Archive for the ‘Wedding Jewelry’ Category

The Little Blue Box Is Getting Old

If you were one of the lucky ones, your wedding planning might have started out with a proposal that was followed by his hand slowly coming from behind his back and presenting you with the most special colored boxes in the world. Yes, I’m speaking of Tiffany’s flawless blue box.

I know not of any little girl that doesn’t get a slight flutter in her stomach when she walks by a Tiffany’s store and sees a window display filled with robin’s-egg blue boxes snugly secured with a white satin ribbon and a perfectly tied bow.

And it’s hard to believe that the little blue box that holds so much joy for many freshly engaged females is turning 175 years old this year.

Although this little girl has never received a ring in one of these signature boxes, the mere presence of said box gets me all “twitter-pated.”  And the excitement I feel must go as far back as my introduction to said company and finery from some of my favorite classic movies.

Who doesn’t know one of Audrey Hepburn’s most famous roles as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Marilyn Monroe’s famous sashay in Gentleman Prefer Blondes that boast of the delightful diamond baubles?

Both of these movies reiterated the feeling women get just by walking pass its storefront windows or exclaiming to male suitors what type of diamonds a girl truly prefers.

It is a company and products that has stood the test of time and remains very iconic.

So in honor of such a formidable anniversary, here are a few facts about the lovely Tiffany & Co.:

1. 1886 was the year Charles Lewis Tiffany launched the famous “Tiffany 6-pronged” setting.

2. In 1896 the most affordable engagement ring at Tiffany’s was $40…in 2012, it has risen to $1,100.

3. Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbra Streisand and Brooklyn Decker all said “yes” to Tiffany engagement rings.

4. The average number of marriage proposals that take place annually at the famous flagship store…30.

5. A mere $4.98 was the first day’s total sales at Tiffany & Young (Tiffany & Co.’s original name).

6. “Tiffany’s” has made 48 cameos on the silver screen.

7. 1837 was the first year the coveted robin’s-egg blue box started infiltrating the female psyche.

So the next time you find yourself in front of a Tiffany’s, stop to absorb all the history and joy it has brought to royalty and commoners alike.

It is truly a comforting fact knowing that accessibility to these amazing sparklers can be had by all who aspire to it.

And most females would probably agree, even if you are not getting engaged, that shouldn’t prevent you from attaining one of these priceless gems.

Marilyn Monroe’s character, Lorilei, said the statement correctly speaking on behalf of most women when she said, “…I just LOVE finding new places to wear diamonds.”

So happy birthday Tiffany’s & Co., and may you have at least as many more birthday’s as it takes for me to get my little blue box.

Statement Cuff Stunners

By Veronica Lozano

We’ve recently seen some interesting jewelry being added for a bride’s special day.  These blingy accents have evolved into some over-the-top pieces that if chosen carefully, add the perfect finishing touch to your bridal look.

Cuffs have suddenly burst on the pages of many bridal magazines.  We think it is interesting that such a large piece of jewelry looks so well with most dresses we are seeing this season.  And because 90% of the dresses out there do have a strapless look to them, the bare shoulders and long arms beg for a piece of statement jewelry like the cuff.  We have found several that are absolutely gorgeous.

1. Bridal bracelet beaded cuff – Vintage Inspired Smoky by Allyson James

Description: Statement piece with Swarovski rhinestones and brilliant crystals tied with metallic thread. Hand-beaded and finished with ivory satin finish ribbon. Can also be attached to a clasp with adjustable chain.

We love this entry level cuff for its size.  The combination of light and darker crystals create depth while the assorted sized and shaped crystals give it a modern, forward shape.  This is the cuff for those brides who can’t commit to larger cuffs.  It’s a way to add that extra drama without taking away from anything else.

2. Bridal cuff bracelet in ivory and gold by Egyptian Inspirations (Etsy)

Description: Hand embroidered wedding jewelry. One of a kind bridal cuff bracelet made with vintage lace and hand embroidered with golden seed and bugle beads.

We love the geometric patterns incorporated in this design.  The gold is slightly unexpected and looks great on more olive and darker skin tones.  The delicate ivory threads create an almost crochet, dream catcher effect. Definitely has a unique cultural and architectural feel to it.

3. Beaded cuff with freshwater pearl detail by Haute Bride

Description: Custom designed for perfect fit.  This cuff boasts at least three materials: rhinestone edging, silver bugle beads and various sized pastel colored pearls.  Comes with a 2″ width band.

We love this cuff found this month in the pages of Brides magazine shown for a spring wedding look. Though delicate, it provides the juxtaposition of softness with this edgy, rock-n-roll over-sized piece.

4. Naples Silver CZ & Regina’s Freshwater Pearl Cuffs by Emitations.com

Description: Glossy black freshwater pearls strung together in four delicate rows along with smoky rhinestones give this bracelet a polished look.

