Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Squash Blossom Necklace
We recently had the privilege of repairing a beautiful antique necklace that one of our dear clients brought to us at Designs In Gold. It was a stunning Squash Blossom Necklace.
Squash blossom necklaces are one of the most characteristic traditional jewelry designs from the Navajo and Native Americans of the Southwest. The necklace is commonly made with strands of silver beads, enriched with silver beads that have petal-like additions, called "squash blossoms". The centerpiece of the necklace is a crescent- (downward facing horseshoe) called a "naja"- often encrusted with turquoise, silver beads, or other stones set in silver. Many believe that the naja were adapted from the iron horseshoes that ornamented the horse bridles of Spanish conquistadores.
Squash blossom necklaces are one of the most characteristic traditional jewelry designs from the Navajo and Native Americans of the Southwest. The necklace is commonly made with strands of silver beads, enriched with silver beads that have petal-like additions, called "squash blossoms". The centerpiece of the necklace is a crescent- (downward facing horseshoe) called a "naja"- often encrusted with turquoise, silver beads, or other stones set in silver. Many believe that the naja were adapted from the iron horseshoes that ornamented the horse bridles of Spanish conquistadores.
http://www.designsingoldnashville.com/
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Peridot for August Babies
Happy birthday to all of the August babies out there! August’s
birthstone is peridot, the gemstone variety of olivine. Peridot gets its
characteristic green hue from iron present in the rock. It can, however, vary in colors ranging from
white to black, although both are rare.
Ancient Egyptians began making periot beads as early as 1580
B.C. It was a symbol of the sun through the Middle Ages, and an Ancient Greek
manuscript tells us that peridot was believed to confer royal dignity on its
bearer.
Marbodius, an 11th century bishop from France,
suggested that peridot should be strung on a strand of donkey tail hair and
worn on the left arm to be protected from evil spirits. Gross! We won’t be
taking fashion advice from Midieval bishops any time soon.
We think the striking color of peridot looks best worn
simply, as on this diamond halo pendant. It also looks nice worn on a
mutli-colored stone necklace. Regardless of how you choose to wear your peridot
this month, it always adds eye-catching pop and brilliance.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Advice to Wannabe Grooms
You’ve found the lady of your dreams and you’re ready to pop
the question. Congratulations! Designs in Gold has been making engagement and
wedding bands for happy couples over the past 32 years. We’ve been able to be a
part of a lot of yeses and I-dos! Our little elf DIG has picked up on a few pieces
of wisdom through the years, things that indicate a good marriage to come. Here
are his tips:
·
Ask her parents
We know it’s the 21st century and
women are more liberated and than ever, but you still have to ask her parents
for her hand in marriage. It’s not about tradition or the antiquated concept of
dowries. It’s about respect. Respecting your girlfriend’s family proves to her
that you care about her and the network
of people who raised her.
·
Make it
special
Certain times will remain imprinted in your
memories forever, and becoming engaged is one of those moments. Neither you or
your bride-to-be want to remember getting engaged in the car or in the jewelry
store’s parking lot. (It happened.) Plan something special and beautiful that you’ll
always remember fondly.
Our favorites have been:
- A café below the Eiffel Tower. The groom
wanted to propose on top of the Eiffel Tower, but the cold and rain made the
moment everything but romantic. He
waited until they’d warmed up below and their noses had stopped running before
proposing. The whole café clapped and bought the couple a bottle of champagne.
C’est belle!
- A picnic at the top of a mountain. This couple’s first date was a beautiful hike in the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Before proposing, the groom hiked a surprise picnic up to the top of the same mountain. He re-hiked the trail again with her and proposed. That’s dedication!
·
Design
your bands together
The couple that designs together stays
together. This is probably your first major purchase as a couple, so you should
show each other support, interest, and commitment by being at the design
appointment together.
·
Surprise
her
Although some women don’t want to be
surprised with a proposal, many women do. An engagement ring that’s a total
surprise is very romantic, but make sure to get her what she wants! Does she
want yellow gold, white gold, or platinum? An emerald cut diamond, princess cut,
or other? What’s her finger size? To get this information, listen to her! Walk her into a jewelry store under the pretense of
purchasing a necklace and casually ask her about rings, too. What’s her opinion
of her mother’s ring? To get her finger size, put on one of her rings that fits
her ring finger. Although it obviously won’t fit you, a jeweler can measure the
ring size based on where it falls on your finger.
·
Add
something unique
Include a feature on your rings that
distinctly relates to your relationship. It can be as simple as an engraving of
each other’s initials inside your bands, or as lavish as a seashell detail to
always remember your wedding on a beach. Try engraving your wedding date inside
the band to never forget your anniversary. Attention to detail on your rings is
symbolic of the attention to detail you’ll show through your marriage.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
A Tip from Tiffany's
Borrowing from the Best
Dr. George Frederick Kunz was the world's premier geologist when Charles Lewis Tiffany (yes, that Tiffany) sent him on a pearl hunt. In the Mississippi River Valley, he found a plethora of small, elongated "dogtooth" pearls. These were made into the Chrysanthemum brooch. The beautiful bud is set off by diamond studded leaves, and stems of gold and platinum. A comic opera star of the day, Lillian Russell, was given the brooch in 1904. It now resides in the Smithsonian Museum.
