Want to see some exquisite jewelry? Then make for A Quest for Beauty: The Art of Van Cleef & Arpels at the Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA (October 27, 2013 through February 15, 2014).
The Bowers Museum has curated more than 200 iconic pieces made by the storied jewelry house. Jewelry is organized around four themes: Elegance, Exoticism, Femininity, and Nature. Expect to see remarkable craftsmanship, dazzling gemstones, and a parade of innovative and timeless works. (more…)
Everywhere you look, you’re likely to see lots of leather: leather bracelets, leather belts, and a wide array of leather jewelry.
PUNK: Chaos to Couture, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit on punk style, whipped up interest in leather. The Green movement (some people view leather as a natural product), urban fashionistas wanting to look hip, and the rising prices of gold and platinum have also spiked interest. (more…)
A treasure trove of jewels that lay hidden underground for nearly 300 years is now on display at the Museum of London. Nearly a century after its discovery, the entire collection is being exhibited together for the first time. Workers demolishing a tenement house in the Cheapside district of London in 1912 discovered the priceless Elizabethan and Jacobean jewelry, loose gems and objects buried in a cellar. The treasure became known as “The Cheapside Hoard,” but the identity of its owner remains an enigma. (more…)
Believe it or not, 2013 is nearing its close and 2014 trend reports are already on the horizon. But with engagement season upon us (according to a survey conducted by prominent online wedding site The Knot in 2011, 32% of engagements take place in November and December), let’s review a few of the hottest 2013 engagement ring trends of 2013 for those who are considering popping the question this holiday season. (more…)
Diamond jewelry is often at the top of a woman’s holiday wish list but getting her a gift that she’ll love doesn’t have to be complicated. In the second installment of our 2013 Holiday Buying Guide series, you will learn the basics of what to look for when shopping for diamond jewelry.
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Owls seem to be everywhere…and not just in trees. They’re landing on pins. Nesting on rings. And perching on bracelets. Yes, the owl is a beautiful bird. But the symbolism associated with these lovely creatures is likely one reason jewelry connoisseurs are adding owls to their collections. (more…)
The stores have their decorations up, which means that the 2013 holiday shopping season has officially begun. To assist with a fine jewelry purchase you may be considering, GIA has put together a Holiday Buying Guide, a 7-part series dedicated to making you a more informed jewelry shopper, as well as a more relaxed one. (more…)
Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson are two jewelry designers acclaimed for their original work.
More is More: Tony Duquette – Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry, the duo’s first-ever all-jewelry exhibit, debuted on Oct. 10 at GIA’s world headquarters in Carlsbad, CA. The inventive body of work, which will be on display through March 2014, embraces a wide variety of styles, periods and palettes often showcasing unusual gemstones paired with rare materials in whimsical designs. (more…)
More than a century after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, fascination with vampires continues, as seen in film, television, fiction, fashion, and jewelry.
Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series has not only dominated the New York Times Best Seller list and the box office, it’s also unleashed a torrent of vampire-themed shows and movies, including Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and coming in 2014, Vampire Academy. (more…)
Black never goes out of fashion, and this season it’s taking a prominent place in fashion trends, especially in jewelry.
Black diamonds. Black pearls. Black spinel. The love of black-color gems and jewelry ranges from the most affordable to the most luxurious, and for good reason. It’s incredibly versatile. It’s the color of sophistication and elegance. It’s both edgy and timeless. (more…)
Affordable, prestigious, and trendy, it’s no wonder that silver is enjoying a renaissance. Considered one of the three Noble Metals – gold and platinum being the other two previously covered – silver sales have been on the rise, with an average increase of 19% from 2011 to 2012 (according to the National Jeweler/Nielsen silver survey). (more…)