Blue is the color of summer and in the summer it is easy to come across fireworks displays. The Fireworks collection by Giovanni Raspini is made of burnished silver with completely hand-modeled elements. The jewels are tuned to summer, inspired by light and color thanks to the union of burnished silver with mystic quartz with a rainbow effect. It is a particular processing of transparent quartz, to which a thin film is applied which adds colored effects, even with rainbow shades. It is precisely this aspect that led him to choose the name Fireworks.
Like a firework, the brightness of silver combines with the iridescent colors of mystic quartz. The collection includes a large necklace, a pendant, two rings, two bracelets, and two earrings. The jewels are made with thin silver stems at the top of which a stone is set, with a style that deliberately recalls the explosion of fireworks in the sky.
How to make resin jewelry
There are those who wear jewels. And there are those who want to create them with their own hands, maybe resin jewelry. Yeah, but how to make resin jewelry? What is needed? What are the basic steps. Let’s see how you can create a resin jewel in the size and with the design that you have decided. This is exactly why resin jewelry has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s easy to see why: it’s a material that’s versatile, inexpensive, and can be used to create a wide variety of designs. If the idea of creating your own resin jewelry appeals to you, here is a detailed guide to get you started.
Materials Needed:
• Epoxy resin
• Mixing cups
• Stir sticks
• Silicone mold
• Pigment or dye (optional)
• Glitter (optional)
• Jewelry findings (jump rings, earring hooks, etc.)
• Sandpaper
• Protective gear (gloves, mask, goggles)
Step 1: Prepare your workspace
Resin is a messy material, so you’ll want to work in a well-ventilated area that’s protected from dust and debris. Cover your workspace with plastic or newspaper and put on protective gear, including gloves, a mask, and goggles.
Step 2: Mix the resin
Follow the instructions on the epoxy resin packaging to mix the resin and hardener in the correct proportions. Pour the resin into a mixing cup and stir for 2-3 minutes, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the cup to ensure the mixture is thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Add color and glitter (optional)
If you want to add color to your resin, you can use pigment or dye. Be careful not to add too much, as this can affect the curing process. You can also add glitter or other small decorative items at this stage.
Step 4: Pour the resin
Pour the resin mixture into your silicone mold. If you’re making a pendant or earrings, you can use a mold with a hole at the top for the jump ring. If you’re making a bracelet or ring, you can use a mold with a flat surface.
Step 5: Remove bubbles
Use a heat gun or blowtorch to remove any bubbles that may have formed in the resin. Be careful not to hold the heat source too close to the resin or for too long, as this can cause the resin to overheat and cure too quickly.
Step 6: Cure the resin
Follow the instructions on the resin packaging to determine the cure time. This can range from a few hours to overnight. Once the resin has cured, remove it from the mold and trim any excess using sandpaper.
Step 7: Add jewelry findings
Attach jump rings or earring hooks to the resin pieces using pliers. If you’re making a bracelet or ring, you can use a strong adhesive to attach the resin piece to a metal base.
Step 8: Enjoy your new jewelry!
Your resin jewelry is now complete and ready to wear or gift to a friend. Store your pieces in a cool, dry place to prevent them from becoming cloudy or discolored over time.
In conclusion, creating your own resin jewelry can be a fun and rewarding DIY project. With the right materials and techniques, you can make beautiful and unique pieces that reflect your personal style. Happy crafting!
How to choose earrings for an evening
Which earrings to choose when going out for an evening event? It’s a question women often ask themselves when the critical moment arrives: after having painstakingly chosen the dress and accessories, it’s the turn of the jewels. And, in particular, earrings, which must match the dress, but also the shape of the face. For this aspect read: How to choose earrings.
In addition to identifying the size and shape of earrings that best match your face, you need to focus on the type of event or occasion you are attending. In general, earrings worn at night tend to be more formal and sophisticated than earrings worn during the day. Here are some types of earrings you might consider for an elegant night out:
1. Drop earrings. Drop earrings are very elegant and can be made in a variety of materials such as pearls, diamonds, silver or gold. Of course, there are also drop earrings in plain metal and synthetic stones, such as cubic zirconia. This type of jewel is a classic, which easily matches the choice of dress and can be the simplest idea when you don’t know exactly if the evening will be super elegant and formal, or normal routine.
