Those of you lucky enough to be born in November have not one, but two birthstones! (If you missed last week’s article on Topaz, click here.) While topaz is known for it’s calming and balancing properties, citrine is here to bring you success and abundance. In fact, citrine used to be known as the “merchant’s stone” as traveling merchants always carried a piece with them to assure profitable sales. Coming in a range from pale yellow to brownish tones, it’s really a lovely stone.
Citrine sounds pretty darn awesome, bringing the wearer:
-cheerfulness and joy
-confidence
-self-esteem
-generosity
-personal power
-AND it combats negative energy
I’m loving this list! While I don’t (yet) own any pieces of jewelry with citrine, it might be the time to add some to my jewelry box. If I were, here are some of the gorge items I may consider. (in no particular order)
How is it that it’s already November?! I truly don’t know where the time goes. November is another month that has two birthstones — topaz and citrine. In this article, I’m going to focus on topaz. Many of you are likely familiar with this stone, as both blue and smoky topaz are very popular in the marketplace. But they can come in a wide range of colors, from colorless to orange, yellow, pink and purple. The word topaz comes from the Sanskrit word for “fire” although it’s popular meaning, being know as a calming stone, is certainly the polar opposite of fire! Perhaps the fire element was referring to the color of certain stone specimens.
Regardless, topaz can help you with many things, such as:
-it heals and energizes
-balances emotions
-brings synchronicity to your life
-helps with love and hope
-brings good fortune
Going on yet another one of my virtual shopping sprees, I discovered some lovely topaz designs. Do any of them pique your interest?
And because I’m truly a princess at heart….I just NEED this Ray Griffiths Regency tiara in 18K yellow gold, white topaz and diamonds! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!
Best wishes to you November birthday readers out there. I will have an article about your other birthstone coming soon.
While I certainly enjoy ripping into a sweet baguette right out of the oven and pairing it with some creamy brie, the baguette I crave even more is that brilliant cut of diamond. Suzanne Kalan is a master of creating out-of-this world designs with various colors of diamond baguettes. The top of my list? Her Fireworks bangles. Coming in three sizes, they are beyond comfortable to wear.
While at the Couture show, I couldn’t stop trying them on, and for the life of me, I could not decide which was my favorite…There’s also rings in the collection, oh my!
Based in Northridge, CA, Suzanne has been in business for over 25 years now and it’s truly a family affair. Her husband selects and sets the diamonds; her daughter, Patile Kalandijian, now is working on KALAN by Suzanne Kalan, their 14K gold collection which features beautifully colored stones and diamonds. Just during my time in their exquisite booth, I could feel the warmth of their family. They are passionate about their jewlery as well as their clients. I learned that Suzanne sold her own diamond tennis bracelet, which was a wedding gift from her parents, to get the funds to start the company! Every piece is still made in house in southern California. Awesome.
Here are a couple more examples of how Suzanne creates harmonious chaos with baguettes.
And what do you think of these statement ruby earrings, highlighted with a frame of baguettes?
Or perhaps a linear design is more your cup of tea?
Suzanne was showing a “Starry Night” collection as part of the Rio Tinto collaboration. I was lucky to try on this double star ring.
The Vitrine collection is also mesmerizing. In this group, she takes a gemstone and cuts it flat on the top and bottom. This stone is then a window of sorts to peer at the diamonds behind the stone. Ooh la la!
Giuliana Rancic showed off some Suzanne Kalan earrings at the Met Gala.
The 14K KALAN by Suzanne Kalan line is a perfect complement to the 18K line. Originally developed for a younger audience and at more accessible price points, this colorful collection truly works for everyone. (Check out more of this line at Sak’s.) I first tried on this topaz and moonstone ring.
J’Adore these long topaz earrings!
This design, with it’s off-kilter rectangular stones, is so harmonious with the Fireworks collection, don’t you think?
These earrings once again show how they reign supreme at unique stone configurations, really taking it to the next level in style.
Time definitely flew by while trying on all these dazzling gems. Thanks to Suzanne and her team member Rebeka for the tour!
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.
I actually had to call “time” and stop searching, or this list would be endless. And…in case you didn’t know, October has TWO birthstones. While opal is the one traditionally associated with the month, tourmaline is also an October birthstone. Who knew?!
Are you drooling yet? Known for her designs with “thoughtful asymmetry,” Margery’s work really makes my heart sing. Her use of color is inspiring. Here’s another of her Instagram shots showing “design day” in her studio. So good, right?! I can’t decide which combination is my favorite.