The second CZ crystal clear stones fashioned in a jagged setting creates a sumptuous look of freshly cut glass.

Though these are bracelets respectively on their own, combined, they create a cuff look with the layering.  And still popular, Sex and the City ‘s Carrie made this fantasy bridal look a must to recreate.  It amps up the wow factor while still staying eternally classy.

It's All About the Accessories

 by Shannon McCarthy & Veronica Lozano

Are you the type of girl that never leaves the house without some well chosen accessories? Do you sometimes pick out an outfit based on your shoe selection first? Are you “that person” your friends invite first to all the jewelry shows?  Then it’s probably safe to say you will put some thought into your accessories for your wedding.

You may stress over the dress, but picking out your big day embellishments should be fun. Narrowing down your choices might be the toughest part, because so many of these accessories are both gorgeous and quite affordable.

Elegant cover-ups could cost the most, but you won’t need much for spring weather.  Perhaps a satin or lace bolero, cashmere or silk chiffon scarf, or the latest take, a delicately woven lace cape.  Incorporating a delicate cover-up can not only be practical for those ceremonies with strict dress codes for the church, but also add to a variation of “looks” in your bridal pictures.

Jewelry need not be pricey: Faux pearl and crystal baubles are just as elegant as the real thing.  (Look for floral motifs for a fresh take on bridal jewelry sets.)  Especially with jewelry parties being all the rage from vendors like Silpada, lia sophia and Premiere, you could possibly even score some free jewelry as a hostess gift if you decide to throw a pre-wedding jewelry shower…or better yet, have one of your bridesmaids do it for you.

Trendy headpieces include sparkling headbands, glitzy head wraps encrusted with crystals, and bling-happy hair combs, picks and pins.  Fun feather fascinators skew a little edgy, while veiled hats are both retro and very now.  Birdcage veils also lend a vintage touch, and classic long veils are updated with muted colors.  Most bridal shops now carry a good selection of alternatives to veils.  Additionally, there are many local wholesalers who can offer even deeper discounts if you are looking to buy large quantities. This is a great option if you are planning on buying your bridesmaids their accessories as a gift.

What Are Your Traditions?

Traditions are something brides love to incorporate into their special day, whether it’s a special flower, dish, location, or an item of clothing that has some sort of special meaning to the bride or couple, it’s…well..tradition.

And no other type of wedding checklist has the same cache as the little poem we often hear brides and her maids recite than “Something old, something new…”.  So I took it upon myself to research the actual poem and find out a little history about it.   And after about 2.5 seconds of investigating, I came across an ASK Yahoo site that had it all clearly spelled out before me.

The next line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. “Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family and the past. “Something new” means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

And after researching this small item, I coincidentally ran across a similar topic in Brides Magazine discussing what brides are “borrowing” for their day.  Here are a few of the keepsakes these brides borrowed.

“My grandparents’ wedding cake topper from the 1950s,” says Tracy via Facebook.

Denise replies, “I will be the third granddaughter to tuck our grandmother’s hankie in her garter on her wedding day.”

“My soon-to-be MIL is loaning me her lace purse and the pearl comb she wore on her wedding day.  She has two sons and a grandson, so I am honored to be the “girl” in the family,” Michelle responded.

Additionally in this piece, a poll was taken and not surprisingly, 41% of brides say they borrowed jewelry for their wedding and 78% said they did, indeed, have something blue on them on that day.  Regardless of what you decide to integrate as your small treasures, we think it’s a great idea to memorialize things and people that are special in your life via these small tokens.  It’s a great way to keep those close to you even closer and to create, yet another, special memory.

Gorgeous Jewelry with a Therapeutic Twist

Article submitted by B’Dazzled Diva

Why not wear stylish red carpet jewelry that not only looks amazing but also has healing properties?  B’Dazzled Diva specializes in upscale jewelry with stunning stones that have been recognized for its healing properties for centuries. The primary use for gemstones throughout history has been for healing and spiritual rituals.  Although gems were rare and exhibit great beauty, the reason they were so precious was due to the power they imparted to their wearers.

All stones or gems have magnetic powers in varying degrees, and many of them are beneficial to us for their therapeutic cures.

In today’s world, jewelry has become a personality statement or simply a fashion trend.  B’Dazzled Diva has discovered how women can incorporate fashion, quality and healing into one glamorous adventure.