2. Pendant earrings. Drop earrings are perfect for strapless dresses or V-necks. They are therefore a choice that can be easily related to the type of dress worn. Again, they can be made in different materials and colors. Dangling earrings are usually even more visible: they therefore require careful evaluation in the choice of color and size. For a very formal evening or a ceremony, it is better to opt for pendant earrings that are not too large. For an evening at the disco or a party with friends, larger and more lively pendant earrings are also fine.
3. Hoop earrings. Hoop earrings are a jewelery classic and complement many styles of clothing. You can a pair of shiny or gold metal earrings for a sophisticated look. However, hoop earrings can also be a trap: in this case, the size matters a lot in relation to the shape of the face and the dress. Very large hoop earrings, from the Seventies, they are not recommended for ceremonies and intimate evenings. Better to opt for a size that does not exceed the circumference of a coin.
4. Gemstone earrings. Earrings with precious stones, such as diamonds, sapphires or rubies, are perfect for formal events such as weddings, gala parties or important corporate events. It is a choice that wants to underline your role, a social status or, often, a good choice (at least from an economic point of view) of the partner. Not to be worn for evenings with friends, informal occasions, a disco or a simple birthday celebration: they would be excessive.
5. Pearl earrings. Pearl earrings are an excellent solution for any kind of occasion. They are perhaps less suitable for very lively evenings at the disco or parties where color prevails, such as Carnival or Halloween. For all other occasions, a pair of pearl earrings will always do. Moreover, they match any outfit, even sporty.
5 rules for choosing pearl earrings
How to choose pearl earrings? To decide, look at what Kate Middleton wore ♦ ︎
Pearls, especially earrings, have always been a must for queens and princesses. When, for example, Prince Louis was baptized, no one was surprised that his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wore pearl earrings (along with a cream Alexander McQueen dress). The earrings, if you’re curious, were by London jeweler Cassandra Goad and cost £ 4,360. Each pearl features a small diamond set, surrounded by 18K yellow gold. Fun Look: The design of these earrings was inspired by clusters of cauliflower in a Sicilian market.
In short, this is just one example. Pearl earrings are regularly worn on the most diverse occasions. There are those who choose pearls and combine them with jeans or those, like Kate Middleton, who use them as a classic and always fashionable jewel also for official occasions, evenings and ceremonies. According to the International Gem Society, white pearls have a link with innocence and purity. In Asia, pearls are considered a symbol of divinity and a higher power due to the external appearance and circular shape of the gem. However, pearl earrings are not all the same. First of all, pearls can have different shapes, not necessarily circular. And, moreover, pearls also have different colors: from pearly white to shades of gold, green or dark gray.
How to choose pearl earrings
1 Choose earrings with dangling pearls, perhaps in the shape of a drop, if you have a rather round face.
2 Better earrings with button pearls, or clusters like those worn by Kate Middleton, if you have an elongated face.
3 The color of the pearls can also be matched to the skin tone. White or golden pearls for those with fair skin, Tahitian pearls with a gray color or with purple hues for those with brown or dark skin.
4 A pair of pearl earrings can be worn on any occasion as long as it is simple, such as stud earrings. Pendant earrings, perhaps combined with diamonds or other precious stones is better if they are reserved for busy evenings.
5 Matching with the dress: white pearls are neutral and can be combined with any outfit. Colored pearls, on the other hand, are to be considered in all respects as jewels to be coordinated with the color of the dress, such as a scarf or a brooch.
Reverse again for Nanis
Presented in 2018, the Dancing in the Rain Reverse collection by Nanis (we wrote about it here) has been enriched with new pieces over the years. But without losing its characteristic: the jewels, as the name of the collection suggests, can be worn in two different ways, thanks to their special design. The jewels are in 18-karat gold and use diamonds and natural stones, such as ruby, Australian opal, London blue topaz, amethyst, labradorite, perdidot. But, at the center of everything, there is the idea of the founder of the brand, Laura Bicego: a special mechanism that allows you to rotate the jewels and thus express them in two completely different ways.
