. This event is truly a visual feast, held in the Shreve’s building near Union Square; it’s where Bay Area fine jewelry designers showcase their latest work. There was unfortunately no way to have an intimate look at every case during the time I was there, but there were four designers that really got my attention, and I was able to take a closer look at their lines.

Tura Sugden was a new kid on the block (It was her first show!), but she is going places..quickly. She is based in Noe Valley in San Francisco, where she designs and makes each piece herself. I was taken by the unique settings and stone shapes — look at this spectacular pair of diamond earrings!

tura sugden jewelry
The same amazing detail, created with a German blow-torch, is shown in her studs as well. (I’m especially paying attention to these now that I have my new piercings!)

tura sugden earrings
And what’s not to love about this diamond cuff?

tura sugden diamond cuff
In contrast to the complexity of Tura’s designs, I was also very drawn to the sleek lines of Coleoptere (which means beetle in French). I tried on this shiny gold disc ring (called the wabi sabi ring), with diamonds around the edges. So interesting how the light reflects off the surface of it, making it almost look like a stone of some sort.

coleoptere wabi sabi ring
Here’s a clear photo of it from their website.

coleoptere ring
This Oakland-based company has all female goldsmiths — very unique! They use 18K royal yellow gold, which I learned is a rare buttery color with a touch of green. I thought the design of these asterisk earrings was awesome.

coleoptere earrings
The woman I was standing next to wanted to go home with these stunning gold hair pins…and they’d look fab on her with her long hair!

coleoptere hair pins
Jennifer Dawes is an artist that I’ve wanted to meet for years, and I finally had the pleasure at this event. Based in Santa Rosa, Jennifer’s collection was bursting with color. There were stacks of rings in all hues.

jennifer dawes rings
jennifer dawes rings
With a strong focus on responsible, sustainable jewelry, all of Jennifer’s jewelry is hand fabricated and finished at her studio. I was in love with this necklace, comprised of a very pale emerald above an emerald crystal. The combination of color and texture is sublime.

jennifer dawes necklace
Taking a stroll through her website, this Etruscan double diamond ring spoke to me.

jennifer dawes etruscan double diamond ring
My final showcase for the evening (before the Giant’s won the World Series and I had to get the heck out of SF before the mayhem) was that of Thalia Jewelry. Designer Rachel Clinnick just glowed with delight when showing me her amazing work. I could instantly feel her passion for design. This stack of diamond and opal rings was amazing–especially the one with the diamond teardrop pendant. Yum!

thalia jewelry rings
Most of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. I couldn’t believe how this large Ethiopian opal ring was on fire on my finger!

thalia jewelry opal ring
And this one she dubbed “The King’s ring.” Wowza–very heavy and worthy of royalty indeed!

thalia jewelry ring
Finally, this necklace with it’s diamond pave double snake clasp was beautiful! The clasp is completely interchangeable, allowing you to create different necklace or bracelet looks. Brilliant design!

thalia jewelry double snake clasp
I wish I had been able to stay longer at the event, as there were many more cases beckoning me. So many jewels, so little time…

WJA Jewelry Night Out

Last week I hopped in an Uber car and made my way to downtown San Francisco for WJA’s Jewelry Night Out. The Women’s Jewelry Association had a national party, celebrating those in the jewelry business. I loved seeing all the photos on Instagram from chapters across the country! Not only was it a wonderful opportunity to visit designers I knew and meet new friends, but I couldn’t help but drool over the amazing bling in the room. I want to share some of my favorite pieces from the night. (In no particular order.)

Beautiful earring/ear cuff design by Altana Marie

altana marie earring
Stunning necklace by Melanie Clark

melanie clark necklace
Necklace by Sibilia, worn by Laura Forst

necklace on laura forst
Pade Vavra’s latest ear embellishment, no piercings needed!

pade vavra earring
Necklace by Kelly Nedderman, constructed of old eye glass lenses over paper…intriguing

kelly nedderman necklace
I am constantly amazed by the talent in San Francsico, and I eagerly look forward to the next WJA event, Jeweler’s by the Bay on October 29th!