Margery is an awesome mother of two children, and she took time off to raise them and be very involved in their school while they were growing up. With a degree in fine art (she originally wanted to be a painter), I wasn’t surprised to hear that she enrolled in a jewelry class at a local school in Denver, Colorado. In 2008, a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman spotted her wearing a pair of earrings she designed. In fact, here’s the first pair of earrings she ever made, which she befittingly named “cage earrings.”
This clever buyer wanted to see more, but Margery only had 12 pieces to show. This does not constitute a full line, so off Margery went to her studio, where she produced 50 pieces in 22K gold. Yes…fifty! From there, things have only grown, to put it mildly. When I met her at the Couture show in Las Vegas, I didn’t know which piece to try on first! Here are some examples of her amazing work.
Boulder Opal and Emerald Beryl rings
How dramatic!!
Pale Pink Kunzite and Pearl Necklace
This was definitely one of my favorites!
So easy to layer!
Stacktastic!
Margery is very inspired by ancient jewelry and artifacts (one of my personal loves), and she regularly posts inspirational images on her Instagram feed. (If you haven’t picked up on it yet — follow her for a true visual delight!) I feel her line captures the essence of these timeless works of art, and she re-interprets them into modern, one-of-a-kind pieces that will stand the test of time. Her work is not trendy, yet it is effortlessly current. One day, I aspire to have her jewelry in my own jewelry box.
Margery, thank you so much for spending time with me and allowing me to play with your exquisite jewels. (And being patient while I ran back upstairs to change my shirt when I realized it didn’t photograph well!!) It was a pleasure to meet you and your daughter, Rachel!
Margery and Amy
Oh, and p.s. I will most definitely try out Pizzeria Locale when I find myself in Boulder! I’ll treat you to your favorite pie!
My mom was married back in 1963. She and my dad spent countless weekends camping, but that didn’t bode so well for her wedding ring. Within the first year of marriage, her ring somehow was lost at a campsite. (I completely think some squirrel picked up the sparkler and hauled it back to his home in a hollow tree where it still lives today, but that’s just my theory.) At any rate, mom lived the next 25 years with just her wedding band…no diamond.
Then one night in Carmel, dad surprised her with a new diamond ring for their 25th wedding anniversary. He had spent SO much time and effort researching just the right stone for the ring. To say she was surprised was an understatement. I remember her calling me on the phone, and she was so in shock she could barely speak!! Originally it was set in a traditional prong setting, but years later, she had it reset into this platinum design.
Mom hasn’t worn her ring for a few years now, and it was just collecting dust in her safety deposit box. Then something wonderful happened. My brother met the woman of his dreams, his true partner and soulmate, and found himself in need of an engagement ring. Well hello, diamond! What can we do with you?!
You may remember reading about Atelier Gigi a while back, and I knew she was the woman for the job. The first step was sending the diamond down to the GIA to have it appraised. Gigi then gathered photos of various ring designs. She wanted to find out what attributes my brother liked, and what he didn’t like. Using this information, she started sketching. She came up with a few options, but my brother and I both fell in love with this one.
With the clean, modern setting and the two half-moon diamonds on either side, it was just perfect. I knew my sister-in-law to be would swoon! Gigi brought in some choices for the side diamonds, and I was able to help select the ideal set, as my brother doesn’t live locally. I’m impressed how we were all on the exact same page throughout this process.
A few weeks later, the ring was ready. Mom and I went up to the city to pick it up. It turned out even better than I could have imagined! Here are a couple photos Gigi took with her iPhone….
Has your jaw hit the floor yet?!
Mom transported the ring up to my brother’s house, and he had to hide it for a whole week. I can envision him opening the box that week and peering into its depths; I know he could barely wait for the proposal to take place.
Fast forward a week, and my brother and his soon-to-be bride were off to Tahoe for a surprise over-nighter. I must say, she was NOT expecting to be proposed to on the gondola in Heavenly…but she said, “YES!!”
Scott + Tricia!!!
Just writing this story brings tears to my eyes. My family is extremely blessed to have Tricia and her son in our lives. I wish her, my brother and their three children a lifetime filled with love, happiness and adventure. Can’t wait for the wedding!! xoxo
Many people associate sneakers with the gym or uber-casual clothing, but I’m here to tell you that you can really elevate your sneaker look. A few years ago, I spotted many stylish sneaker looks on women in Stockholm and Copenhagen. With the increasing popularity of sneakers here in the States, I even started a whole Pinterest board last fall called Sneaker Chic.