An opportunity that allows you to wear jewels that double their function. Necklaces, earrings, bangles and rings use surfaces with faceted stones on one side, while the opposite surface is made with pavé. The Dancing in the Rain Reverse collection has obtained numerous acclaim and the ruby and diamond pavé ring is exhibited in the Vicenza Jewelery Museum.
Giulia Tordini, founder and creative director of the Milanese brand Leda Madera, launches a collection of gold-plated brass jewelry. They are jewels with a consistent volume, with soft lines, which can suggest a vaguely retro style. They are for sale on several online stores. Leda Madera is a Milanese brand that owes a lot to the fashion world, but focuses on the accessories side. In fact, she is part of a family specializing in the fashion sector: her father, Piero Tordini, designed shoes and now manages the Marcona 3 showroom in Milan. Her older sister, Giorgia, is co-founder of the cool-girl label The Attico. In short, it was almost inevitable that Giulia was also involved in fashion and accessories.
Originally from Marche, Milanese by adoption, Giulia Tordini attended the three-year course at the European Institute of Design. The collection includes updates to the first Realease 1 collection and the new Release 2 line. They seem to be inspired by the protagonists of the movie Thelma & Louise. But, to tell the truth, they seem more linked to the Art Deco style, which has a few decades more than the two cinematic daredevils. By the way, Leda Madera takes its name from her grandmother, to whom Giulia Tordini is very fond.
Colors of spring for So-Le Studio
So-Le Studio, Maria Sole Ferragamo’s recycled jewelry brand has launched its new SS23 collection. The spring collection is called Leggiera, with a variant on the word that indicates lightness, a characteristic feeling that accompanies the end of winter. So-Le Studio models are offered in new colors such as forest green, lime, metallic navy blue. Earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces are made of gold-coated brass or ruthenium, enamel, pigment and are nickel free. Alongside metal, the designer also uses leather elements to create bijoux with a consistent volume.
I wanted this new launch to feel like an energizing walk in the forest on a crisp morning that awakens all the senses. Spring is that time of the year when you feel life blossoming around you: the buds of the trees, the sun starting to shine brighter; my pieces are designed with this energy and dynamism at their core.
Maria Sole Ferragamo
With Alviero Martini 1A Classe at Rodeo Drive
If you have planned a trip to California, know that Rodeo Drive is a long road located in the suburb of Beverly Hills, known as one of the most expensive in the world. The collection of Alviero Martini 1A Classe is inspired by Rodeo Drive, a fashion brand that has made the idea of traveling its main source of inspiration. Rodeo Drive jewels include necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings made of gold-plated 925 silver, with leather inserts with the iconic Geo Map print.
The map motif is one of the signs that distinguish the production of the brand, which has become famous for its bags with embossed geographical maps. The necklaces in the collection end with a yellow gold plated silver pendant with a cubic zirconia link and a central element with a large rectangular leather link with Geo Map print and engraved 1A Classe logo (price: 169 euros and 179 euros). The same elements make up the chain or rigid bracelets (139 euros and 149 euros), also with rose gold plating. The collection is also made up of two rings and three earrings models, always with the same materials.
Jewelry with Botticelli by Freywille
Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus are famous paintings of the Italian Renaissance. They are tempera paintings on wood painted by Sandro Botticelli between 1480 and 1485 and today they are kept in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Both paintings are among those images that have been reproduced many times to become a kind of icon, like the equally famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
Now Botticelli’s paintings have also become the source of inspiration for a collection of the Viennese brand Freywille, which has always created collections that have large paintings or works by famous painters as their subject. The collections dedicated to Botticelli consist of rings, earrings and necklaces, 18-karat gold chains with a pendant hanging from them. Botticelli’s Primavera and Venus, however, are barely mentioned, perhaps for a copyright issue, or for an artistic choice. The jewels are also in gold, with lively enamel colors that recall some features of the painting.