Jennifer Montana’s Key to the Stadium

If you live here in the San Francisco Bay Area, then there’s a high likelihood that you’re a 49er’s football fan. Though I, myself, don’t know too much about the sport, I was certainly excited to see jewelry intersect with our home team.

jennifer montana's key to the stadium necklace

Last week I attended a jewelry launch hosted by Jennifer Montana (with Joe there rooting her on) at the Four Seasons in Palo Alto, CA. Jennifer created this “key to the stadium” necklace as a wearable way to raise money for the 49ers Foundation and their own foundation, the Four Rings Montana Family Foundation, as well as commemorate the historic opening of the new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.

jennifer montana event
Now I have to say, that this necklace is certainly a conversation starter. (There’s a key chain as well.) Jennifer Montana Designs is a jewelry business with a BIG heart. It helps support economically challenged people by providing jobs for the women who make the necklaces, and it donates 80% of their net profits to charity.

The mission of this company is to, “create high quality, casual yet elegant handmade jewelry that inspires people to be positive — simultaneously providing underprivileged individuals with economic opportunity and support.” Her team at Harbor House, a non-profit community center in Oakland, upcycles keys into “chain reaction” necklaces, inscribed with one of ten different inspirational words, such as love, courage and hope. Each piece is handmade by the women at Harbor House.

A display of the key necklaces
A display of the key necklaces

Jennifer also likes to get into the creative process, and she had quite a few of her own designs for sale at the launch. She likes to frequent vintage and antique stores, where she sources jewelry that she, herself, then re-works into original designs. Many of her finds come from New Orleans, where she goes to visit her son, who attends Tulane University.

One of Jennifer's vintage pieces
I loved the sparkling clasp on this necklace.

IMG_8647
IMG_8646
And look at this centerpiece on another necklace!

jennifer montana necklace
I can tell you that all her necklaces were flying off the tables like hotcakes! If you’re interested in purchasing one of her 49er necklaces, there are still some available on her website. But don’t wait too long, as they were a limited production, and they’re sure to become a collector’s item one day.

amy and jennifer
Amy and Jennifer

Bridal Event at Gallery of Jewels in San Francisco

I may not be married, engaged, or heck, even boyfriended, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from going to try on some of the most gorgeous wedding rings out there! I mean really, isn’t this the JOB of a jewelry blogger?! I definitely think so. With the upcoming bridal event happening at all three SF locations of Gallery of Jewels, I was psyched to go check out the rings and give them a try today!

The event will take place July 11-27th, and it’ll feature over 20 different designers. Today I learned that many are debuting their first bridal line, such as Sakura Haru (shown in the photo below) and Corey Egan.

sakura haru bridal rings
Instead of feeling like I was in the land of the traditional solitaire (absolutely NO offense if that’s your personal style), my eyes were darting from case to case wondering what to try on next! Here’s some of the rings which really caught my eye (and finger…just sayin’).

Todd Pownell (featuring inverted diamonds…how unique!)

todd pownell rings
Susan Wheeler (morganite and 18K rose gold)

susan wheeler rings
Elyria (because I have a penchant for raw, champagne diamonds)

elyria rings
Alberian & Aulde (stackers galore!)

alberian & aulde rings
Megan Thorne (for a feminine twist with two diamonds)

megan thorne ring
Now trust me, you don’t need to be engaged to attend this event. I have (no surprise) purchased a ring or two for myself at this event in past years. If you’re into beautiful rings, then stop by one of the locations, regardless of the status of your dating life! I promise you won’t regret it!

galley of jewels bridal event

Bloomingdale’s Bedazzled Football Helmets

I can tell you that football fever is hitting new heights here in the San Francisco Bay Area! With the latest win over the Panthers, we’re one step closer to the Super Bowl. New York is also psyched for the game, as this is the first time the Super Bowl will be played in the New York area. In honor of this momentous occasion, Bloomingadale’s has teamed up (no pun intended) with the NFL Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) for a very fashionable fundraiser. Who knew that sports and bling could go hand in hand?!

Created by Alice + Olivia
Created by Alice + Olivia

48 top fashion and jewelry designers have created over-the-top football helmets to be auctioned off starting Wednesday, January 15. Starting bid will be $248 for each helmet, and I can only imagine how high the bids will go during its run through February 5th.

By Badgley Mischka
By Badgley Mischka

Most of the world will have to view these helmets online, but if you’re in NYC then you can see them on display in the windows of Bloomingdale’s 59th street store starting today.

By Dannijo
By Dannijo

For a full list of participating designers, from Donna Karan to Alexis Bittar to Yigal Azroel, click here.

By Marchesa
By Marchesa

Happy bidding, and go Niners!!