The key to looking pulled together is pairing them with an outfit with clean lines and in predominantly solid neutrals. Slip-on styles appear a bit dressier than lace-up options. And yes, you can even wear them with skirts and dresses if you’ve got the formula correct.
With fall merchandise now arriving in the stores, I’ve noticed many pairs of bejeweled sneakers on the shelves. Since I’ve often written about how blingy shoes and bags definitely count as jewelry in an outfit, I thought I’d give you some ideas of how to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe. And of course, both of these outfits I’m going to show you can easily be worn with a simpler, non-jeweled pair of sneakers as well.
First of all, here’s a sampling of what I’ve seen coming in at a variety of price points. Definitely jewelry for your feet, right?!
Now that you’ve got an idea of what’s out there, I first want to show you how to pair them with pants. I’d choose a slim (but not too skinny) pant that hits a couple inches above the ankle. J.Crew has a nice option in stretch black wool. This is a weight that’s suitable most of the year here in California. (note: Wear the sneakers either bare-foot or with peds — you don’t want socks showing, or it’ll wreck the look.)
This would look great with a long vest, or as some retailers are calling them, “sleeveless coats.” I think the cut and neutral color of this one by Alexander Wang is hot. If this isn’t your color, there are many other options out there. (I just saw a couple at Zara last week.) Even a cool blazer would work if you prefer sleeves.
If it’s still warm, then you can easily wear this with a black tank. If it’s a bit cooler, or you’d like to make it more work-appropriate, then wearing it with a simple knit, such as this one from Vince, is a nice option.
Now that you’ve got this base of solid colors, then it’s time to add some jewelry (My favorite part!). But I don’t want it to be too complicated or distracting, as then it’ll detract from the sneakers. I saw these silver egg necklaces by Sophie Buhai online, and I’m sort of obsessed with them. They come in two lengths, and I think the longer one would be ideal with the long vest.
Then you’ve got to keep it simple with the earrings. I would recommend cool studs and perhaps a subtle ear cuff for a little edge, depending on your personal style. Here are possibilities by John Hardy (black chalcedony studs) and an ear cuff by Campbell.
The Spinelli Kilcollin Andromeda ring has exactly the right vibe for this outfit. If you’re not familiar with his designs, they can be worn stacked on one finger, or spread out among multiple fingers. (Check out this article about my Spinelli Kilcollin ring.)
I like the idea of a menswear-inspired watch to go with the vest. Shinola (made in the USA!) has a classic design called the Runwell.
The finishing touch is a sleek clutch by Alexander Wang. I like the touch of grey to add some dimension to the outfit and resonate with the crystals on the sneakers. It makes everything not so matchy-matchy.
So now let’s take it a different direction — how to wear sneakers with a dress. Again, I’m going to say keep it simple and clean with the outfit. This will make you look modern and sophisticated. For the dress, I chose this Rag & Bone ribbed stretch-wool design.
You have options for necklaces. You can either go with a shorter necklace with some punch, or a longer silhouette. I opted again for a longer style, this one by Erin Considine, as I like how it elongates the visual line and gives a little texture to the ensemble. I also like how the gold warms everything up.
These Amber Sceats earrings are a homage to the Dior originals, which do in fact appear to be coming a classic. (Who knew?) They are meant to be worn with the larger ball behind the ear.
Picking up on the gold, I’d add this large ring by Jennifer Fisher. Feel free to go for more than one ring, if that suits you.
The result of all these pieces put together is a sophisticated, urban woman-on-the-go. Is this your personal style?
If you could see yourself creating some sneaker ensembles, I encourage you to go play in your closet a bit and see what you can come up with. Use these ideas, and the looks on my Sneaker Chic board as inspiration, and then see how you can adapt it to your own style.
Keep your budget in mind, and remember the cost-per-wear principal. If it’s something you’ll wear a ton, then the cost-per-wear will go down and it’ll be a better investment. If it’s an item that will be worn infrequently, then see if you can find a less expensive version that will give you the same look.
And if your are so NOT a sneaker gal and you’d rather wear heels, then go for it! As with any fashion trend, it’s all about staying true to you!
I was on Instagram scrolling through my feed three weeks ago, and it sort of went like this…cute, ‘like’…funny, ‘comment’…still scrolling…why did they post that?!…still scrolling…Holy Cow–what am I looking at?!? (almost drop phone)
This is the image posted on Liz Kantner’s page of two of the most unique bangles I’ve ever laid (virtual) eyes on! The designer is Freestone Peach, and I had to find out more!