The art of jewels by Munnu The Gem Palace
Bracelets, necklaces and earrings with sumptuous gems in the traditional heart of India: the style of the Mughal empire in the collections of Munnu The Gem Palace. ︎
India is a country full of flowers. Necklaces, decorations, braids of flowers are found everywhere, not only in temples, but also for weddings or special occasions. Thus Siddharth Kasliwal, creative director of Munnu The Gem Palace, an ancient Indian brand from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, uses gems as flowers, with jewels that become artistic bouquets. This is not traditional Indian jewellery. Indeed, Siddharth Kasliwal spends most of his time in New York and has absorbed much of the spirit of Western aesthetics.
Jewels with colored stones have a simpler design than those linked to the Indian tradition, closer to the style of jewels made in Europe or the USA. Necklaces composed of simple aligned tourmalines, an emerald that has a diamond set inside it, no-frills earrings with a rounded shape: the jewels of Munnu The Gem Palace are also popular in the West. On the other hand, Munnu The Gem Palace is heir to one of the oldest traditions. Suffice it to say that the Kasliwal family has been creating jewelry for nine generations.
The Gem Palace boasts jewels that resist passing fashions: some pieces dating back to the family’s beginnings in Agra are still worn. In the stratified society of the Mughal empire, gems served both as an investment, for accumulating wealth, and as a display of power. For three centuries the Mughal emperors used the jewels created by the Kasliwal family of Agra: opulent and extravagant pieces, true status symbols. In Munnu’s words, “at that time people wore more jewelry than clothes.”
The jewelers boasted mastery of traditional Indian techniques, such as Kundan setting and Meenakari enamelling. The story continued with a sudden sliding door, when in 1725 Maharaja Jai Singh II started the construction of the new city of Jaipur, which is still today the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jewelers could not be missing. The Kasliwals then moved within the palace walls as crown jewelers. Even today the house of the Kasliwal family is located in Jaipur.
In the 18th century Jaipur experienced a period of wealth and afforded the Kasliwal family the opportunity to centralize their operations in a new location outside the palace walls. Many of the artisans who were previously scattered around the city have thus come together under one roof: the Gem Palace.
The British conquest of India did not slow down the work of jewelers. In 1923 the iconic Gem Palace store was opened in Jaipur, which still welcomes those looking for the Maison’s fine jewels. The jewelery offer is particularly rich. The processing takes place in the adjacent laboratories. Munnu’s jewels The Gem Palace have been the focus of various exhibitions in the West, such as the one at Somerset House in London, with around 250 pieces of jewellery, or for the Met in New York, where Munnu and his son Siddharth have opened a studio and a showroom in a residence in the heart of the city. But the story isn’t over yet.
The coincidences of Maria Marchegiani
The jewellery by Maria Marchegiani: works that bloom in the small town of Jesi.
There are jewels that are not born in Paris, and even in Milan, Vicenza and Valenza. There are jewels that, however, are born in a city of Italy, which isn’t famous for its boutiques. Yet in Jesi, a small town in the Marche region, works with appropriate conviction the creator and designer Maria Marchegiani. Coincidentally, as for other designers, she has an artistic background: he started with build sets for the theater, paint, restore old paintings, ironwork, ceramics. In her story, among other things, has a diploma at school of the sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro with Iris Project, a jewel-anthropological and contemporary sculpture.
She turns herself, then, to goldsmith’s art: began his career in 2004 when he opened a studio of design and laboratory Goldsmith Art Marchegiani in the historic Via degli Orefici that another coincidence, it is the place where he worked Lucagnolo, a student of Welcome Cellini. With this patron saint in the area, Maria Marchegiani uses silver, gold, precious and semi-precious gems, with metal alloys that are created entirely within the laboratory, also with special colors. The inspirational motifs are the most diverse: from the natural and the man. Are more than abstract ideas real models. But also she can make also custom jewelry.
