Things Of Lux -Jewellery

We are India inspired!

2013-09-05T23:46:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like a piece of history to get totally inspired. Looking through some vintage jewellery, I came across with the Patiala Necklace, created by the House of Cartier for Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in 1928.

The necklace is famous for its unmatched brilliance and extraordinary design. It had five rows of diamond-encrusted platinum chains, it had 2,930 diamonds embedded in it, including the world's seventh largest DeBeers diamonds.

When the Patiala's dynasty came to an end, the Patiala Necklace disappeared. The necklace was later found in 1998, when someone came upon the remnants of it in a second hand jewelry shop in London.

Chanel 2011/2012

Unfortunately, the DeBeers diamonds were all gone. Cartier acquired the remains of the necklace and spent four years trying to use different stones to restore it. Cartier decided to use cubic zirconium to substitute for the seven diamonds and synthetic rubies to substitute for the original Burmese marvels. A replica of the De Beers Diamond was created and set in the necklace, but what type of synthetic material used has not been released to the press.

This necklace was a wonder that represents the opulence and power of the India royal times. It was one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever made.

The opulence of the Indian Royal times has captivated the Western World for generation and inspired designers all around of world.

Most recently, several fashion houses have presented their modern take on the traditional Indian garments and incorporated the rich elements of this culture in their accessories collections.

One of my absolute favorite takes is the 2011/2012 Chanel - Bombay Collection. Karl Lagerfeld pay a beautiful tribute to the influence of India culture in the contemporary fashion.

The Opulence of the Baroque Era

2013-07-22T00:59:00.002-07:00

Marchesa

The term Baroque comes from a Portuguese word and means "a pearl of irregular shape". The Baroque flourished in the court of Louis XIV of France and its popularity was driven by the new wealth of the middle classes. It is the elegance, the opulence and the extravagance that we associate with the the Baroque Era. It is the time when music is seen as being highly ornate, lavishly texturized, and intense, highly decorated melodic line indeed.

D&G 2014

Rich Blue Tassel Necklace by Things Of Lux

It is also the time when the Opera and the orchestra were conceived (1600) as result of trying to recapture the spirit of ancient Greek drama in which music played a key role. Women wore the best hats, jewels, shoes and dresses to attend these events. Fashion today has drawn inspiration from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian times and created pieces that takes back to the times of the beads, tapestry, tassels, pearls, filigree and brocades.

Some of my favourite designers, such as: D&G and Marchesa have created jewelery pieces that are rich and decadent.

D&G 2013

Bejeweled

2013-07-18T23:02:00.001-07:00

There is a fascination in modern times with the customising. We all want to feel unique, different, somehow more special than we already are. Fashion has provided the tool from the beginning of the times. People find a way to use garments and jewellery to show status, family roots, and wealth.

Styling and design play a critical role, especially when not only one person could afford the most expensive silk embroidery or jewellery. Commissioning for one of a kind item was the ultimate showcase of power.

If we reflect in our modern times, the behaviour has not changed. My favourite part of the day is to choose the clothes I am going to wear, to pair them with the accessories. I find real pleasure in transforming an ordinary item into an expensive looking one - the process of bejewelling.

The catwalks around the world have showcase this year gorgeous garments which have been heavenly embellished with beads, glass and jewels. It is the times of the jewels!

D&G Spring/Summer 2013

The power of wearing Jewellery

2012-10-29T01:12:00.001-07:00

There are certain gem stones and metals used for their spiritual energy or symbolic meaning. It is believed that some gemstones and metal will hold powers or channel energy and they are associated with your birth.

Source: littlebluedeer.com via Things on Pinterest

It is known that when we use gold we are calling something different than when we wear silver. For instance, gold represents the heart and spine, while silver represents the brain and fluids. Silver is the sensitive metal of the emotions and the more refined senses. The lunar silver type is the most caring and compassionate of all the metals; they like people and want to mother them and care for them. Gold is king, proud, refined and naturally superior, but also vain and arrogant. People who like to wear gold tend to make loyal friends and succeed very easily.