Joel Adam Baynard, the master behind Freestone Peach, did not set out to become a jewelry designer. In fact, his path to getting here has been quite diverse. Born and raised in North Carolina, he had creative relatives in the Blue Ridge Mountains who quilted, shaped stone and turned wood. He has served as a US Naval officer, lived in Japan four times (He’s fluent in Japanese!), has worked in healthcare construction and administration, and went to business school at Wake Forest University. Who knew that this would be the path to selling his first piece in August of 2013.
Cherry wood with turquoise, azurite and malachite
While interning for a construction company in Tokyo in 1999, Joel learned about the Shibui aesthetic, “…which consists of seven qualifiers: Simplicity, Implicitness, Modesty, Silence, Naturalness, Everydayness, and Imperfection.” I had to read this list many times for it to start sinking in. I like this philosophy a lot.
He strives for Shibui in his creations. He told me, “I think second chances and relationships are the heart of my work. I use flawed pieces of wood, scraps that would be burned, and fruit trees that are abandoned to infestation. The wood could not stand alone, typically next in line for the burn pile. The stones don’t make the cut as most cull through them. I take these two imperfect materials and marry them together. The wood provides a darkling and elegant structure that holds the stone together. The gems fill the emptiness of the timber with an astringent spontaneity and new life. Silent, simple, unobtrusive beauty.” Wow…I’m floored by this description.
Raw materials in which he sees the beauty that others may not
Love this behind the scenes look at his workbench.
Currently based in Rutherford County near Asheville, NC, Joel sources most of his wood “from the peach orchards across the upstate of South Carolina (Greenville, SC) to the apple orchards in Hendersonville, NC, and in the forests around there as well.” I’m moved how he maintains his roots in his art.
Here is a bangle made from the ivory wood of a spalted apple tree. I particularly enjoy the unique color of the wood, don’t you?
Compare this to the deep hue of black walnut, with apatite and copper. Stunning and dramatic.
The perspective in this photo is fantastic –how the light shines through the apatite and makes is look almost other-worldly.
He shared this piece on his blog, which he says reminds him of his grandmother’s quilts. I can certainly see it!
Scrolling through all his work, I’m especially drawn to this one, in black walnut with aquamarine.
I cannot wait to one day see these bracelets in person. But for now, I’ll get my fill through the amazing images on Instagram. Joel, thank you SO much for the interview, and I can’t wait to see what you turn out next!
Since August began, my Instagram feed has been full of sparkling peridot jewlery, honoring the birthstone for the month of August. Around August third I had one of those “Doh!” moments. Here I’ve been blogging about jewelry for over four years, and never have I written a series of articles about the birthstones for each month. (Sometimes my blondness amazes me.) So I’m very excited to explore the gems for each month, and we start with the peridot, which I learned is one of the few gems that comes in only one color. Ranging from a lighter yellow-green to a dark olive, the depth of the green is determined by how much iron is in the stone.
Known as “the gem of the sun” and “the emerald of the evening,” the peridot apparently has many benefits to its wearer, including the following:
-Happiness
-Prosperity
-Peace
-Enhances harmony in relationships
-Strengthens intuition
-Slows aging
-Attracts love into your life
What’s not to love about this list?! With that in mind, I started my search to see what fabulous peridot designs I could find. In no particular order, here’s eleven pieces that I would wear in a heartbeat.
So what do you think? Is peridot a stone you can see yourself wearing? Happy birthday to my August birthday readers! I hope all your birthday wishes come true.
You may recall reading about Jacquie Aiche about a year ago, when I posted an article about her here on the blog. I was eager to visit her at Couture this year to see her latest and greatest, and she did not disappoint!
Before I could start looking around, I had to first inspect what she, herself, was wearing!
Did she really bling out an antique watch? Yes…she did!
Jacquie showing me her new amethyst crystal necklaces
Her crystal necklaces wrapped in diamonds are dreamy–shown in the bottom two necklaces in the photo below. Yes, please!
The necklace on the bottom is now on my jewelry lust list!
These carved agate arrowheads with diamonds are unique and versatile.
And how about these sugilite earrings?? (Yep…another gem I had never heard of before!)
The way Jacquie took hoop earrings to the next level is awesome.
Her booth was filled with a riot of color, and I couldn’t resist trying on a few rings.
