scegliere collana Archives

4 things to know before giving away a jewel

Published on December 22, 2023

Four tips from an expert for those who want to give a jewel. Read and above all, do not forget them ♦

How to choose a jewel as a gift? A question that creates some concern. Help arrives from Angelina Chen, head of online sales of Christie’s Jewellery, which published some considerations and four tips. Better to read them and follow them. Better to read and follow them. and if you want to know even more, you can read What to give a woman? and, in particular, how to decide which ring to give. Because jewels cost money and often also become an investment: before purchasing them, therefore, you need to choose them carefully. So, if you intend to give a jewel as a gift, read these tips first.

1 Find the color. According to Angelina Chen, a good idea is to observe which are the favorite colors of the clothes of the person who will receive the gift, the clothes she wears most often. A suggestion, therefore, is to look for a jewel that has that color as its hue. For example, for those who love blue you can choose sapphires, but also simple turquoise, those who love green can opt for emeralds, tsavorites or tourmalines of that shade. When in doubt, there is always the color that is always in fashion: that of white diamonds, that is, colorless.

Granato spessartite by Nomad's — Spessartite garnet by Nomad’s

2 Choose the style. There are those who love modern style and jewelry with a contemporary design and those who prefer traditional shapes: the classic solitaire ring, the necklace with a string of pearls, a simple gold bracelet. So, before choosing, take a good look at the aesthetic inclinations of those who will receive your gift: are you a conservative and traditionalist woman in terms of clothes, or do you change often to stay on the wave of fashion? In any case, the precious jewels, created by a great brand, survive historical eras and fashions and therefore are a little safer. With a less expensive jewel, however, you cannot go wrong: it must be consistent with the style of the jewelry and clothes worn.

3 Beware of collections. There are women who love a kind of jewel and want to wear it always, with small variations. For example, a white gold ring with a diamond, or a simple earring made of the same materials. But also different pieces of the same collection: for example, you can give a ring and, if the jewel has been really appreciated (you have to be sure), you can continue with a bracelet or a necklace from the same collection. If a woman has a certain number of similar jewels in her drawer, she is likely not to disdain to receive another one, obviously with some variations on the theme.

4 Look for the missing pieces. A brilliant idea (in the true sense of the word) is to integrate a series of jewels with the missing piece. For example, someone with a lot of white gold jewelry might want a rose gold piece to add to their collection. Those who have a lot of earrings probably want to increase the number of rings, and so on. The same goes for jewels of the same series of the same brand.

Collana in diamanti e smeraldi, indossata a Baselworld — Collana in diamanti e smeraldi di Jacob & Co, indossata

12 styles of necklaces you need to know

Published on November 30, 2022

Campus

Collana indossata con 1341 diamanti e uno smeraldo

A short guide to the 12 main styles of necklaces to help you choose the right one. If you want to learn how to recognize the style of a necklace, read here ♦

Think you know all the styles in which a necklace can be made? We have identified 12, the main ones. There are others as well, but they are quite rare. Here, then, is a short guide to learn how to recognize the styles of necklaces.

1 Sautoir This is a French word for a very long necklace, often with a tassel-shaped pendant at the bottom. The sautoir necklace became fashionable in the 1920s and 1930s, and is often associated with the Art Deco style. It can have a single wire or two or three. The advantage of a Sautoir necklace is that it can also be transformed into a multi-loop bracelet, or as a decoration on the hair and even as a belt. In short, it is a very versatile type of necklace, which is well suited to be used with different types of clothes and in different situations. It has only one flaw: the generous dimensions often make it quite expensive, if it is made of gold.

Sautoir in turchese di Van Cleef & Arpels

2 Matinée Approximately 50-58 centimeters long, it is often worn with dresses that have necklines, which are therefore emphasized by the matinee necklace. The necklace, however, is usually worn above the neckline. It is a type of jewel that is perfect for different occasions: it adapts easily to different types of clothing and can be worn both on informal occasions and on ceremonial occasions. A classic of the matinee necklace is the string of pearls. And, like, for the sautoir, this necklace can also have several strands.

3 Princess You don’t need blue blood to wear a princess necklace. It is actually a medium length necklace, between 43 and 45 centimeters in length, which can be worn on virtually any occasion. It is the typical classic necklace and goes better, in particular, with a fairly formal dress. It is often a necklace that favors the use of more or less precious gems.

Collezione Dancing in the Rain Aquamarine, collana indossata — Collezione Dancing in the Rain Aquamarine, indossata

4 Chokers All the rage in the nineteenth century, these ultra-short necklaces made a comeback in the eighties and recently revived. It is not recommended for those with a short or slightly thick neck. On the contrary, it is capable of making those who boast a swan neck stand out. Princess Diana often wore a pearl choker, but the choker can also be a simple chain, or a thread of precious stones: the definition of choker does not indicate the thickness of the jewel, but its length.