Source: thingsoflux.com via Things on Pinterest

There are good reasons to avoid jewellery that has lead in it. They can make you rather sombre or gloomy, rather depressed or maybe a control-freak.. They tend to be very serious, to think too much and to dwell in the past. Source: http://www.homeoint.org/morrell/articles/pm_metal.htm

Agate is the stone that everyone should have. It is one of the oldest stone in the world recorded for making jewellery. Agate is also the gemstone for the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries.

Source: enjoythekiss.blogspot.com via Things on Pinterest

If you are looking for finding true love, improving a relationship or rekindling lost love, having jewellery made of Jade, Emerald, Turquoise or Quartz could be helpful in your attempts.

Amethyst, Sapphire and some Quartz are handy if you want help in finding peace and tranquillity, develop intuition or find the true purpose in life.

It was common practice to select jewellery according to the birth stones. It was believed that some gemstones are meant to bring good fortune and health depending on the position of the stars the moment of the birth. Birthstones have their origins in ancient Egypt. Each of the 12 months of the year was assigned a gemstone or crystal supporting each astrological sign of the zodiac.

I am born in July, therefore Rubies are meant to be my best companion. However there is other stones that also go well with my chart, such as Emeralds, Moonstones and Pearls. If you are interested in knowing more about your birthstone, your planetary stone and your lucky charm, take at look at Gems4Friends.

Choosing the pieces that will match your personality has it science behind if you want to believe in it. However the most important in fashion is to let your personality show and choose accessories that compliment you, that have a story and that make you unique when you wear them.

Diamonds...blessing or curse

2012-03-23T02:25:00.001-07:00

When I got engaged, I wanted what all girls want: diamonds!!! But when my husband-to-be was deciding the ring, my mother-in-law was really concerned about him buying diamonds for me. Not because she thought I was not worthy of the ring, she was rather worry about the curse of the diamonds. My husband is Indian and for Indians diamonds might cause health problems. They carefully chose stones that match the individual according to the astrological chart, hence her concern. She was very happy for us but when she saw me wearing the ring, she could not help to bring up the subject and advised of the adverse effects of diamonds. I don't believe in it. I am South American and we don't follow the astrological charts so everything was so strange for me. I guess diamonds are for Indians what pearls are for us. Pearls are considered to bring sorrow. I remember my grandma and mum always saying that pearls bring tears. Lucky -or unlucky- my husband and I do not believe in any of the above, so for my wedding band, I chose diamonds again, and for my wedding day I wore my grandmother's pearl earrings. I can say -and touch wood- I have had a great marriage and my health -discounting the yearly flu- it is pretty much fine.

All these made me wonder about what other legends exist around diamonds; what are the stories surrounded them? do we have a reason to worry?

Rama & Sita

In my search, I came across the most legendary diamond: "the Hope Diamond" Apparently this gemstone has the reputation of bringing disaster to its unlucky owners. It was named after Henry Philip Hope. The Hope was mined in India, and the 112-carat gem was brought to France in 1668. It was said that the diamond was cursed since it was stolen from the eye of a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita, wife of Rama.

The first disaster related to this diamond happened to Tavernier, who brought the gem from India to France. He was killed by wild dogs on his next trip to India after selling it to Louis XIV.

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette inherited the diamond. They died executed during the French Revolution. Wilhelm Fals, a Dutch diamond cutter, resized the diamond to its present size. He died of grief after his son, Hendrick stole the gem from him. Hendrick, in turn, committed suicide full of guilt.

Henry Hope bought the 44.5 carat diamond in 1830. The Hope was sold to an Eastern European prince, who gave it to an actress of the Folies Bergere and later shot her. It is also said that a Greek owner and his family died in an automobile accident. The Turkish sultan Abdul-Hamid II had owned the gem only a few months when an army revolt toppled him from his throne in 1909.