Interesting facts about Lapis Lazuli:

• Mined in Afghanistan for over 7,000 years, the “Armenian Stone” is an enduring rock, unlike other gems it is a composite of several materials with sparkling flecks of pyrite, or fool’s gold, adding to its mystical allure.
• The ancient city of Ur had a thriving trade in lapis as early as the fourth millennium BC and it appears in various passages from the Book of the Dead as an inscription stone.
• It was one of the stones in the biblical ‘Breastplate of Judgment’ of Aaron (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30). The Romans believed it to be a powerful aphrodisiac.
• In the Middle Ages, it was thought to keep the limbs healthy and free the soul from error, envy and fear. When lapis was first introduced to Europe, it was called ultramarinum, meaning beyond the sea.
• Ground lapis mixed with oil was the secret of the blue in ultramarine, the pigment which painters used to paint the sea and the sky until the nineteenth century.
• Attributed with great healing, purifying and curative properties, Lapis Lazuli points the way to enlightenment, and aids in the opening of the Third Eye; popular with ancient alchemists (who knew it as sapphirus), it was used in medicine, cosmetics and paintings. It was also believed to confer ability, success, divine favor, ancient wisdom and cures sore throats.

Silpada Designs Retiring Items

Each year Silpada Designs retires a portion of thier fabulous jewelry collection in order to make room for new designs in their anual catalog. The jewlery, belts and watches featured in the 2010-2011 retiring items catelog will soon become part of Silpada’s history, but their quality and class will remain in style for a life time. These items have limited quantities, so get your sterling favorites before the are gone forever! Visit the online printable catalog now to view all the retiring jewelry.

If you are looking for Silpada jewlery in the Austin area visit Indapendent Representative, Monica Froboese’s page on our Austin website.

If you are looking for Silpada jewlery in the San Antonio area visit Indapendent Representative, Rhonda Chadwick’s page on our San Antonio website.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

The engagement ring is one of the most prized gifts any women could receive. Every girl dreams of how her fiance will propose and what kind of ring she will get. Since most proposals are a surprise, be sure you make it known what your dream ring is. Enjoy these ring tips to help you pick the perfect ring. It is becoming more and more common that the couple go ring shopping together. Shopping online, discussing ring styles, telling a family member to relay the message or even making a trip to the jewelry store are great ways to inform your fiance about your dream ring.Enjoy these tips to help you pick the perfect ring.

Common Ring Metals

Metal choice is a big decision in your ring selection. Your going to be wearing the ring almost everyday make sure you pick a metal that fits your lifestyle. If you work with your hands a lot, you might prefer a durable metal. Some of the most common metals are:

• Gold

Gold won’t tarnish, rust, or corrode, and though it’s very strong, it is also the easiest metal to shape or form. The color of gold is determined by two factors: the type of metal alloys included in it and the percentage of each metal alloy. The most common colors to choose are yellow, white, and rose.

• Platinum

Most people choose platinum because of its durability. Each time other metals are scratched or polished, a tiny bit of metal is lost. In fact, prongs of white gold and yellow gold may wear down so much that you need to have them replaced more often. A scratch in platinum may leave a mark on the metal, but this metal is so strong, it will not easily come off.

• Silver

The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when flexibility is required, such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring weaving and other intricate designs. Sterling silver is most often used for jewelry because of its combination of beauty and durability.

• Palladium

A naturally white metal, Palladium is hypoallergenic, will not tarnish and remains white forever. Palladium is 95 percent pure when used in jewelry, is extremely durable and does not require alloy metals and/or plating for protection, which ensures that it will remain white as long as you own your jewelry.

Picking a Stone

The most common stone for an engagement rings is a diamond but, if you like something a little more non-traditional the other choices are rubies, sapphires, emerald, topaz, aquamarine, amethyst, garnet and opal.

 

Knowing a Diamond

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and they are the stone of choice for most engagement rings. When searching for the perfect engagement ring, it helps to understand how diamonds are classified. They are broken down by the 4 C’s of diamonds cut, color, clarity and carat

Cut

Every diamond regardless of its shape gets it brilliancy and scintillation by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected and dispersed back through its top.

The most requested diamond cuts are round, princess, marquise, pear, emerald, radiant, asscher and cushion.

Color

The best color for a diamond is no color at all. Colors are graded totally colorless to light yellow.  The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) rates the body color in white diamonds from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the amount and location of flaws, or blemishes, in the diamond when viewed under 10 power magnification. GIA rates clarity grades in diamonds from Flawless to Imperfect 3.

Carat

This is the weight of a diamond measured in carats. As the carat weight of a diamond increases so does its rarity and therefore its price. One carat is divided into 100 “points,” so that a diamond of 75 points weights .75 carats. The carat-weight of a diamond is the easiest measurement to determine.

Your fiancé will be pleased to hear any information you want to share with him about the ring of your dreams. He doesn’t have to worry about picking the wrong one.

For jewelers in the San Antonio area, visit our Jewelry & Jewelry Care section of our San Antonio website.

For jewelers in the Austin area, visit our Jewelry & Jewelry Care section of our Austin website.