La principessa Diana con il choker di perle e tiara

5 Opera It is a variant of sautoir necklace, between 70 and 90 centimeters long. As the name suggests, it was introduced to be worn on big evenings and is usually made with gold and precious stones. It is not a necklace that can be found in all drawers, in short. Worn in a single strand, the necklace should drop below the bust line or even down to the navel.

Buccellati7 — Opera, collana doppia in oro giallo e bianco e diamanti

6 Bib The name does not do justice to these necklaces which are often very decorative. Wide on the chest, they must be worn carefully, because their design must be carefully coordinated with the rest of the clothing. They can be ethnic, or with abstract motifs, with beads or crystals. They are demanding necklaces: you have to know how to wear them. There are also very valuable ones.

Collana in platino e diamanti di Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1939. È composta da oltre 600 diamanti rotondi e baguette: apparteneva alla madre di Faouk, regina Nazli

7 Lavaliére Necklace with pendant that connects to a chain. The main pendant can in turn be connected to fringes or other pendants. It was a popular necklace in the early twentieth century, when Liberty, Edwardian and Art Deco styles reigned. But it is back in fashion, with many variations, especially in high jewelry.

8 Multi strand As the name indicates, they are necklaces made up of many connected strings. It is a classic of pearl and bead necklaces. This type of necklace is not tied to a precise length, but simply indicates the possibility of shortening a long necklace by wrapping it in multiple turns around the neck. But be careful: if the elements that make up the necklace are large (large rings for chains, synthetic gems, cultured pearls) it is necessary not to overdo it. In these cases it is better to limit yourself to two turns or keep a single thread. On the contrary, thin chains are indicated to be worn as a multi strand necklace.

Collana Ivy in oro e diamanti a due giri di Nanis

9 Necklace with pendant A pendant at the end of the necklace can be a trivial expedient to enrich a simple chain or a masterpiece of fine jewelry. In short, large medallions and pendants must be chosen carefully so as not to attract the eye to something that is worth little. In the case of bijoux, in short, a small pendant is better. An advantage of pendants is that they can often be personalized with dates, initials, dedications: nothing better to attract a glance.

10 Riviére This is the name of a necklace made up of one or two rows of precious or semi-precious stones. The stones or pearls have a different size: larger in the front of the necklace, smaller in the one that hugs the neck. This arrangement, in fact, highlights the stones of greater size. Since it is usually an expensive piece of jewelry, these necklaces have a small size, often that of a choker.

11 Collar Not exactly a chocker: by this definition we mean a very thin circular necklace that exactly surrounds the base of the neck. Very short, it can also be worn over a collarless t-shirt or summer dress. Often these are very sporty and not particularly precious necklaces. But there are also necklaces of this size in gold and precious stones.

Maria Canale, Aster Double Bloom Collar, in oro giallo e diamanti

12 Rope Indicates a necklace with twisted threads, to compose a single volume, as if it were a large rope. It goes without saying that cheap necklaces or necklaces that adopt an avant-garde design are part of the category. But, in reality, the lanyards can also be used for luxury jewelry. For example, when a fabric or leather lace is used in conjunction with a gemstone pendant.

Pendente Scavia, con diamante Fancy Yellow di Diamond Love Bond

How to choose the right jewelry

Published on December 29, 2021

Campus/bracciale/COLLANE

Nine tips to choose a jewel suitable for every occasion and for all outfits ♦

If until now you have also thought that diamonds are the best friends of women, here are some good reasons to include pearls, all colored stones and especially jewelry in this magic circle. They give light to the face, complete the look and harmonize the figure. As long as you know how to choose them. So why not follow these 9 little tricks?

1 Necklace

There is no need to spend a fortune on getting dressed in fashion: just add a nice necklace, for example, a plastron of stones or chains to attract attention. But of course, sometimes it is not enough, or it does not suit the occasion. What to choose? First of all pay attention: the necklace must be the right size, in line with your build (we talked about it in this article). Secondly, a good idea may be to choose complementary colors: a green necklace on a red dress and vice versa, or white on black, orange and blue, yellow and purple. A beautiful silver necklace on a black dress for an evening can offer a better result than a small yellow gold necklace on the same dress. Provided you always choose a designer necklace, that is not trivial without being bizarre.

Dori Csengeri, collezione Celeste, indossato

2 Necklace-earrings relation

If the necklace is impressive, showy, it is good to reduce the size of the earrings. For example, a pair of earrings with small diamonds, or normal gold hoop will be sufficient for any occasion. On the contrary, if you go out with large earrings, you have the risk of seem a Christmas trees. Two great jewels worn together make confusion: better to choose which jewel to focus the attention of the beholder. On the contrary, it is not even necessary to wear both necklace and earrings. Only one jewel is enough, but classy.