Course or not, the diamond seems to have unchained a series of unfortunate events, and for our own safety, currently it rests in a permanent display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. More about the Hope Diamond Story at http://mineralsciences.si.edu/collections/hope/history.htm

Gorgeous gold plated Solitario Ring - Cubic Zirconia Diamond available at www.thingsoflux.com

wearable art: beaded jewellery

2011-09-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been fascinated by embroidery art and its application to modern design jewellery. The latest catwalks have popularised and glamorised this form of jewellery that comes from the Victorian Era.

Designers such as Oscar De La Renta, Vera Wang and Chanel have produced some of my favourite pieces for 2011, making their come back for the 2012 collections. Most of these statement pieces are handmade and they do not constitute the "plus" but the centrefold of the outfit. The seed beads are sewn onto fabric backings to create broad collar neck pieces and beaded bracelets. The finish product is art to wear and collect.

Necklace designed by
Ghanaian designer Christie Brown

Beadwork is also very popular in many African cultures, and loads of tribal looks have been inspired by the way Africans stack rows of beads of different colours creating a vibrant effect. African jewellery making is an ancient tradition and is part of the Africa heritage and history. Each crafted piece represents not only artistic skills but also religious, spiritual and cultural elements. It is said to provide wisdom and health to the owner.

My Things Of Lux Collection is inspired in beads and uses embroidery techniques. The pieces are all handmade and one of a kind. Delicas, seed beads and semiprecious stones have been used to create these statement pieces. You can find the complete collection in my online store.

Things Of Lux designer collection - handmade

Nowadays, jewellery is not a privilege. You wear it because you can afford it, but also because it gives you pleasure. It is not symbol of power any more, but a symbol of success, wealth status, fashion, style, love and family history - when you get to receive or pass a family jewel.

There is a reborn in the role of accessories and jewellery. The important is that you select a piece that create the right impact to your outfit. A piece that you can dress up and dress down. A piece that dares and that makes you feel sexy yet elegant. Why not indulge yourself in something unique, handmade beaded jewellery is here to stay and mark a fashion era.

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925 Silver Obession ❤

2011-09-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

The first piece of jewellery that my mum passed onto me was a chunky ring made with an oval light blue stone and Ecuadorian silver 925. She told me that it was the first ring she bought for herself when she was single and showed me the encryption on the inside of the ring to prove it was genuine silver. I was finally old enough to wear jewellery! Unfortunately I lost it some months after. I was 15 or 16 and despite being so proud of the ring, I was also careless with it! What a regret! Mum was sad when she got to know the ring was lost.

My finger looked empty without the ring so I saved money and try to buy a similar one. I eventually bought an oval with a black stone ring - almost as chunky as mum's- and I still have it. I might pass it onto my daughter (when I have one), she might loose it too, just to keep the tradition alive!

History says that silver was discovered 4000 BC in Anatolia, better known in our modern days as Turkey. I did not know this until I looked up in the internet. For instance this picture shows ancient jewellery found in Queen Pu-abi's tomb at Ur in Sumeria (3000 BC).

One of the most popular places to buy silver crafted jewellery is Mexico and ex Inca countries (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia). It was said that more than three quarters of silver in the world were located in these countries. Today, Mexico and Peru still produce the most silver in the world. Australia comes in fourth place after China. This might explain my obsession with silver jewellery: born in South America, residing in Australia! gotta love the metal! (source The Silver Institute)

For the ones who are interesting in the healing or energetic properties of silver. It is said that silver mirrors the soul, strengthens the connection between astral and physical bodies, and enhances intuitive and psychic energies. When combines with gemstones, silver enhances the power of the stone. (extract from www.dnaalchemy.com/S_-_T_Properties_of_Stones)

Things Of Lux - Collections www.thingsoflux.com

Silver has become really fashionable and a good rival of yellow gold. There are beautiful pieces in the market ranging from bohemia and tribal to vintage styles. I personally love silver in tribal styles but lately also marcasite and silver. My husband gave me my first piece of marcasite and silver jewellery - A beautiful pair of earrings. It looks so vintage, so delicate! When I was putting the Things Of Lux collections together, I went back to what I like best: tribal and marcasite. They are all available in the online store www.thingsoflux.com