The creative vision of Kimy Gringoire Jewelry
The jewels of the Belgian designer Kimy Gringoire Lejeune and her brand Kimy Gringoire Jewelry ♦
Her name is Kimy Gringoire Lejeune and she founded the Kimy Gringoire Jewelry brand. Kim Hye Mee is a designer of Asian origin, but she is a naturalized Belgian: she married a tattoo artist, Alex Lejeune. Wedding rings and crosses were the first step in jewelry.
Then, she widened the field, with an eclectic and counter-current style, which includes jewels such as handcuffs (in rose gold), which are opened by pressing a diamond. There are two different sizes, for him and for her. Boucle Diamant is a rose gold earring that can be transformed into a minimalist ear stud studded with diamonds. Now it offers One Swing earrings, with hoops that are worn in an unusual way. Or a ring with a double evolution in rose gold, which embraces the fingers and ends with two small globes studded with diamonds. Also innovative are the earrings that rest over the ear (hoping they don’t fall?). In general, the jewels have a very minimal design, but also with new ideas. If you like jewelry with a Nordic atmosphere, Kim Hye Mee’s jewelry could be for you.
Geocube in green and pink
Cubed nuances for Coeur de Lion, a German brand that courageously offers a type of bijoux that is completely different from the usual. As we have already told here the common thread of the Maison, distributed throughout Europe, is in fact the cubic shape, with elements that are used to form necklaces, bracelets and earrings. The Geocube collection, which has been renewing bijoux composed with this geometric motif for years, now presents two new shades, suitable for the summer.
Colliers, semi-rigid bracelets and earrings are now available in green in its various shades. The cubic-cut gems used are synthetic tiger’s eye, green aventurine, amazonite, howlite (a mineral of the borate class: its name derives from that of its discoverer) and nephrite, a stone often confused with jade. Here are the prices: collier (229 euros), pendant earrings (69 euros) and bracelet (119 euros). In addition to green, Geocube also has a pink shade, with aventurine, rose quartz or crystals.
Precious Amore for Leo Pizzo
Amore is an Italian word known all over the world, like other popular terms like mamma or, if you prefer, pizza. Love is universal, it has no boundaries, it has no age, it has no colors. But it has a shape recognized by all, the heart. The organ that keeps blood circulating in the veins is also the one that beats the fastest when emotions overwhelm the mind. Leo Pizzo, an Italian maison from Valencia, knows these things very well and for this reason he conceived the Amore collection, which uses the eternal silhouette of the heart to symbolize the passion of the couple.
The Amore collection is made of gold and also uses brilliant-cut diamonds combined with precious stones such as pink sapphires to complete the pavé that completely covers the surface of the jewel. The hearts are slightly rounded, with a volume that helps to make the three-dimensionality of the jewel visible. The Amore collection includes rings, earrings and pendants linked to a double white gold chain.
Skyscrapers to Deborah Pagani’s ears
Deborah Pagani designs hair accessories, such as the pins used to group the hair in braids or wrap it behind the neck. But she also focuses on modern, long, thin, fast jewels. Luxurious jewels, in gold and diamonds, with earrings that recall the skyscrapers of New York, where the designer lives. An idea consistent with the passion of Deborah Pagani, a New Yorker with Italian origins, for Art Dèco. And, if you think about it, in the American city there are many buildings and skyscrapers with an architecture inspired by that style.
But the passion for hair jewelry also has a history: Deborah Pagani began her career as a styling hair in the late 1990s, working alongside masters like John Sahag, Oribe Canales and Rita Hazan. The jewelry came after friends admired the pieces she had created for herself. The designer debuted her own collection of déco-rock jewelry in Paris in 2007, and it was an immediate success.
Luxury goes sailing with Gismondi 1754
The historic Maison Gismondi 1754 is based in Genoa, a seafaring city. Massimo Gismondi, CEO and mind of the company, loves the sea. Two aspects that present the new collection of the Italian brand, shown at Vicenzaoro, which is called Vela. As with boats driven by the wind, the Vela collection also has two characteristics: it is practical, easy to wear and to combine, but it is also elegant. The style and volumes of the jewels are inspired by the individual elements that characterize sailboats, such as the snap hook closure, but also by the curves of ropes and cords used to equip the boats. The Vela collection maintains the style of Gismondi 1754, with surfaces in rose gold and diamonds, and consists of bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces.