Les Blocs de Fantaisie, collana ispirata a Mondrian, indossata di Chow Tai Fook

3 One ear? All right

A single earring alone is fashionable, as the unpaired earrings. If you choose this path, have the courage to wear the biggest and longest you have on your own. Even in this case it is better to avoid combining a large single earring to the necklace, unless it is very discreet: otherwise it would be too much. On the other hand, a bracelet can be used to balance the effect of the earring. If you choose the mono earring, however, pay attention to the weight: a large jewel may be unbearable after a couple of hours wearing it.

Diana Zhang, Un anno in Cina: Winter, indossato

4 Wide bracelets, tight wrists

The bracelets: the trendiest ones are the cuffs, the high and wide slave bracelets. To be worn on the bare arms or cuffs of a shirt. They are, however, jewels that do not fit well to clothes with a lot of fabric, which can get caught or cover the jewel. Also, pay attention to the shape of your body: this type of jewelry stands out on the tight wrists, while those with arms and extremities a little ‘above the average could suffer a boomerang effect.

Bracciale della linea Milano con perle Akoya gialle indossato — Alessio Boschi, bracciale della linea Milano con perle Akoya gialle indossato

5 Earrings by day and evening

How to give shine to the face? With diamonds and crystals, it’s obvious. But not only: pearl earrings or mother-of-pearl elements create a beautiful light, and they adapt especially in the evening, with dark clothes. Especially for those with black or brown hair. But we must also coordinate the shape of the face with the earrings. Such as? We talked about it here. It is also important to choose the right type of earrings for every occasion. For ceremonies or for official events, it is better to opt for simple, sober jewelry. The classic gold hoop earring, not too big, or small earrings with diamonds or, if you do not own them, with zircons. Chandelier-like earrings, long or with colored stones, should be avoided for environments such as professional ones, unless creativity in clothing is allowed. This type of earrings, more striking, is indicated, however, for a party, a world occasion, an encounter with friends.

Annamaria Cammilli, collezione Rivage, indossato

6 Choose the ring

Apart from the wedding ring, which can always be worn, on every occasion, the other jewels for the fingers must be chosen carefully. The large rings, colored with bright stones, are good for evening parties (not gala or dark dress), aperitifs, convivial moments. For a ceremony, however, it is better to opt for white or yellow gold with a single stone or anyway with small gems. We must not forget the proportion between the jewel and the shape of the hands: a large and colorful ring will attract attention. But this is not good if you have hands that are too big or have flaws not to be emphasized.

7 Attention to the neckline

The open neckline, shoulder to shoulder, requires a long necklace to balance the opening of the elongated neck. In short, a necklace is better that falls on the fabric and is clearly visible. In this case, be careful that the choice is right: if the dress has flowers or with a colorful pattern, for example, a necklace of only one color is better. As a necklace in only gold, brass or silver. If, on the other hand, the fabric is plain-colored, a necklace with colored stones or an elaborate metalwork stands out more. With the V-neck better to opt for a necklace that has the same size of the neckline.

Bijoux Guess, indossato. Collana con pendente

8 Small and big

The proportions are important throughout, especially for your body. In general, the subtle and delicate jewels give off a small woman and shift the attention from the robust forms. Large jewels are more difficult to wear and require, however, that they are not too large compared to the height and size of the wearer. Obviously the jeweler who made the jewel (unless it is a bespoke jewel) can not know who will wear it in advance. It is up to those who choose it to identify the size appropriate to their body.

Collezione Essence, indossato — Pandora, collezione Essence

9 Multiply your fingers, ops, the ring

A spectacular ring attracts attention and creates light. The multiple rings, which occupy several fingers, or the elongated ring covering the entire finger or all the phalanx are fashionable. They are that give damage a touch of modernity, provided that the dress worn is in step with the times. Jewels of this type, very modern, are better suited to informal and simple dresses, in line with the minimal design of this type of jewelry. They are the most suitable for a young woman, who loves clothes with a well-defined style.

Anapsara, anello Libellula indossato — Anapsara, anello Libellula

24 things you don’t know about the pearl necklace

Published on December 17, 2021

Campus/perle/COLLANE

Do you want to buy a pearl necklace? Or do you have earrings with pearls in your drawer, or a ring with a beautiful pearl? Like diamonds, pearls are one of the classics of jewelry. They adorned the jewels of the ancients, men and women. And until a century ago the only ones available were natural ones, while today cultivated ones are more common. But do you think you know everything about pearls? Here are 24 aspects of pearls you probably don’t know yet.