The most popular silver is sterling silver, which is actually 92.5% silver, hence silver 925. This silver is popular because it is more durable than pure silver yet still maintains its beauty. Because it is not 100% silver, the impurities tend to tarnish the jewellery in reaction with the air. Nothing to worry though! You can use silver polish cloths to keep silver looking its best. I can assure you that if you own a piece of silver 925 jewellery, you will be able to pass it to your daughter too! :-)

Bohemia flair with tribal jewellery

2011-08-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

Kate Moss photo by Fla Pessoa

When I think "bohemia" I think fairy, ethnic, cultural heritage, comfort. I think a park with green trees and lilies, or a sandy beach next to a blue sea. Inevitably my mind pictures Kate Moss, the queen of expensive bohemia. How much of her style can we incorporate in our daily lives or at least in our escapades to the shops, beach or walks to the park with a cute dog?

I was born in Ecuador, so I am Latin American background. Spanish people were in our land for several years so besides having the rich indigenous heritage, also we have Spanish traits mixed in our ways of living and designs. To make things more interesting, I married a Kenyan-Indian handsome :-) man. Inevitably, I ended up with Indian jewellery, South American silver and African beads; a small collection of tribal pieces. How much can we adapt the cultural heritage to obtain a bohemia look without falling into a sort of costume look?

How much tribal can an everyday Kate Moss take? The answer: keep it simple! one piece at the time. At least it works for me.

Find an piece of jewellery inspired on a tribal look and throw it on top of a one-color T-shirt. The T-shirt will look somehow different and your jewellery discovery will be the attraction. These pieces can also be taken to the beach for a resort look. Of course you might want to remove them if you are thinking of a serious swim or working on your tan :)

Tribal Collection

This necklace is inspired in the traditional jewellery used by the Otavalo women in the Ecuadorian highlands. It is made of coral beads and metal brass.

Traditionally the necklaces are hand made with many strings of tiny gold bead necklaces that represent grains of maize and signify the woman´s importance in the Otavalo community: "the more beads, the more status. The beads are not real gold and they became an alternative to gold jewellery after the Spanish took the gold from the Indigenous population in the time of the "Conquista". Nowadays the modern Otavalo woman carries gold plated beads with no more than 8 or 9% gold and you can see them wearing their traditional outfit in the Ecuadorian markets. You can find more pieces in the Tribal Collection at www.thingsoflux.com.

Looking effortless chic that is tribal for me!

The Magic of a Bib Necklace

2011-08-14T23:46:00.000-07:00

Oscar De La Renta Bib Necklace

I am in love with Bib Necklaces. They seem to have a life on their own. I am always surprised by how much these pieces of jewellery can change your outfit and make it look all so different. Clothes have a different face when you throw on a Bib Necklace. They are bold, gorgeous and in fashion.

The curious thing is that Bib Necklaces are new for our generation but they have been used to complete an outfit from so long ago. The Egyptians for example, adorned their outfits by wearing the collar "wesekh" or so called bib necklaces. They used them not only as a piece of jewellery but as an important part of the outfit. Usually the necklaces were the difference between power and powerless, the favourite from the pharaons.

They have been brought to life courtesy of the "catwalks" around the world early this year and have become the favourite of celebrities and designers, such as Vera Wang and Oscar De La Renta.


Things Of Lux Designer Collection 2011

Inspired by all these gorgeous pieces, Things of Lux created its own hand-made collection. The pieces depict combination of lace, embroidery and rhinestones. They are one of a kind and can be worn day or night. Who says "feeling luxurious" is only for special occasions?

They might look too much, they might really look like you have a bib covering your clothes; but when you wear them, they simply compliment you. This supersize necklace is the must have piece of jewellery for the seasons to come... and they might get you that extra attention when you need it the most.