The sea has always been my source of inspiration. I was born there and for me it is essential to look at it every time I can also experience it actively. An outing on a sailing boat, with an eye to infinity is also an opportunity to reflect on the little things.
Massimo Gismondi, CEO of Gismondi 1754
Beyoncé show with Messika
Beyoncé show with Messika. After four years of her absence, the singer made her big return to Dubai for a private concert, organized for the inauguration of the Atlantis The Royal Hotel. For the occasion, Beyoncé wore a gold plunging dress and custom Messika asymmetrical high jewelery earrings, specially designed by Valérie Messika for Beyoncé’s first stage comeback, her first of its kind in the Middle East. The earrings are composed of four exceptional diamonds, one of which is a pear shape of 17 carats, a second of 10 carats, a third of 7 carats and an oval of 18.88 carats, for a total of approximately 57 carats of diamonds.
The chandelier earrings are a style much appreciated by the singer. With this in mind, Valérie Messika created these one-of-a-kind earrings. The Parisian Maison is very active on the celebrity front and its jewels are often worn by actresses and models on the red carpet of the most important events.
Mateo’s American Dream
The American dream applied to jewelry. It is the story of Matthew Harris, born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Son of a seamstress. And, in 2009, founder of the Mateo brand in New York. In the US, he arrived at the age of 16 to attend college. But his passion was (and still is) jewels. Matthew is a self-taught designer, and so in his youth he spent much of his time in the Big Apple jewelry district learning the technique. Once he got the skills, he decided to go it alone.
Having founded his brand, he initially focused on men’s jewelry. Then, he expanded his production to the female world. Her jewels use 14-karat gold, a choice that allows prices to be anchored low, but also diamonds, pearls and semi-precious stones, such as quartz in its various forms, or topaz, malachite and aquamarine. She opened her boutique in the heart of the city, in SoHo, in December 2016. The streets of Jamaica are getting further and further away.
Jessica McCormack’s easy diamonds
The Jessica McCormack’s long journey: the world through new special jewels ♦
How do you say jewelery in New Zealand? You say: Jessica McCormack. The designer grew up in the green spaces of the country which is Europe’s antipodes, but among the treasures and curiosities of his father’s auction house. It’s been easy, so, to fall in love with jewels. The spring snaps after a past year in Sotheby’s jewelery department in London. In the British capital, which is also one of jewelry capital, Jessica has pick as partner the diamond collectors Michael Rosenfeld, and Rachel Slack, a business woman who is part of the Oppenheimer family, a name that is almost synonymous with precious stones. In addition to the passion for diamonds, the three have in common also love for beautiful things, in the way of the classic tradition that only London can inspire.
They are jewels with a classic shape, but not only. They make extensive use of diamonds, but not only. And they are often very expensive, but that’s not all. Of course, Jessica McCormack’s jewels are very elegant and high-end, but the designer also sees them well combined with a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt.
What poem is more beautiful than love? It is, therefore, natural that Poesia Gioielli, a Crieri brand, dedicates a collection to the celebration of love, i.e. Valentine’s Day. Consistently, the collection is called Innamorata. The new jewelry line consists of a series of three rings and mini-hoop earrings inspired by the immortal shape of the heart. They are simple and precious jewels. The heart at the center of all the jewels is created with the use of natural rhodolite, a stone of the garnet family with an intense pink color tending towards red. The central stone is flanked by white diamonds in a game of asymmetries which are the hallmark of the collection.
Heart rings become a version of the classic diamond solitaire. The jewel is available in different versions: simple, with a pair of diamonds flanking the heart-shaped stone, or with brilliants set along the edge of the gold band. And there is also a double ring, with two circles side by side, one smooth and one with diamonds. Gold is offered in three versions yellow, white and pink. Even the hoop earrings take up the same style as the rings.