These freshwater pearl earrings were created to mimic the famous brooch. Their Art Nouveau style is at once classic and refreshingly unique. As one of DIG's few pieces made with stainless steal, their price point is a touch less than Tiffany's.
Art Nouveau has come back into vogue over the past several years. In the recent remake of The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan (played by Carey Mulligan) looked stunning wearing similar Art Nouveau-style jewelry made by Tiffany's.
-Caroline
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
"Elf" of Knowledge - Pearl Care
DIG, our "elf" of knowledge, likes to drop a few "pearls" of wisdom on the occasion (I promise that's the last play on words!). Mostly how to care for your jewelry.
Today's "Elf" of knoweledge: never let your pearls get wet! Originally pearls were strung using silk. Today we use nylon. Nylon is more durable and doesn’t stretch out as quickly as silk. Regardless, if the string gets wet it’s more likely to rot which means the string will break. If any pearls are lost it will be difficult to try and match a replacement.
Today's Look
Absolutely love these citrine earrings from Designs In Gold. Chambray shirt from Anthropologie.
www.designsingoldnashville.com
- Lisa
Saturday, July 20, 2013
GEMSTONE PENDENTS AND THE DRUNKEN HISTORY OF AMETHYST
Working in a jewelry shop is so tough. This morning I had to put on a few of our necklaces and experiment with layering gemstone pendants with a chunky silver chain. I chose these hand-made pendants from Designs in Gold featuring amethyst and citrine. The twin gem pendant is a combination of a cabochon-back amethyst and citrine; both gems have faceted tops for maximum sparkle. The matching single gem pendant is also citrine. The stone holds beautiful silk bands that are a naturally occurring feature in the stone. The gem pendant necklaces are layered with a complementary heavy silver chain. Each link is individually sauntered, and a tag charm for a engraving adds a feminine touch.
Upon researching amethyst, I discovered that the stone has a bit of a wild and ancient history. It was worn in Ancient Greece to guard against intoxication, and its Greek etymology translates to “not intoxicated.” The hardness properties of amethyst make it great for carving, and wine goblets were often made of amethyst in Ancient Greece. (And I thought crystal was fancy!) According to a medieval French poet, the Greek god of wine Bacchus is responsible for the color of the purple stone.
As far as the suggestion that amethyst guards against intoxication, I’ll have to wear this pendant and do a little research. I’ll report back.\
-Caroline
Friday, July 19, 2013
Today's look
My bracelets are a mixture of new and antique reproduction. All real gold and diamonds, from Designs In Gold! www.designsingoldnashville.com
Loving that my shirt is so bright, it's reflecting on my arm!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Red Rubies for July
July is the month of intense heat, ripe red watermelon, and fiery red fireworks. Rubies, then, are the appropriate birthstone for the “reddest” month of the year. According to Hindu beliefs, the inner-fire of a ruby causes its brilliant color that cannot be extinguished.
A Little Art History (Art Nouveau)
Art Nouveau began in the late 19th century and lasted until the First World War. The name derived from and art gallery in Paris called L’Art Nouveau. Like Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau continued to move away from the rigidness of the Victorian Era. Long, sinuous, and organic lines where the main characteristics, as were natural motifs of insects, lizards, snakes, maidens with long flowing hair, crescents rendered in wavy whiplash, and sunbursts. Japanese prints were becoming very popular in Paris and were hugely influential on the Art Nouveau artist.
Though short lived, it was one of the forces that pushed painting towards abstraction. Unlike other movements, it was deliberate. The idea was to reject historicism. Instead it encouraged Art & Craft, a process that bridged the fine artist and the cradtsman. Broadening the range of influence resulted in some beautiful and unforgettable works. This concept encouraged the artist to explore new subjects and materials. For the jeweler this meant experimenting with nontraditional materials such as horn and flass. Expensive and inexpensive gems were used together to produce dreamlike design fantasies.
Fireworks
We always tell customers to come and see us whenever they see fireworks. With the 4th of July only four weeks away, I thought I would remind you with this lovely photo I took of the fireworks from New Years.
Bring in you ring and we will make sure your stones are straight, tightened, and stable. Before you leave we will give it a great clean for maximum sparkle. If any work needs to be done we can discuss it with you!
Drop by or give us a call.
Pearl History
Since it’s first cultivation in China, dating before 1000 B.C. pearls have been a symbol of unblemished perfection. It’s one of the oldest gems in history and was considered the most valuable.
Formed by Mollusk, pearls consist of the same material as the inside of the shell. They can be harvested in both fresh as well as salt water, taking between 13 months to 2 years to develop.
Japan and Northern Australia are the largest regions for cultivating salt water pearls, with the Mississippi River being one of the U.S. largest region for fresh water.
Meet DIG
An “elf" of knowledge, DIG is an important part of our team. Always the first one in and last one out, DIG has been working at Designs In Gold from the beginning. Over the years DIG has accumulated a lot of information about jewelry design and care, constantly advising team members on best practices.
We decided it would be wasteful to keep all this information we’ve learnt to ourselves, so we created this blog to give back tips, tricks, and design inspirations.
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