If you want to know more about pearls read: All about pearls.

Collana di perle e diamanti di Yoko London

1 A graduated string of pearls most often has at least 3 millimeters of difference between the ends at the center of the necklace.
2 Fresh and salt water pearls seem quite similar to an inexperienced eye, but in reality they are classified as different biological families. Those of fresh water are part of the Unionidae family. Salt water pearls, on the other hand, grow inside the oysters of the Pteriidae family, which live in the oceans.
3 Pearls are an answer to an intruder: they form, in fact, inside the shell as a defense mechanism against something irritating that creeps into the oyster. The mollusk creates the pearl just to seal the irritation.

Bracciale con perle Akoya e diamanti di Yoko London

4 The brilliance of the pearls depends on the reflection, the refraction and the diffraction of light from the translucent layers: the layers in the pearl are thinner and numerous, the luster is finer.
5 The iridescence of pearls is caused by the superposition of successive layers, which breaks the light that falls on the surface.
5 Pearls (especially freshwater pearls) can be tinged with yellow, green, blue, brown, pink, purple or black.
6 Since pearls are mainly made of calcium carbonate, they can be dissolved in vinegar or lemon juice: do not let them fall into the salad!

Orecchini di Yoko London, perle e diamanti

7 Freshwater pearls are formed in lakes, rivers, ponds and other freshwater basins found in warmer climates. But they are also found in colder and more temperate areas such as Scotland (where they are protected by law).
8 Most of the freshwater cultured pearls sold today do not come from Japan, but from China.
9 However, Japan retains its status as a pearl processing center and imports most of the Chinese Akoya pearl production. These pearls are then worked (often simply ordered), re-labeled as a product of Japan and exported.

10 The commonly held belief that a grain of sand acts as an irritant to stimulate the growth of a natural pearl is actually a very rare case.
11 How do you distinguish a natural pearl from a cultivated one? An X-ray examination is the safest system: nucleated cultured pearls are often preformed, since they tend to follow the shape of the nucleus that has been implanted. Natural ones no.
12 The cultivated pearl can be harvested in a period ranging from 12 to 18 months for the Akoya, 2-4 years for Tahiti and the South Sea and 2-7 years for fresh water.

Bracciale di perle dorate e diamanti di Yoko London

13 A simple method to recognize the real pearls from imitations is to rub two spheres against each other. The false pearls are completely smooth, while the natural or cultivated ones are composed of mother-of-pearl plates, which make them slightly rough.
14 There are very few necklaces with natural pearl strands and they are often sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
15 Natural pearls are very rare: one of the places where they are still found is in the seas off Bahrain and Australia.

Il differente nucleo delle perle coltivate e naturali. Immagine da Wikipedia

16 Black pearls (called Tahitian pearls) are very rarely really black: they usually have shades of green, purple, aubergine, blue, gray, silver or peacock (a mix of different shades, like a peacock feather).
17 The South Sea pearls are the largest and rarest of cultured pearls, which makes them the most precious.
18 Pearls defined as Margaritas are extremely difficult to find today and are known for their unique yellowish color. The most famous Margarita necklace is the one that the then Venezuelan president Romulo Betancourt gave to Jacqueline Kennedy when she and her husband, President John F. Kennedy, were on an official visit to Venezuela.

Collana con perle di Tahiti e diamanti di Yoko London

19 Usually the invention of the process to cultivate pearls is attributed to Mikimoto. In fact, the way to get cultured pearls was developed by the British biologist William Saville-Kentin Australia and brought to Japan by Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise. Nishikawa obtained the patent in 1916 and married Mikimoto’s daughter. Which was able to use Nishikawa’s technology.
20 For many traders and wholesalers of cultured pearls, the favorite weight measure used for loose pearls and pearl strands is momme, a measure traditionally used in Japan, which is equivalent to 3.75 grams.

21 The gloss is the main factor in differentiating the quality of the pearls according to the jewelers.

Anello con perla dorata South Sea e diamanti — Yoko London, anello con perla dorata South Sea e diamanti

22 But given the same factors, the dimension determines the value: bigger is the pearl, more precious it is.
23 Pearls are available in eight basic forms: round, semicircular, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, rimmed and double boulder.
24 The pearl necklaces are classified into different types, according to the size: a collar (25-33 centimeters) often with several strands of pearls, a choker (35-41 centimeters), princess (43-48 centimeters) and matinees (50- 60 centimeters). Finally, the work size (70 to 90 centimeters) and sautoir, or pearl rope, (about 115 centimeters) are rarer.

La collana di Yoko London indossata con gli orecchini abbinati — Collana girocollo di Yoko London indossata con gli orecchini abbinati