Gem Gossip

Paris Hotel Boutique's Love for Antique Ring Boxes

gemgossip — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 01:54:37 +0000

I loved reading "Sorry, Box Not Included" over at Paris Hotel Boutique's blog where shop-owner Lynn declares her love for antique ring boxes. And she's right--their rareness and story-telling capabilities are definitely captivating. Her collection is below! I've also added my favorite from my personal collection of antique jewelry boxes. It has gilded legs with faux pearls. I found it at an antique shop in Nashville.

Q & A with Jewelry Designer Arik Kastan

gemgossip — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:43:18 +0000

Arik Kastan Rose Gold Jewelry is a line that I've loved from the very beginning! The designs resurrect the breathtaking craftsmanship and motifs of antique jewelry in today's modern world. And the timing couldn't have been better--with antique jewelry becoming popular as ever, and rose gold ranking as a huge trend. I caught up with Creative Director, Tamar, and got to ask her some questions. To the left is the designer himself, Arik Kastan!

Currently, we are working on some amazing Victorian inspired statement bangles, new marquise rings, and expanding our collection of floral cluster earrings.

Our most popular pieces are our classic three stone ring, our double-sided vintage padlock, and our rose cut diamond pave rings. Recently, far and away the biggest seller has been our stacking rings, which really epitomize the mix of vintage and modern that our line is all about.

One of the greatest things has been to see the strong response to our jewelry from a number of established jewelry designers who have bought our jewelry, both as buyers for their own boutiques, and for their own personal collections. I think that says a lot about the fresh aesthetic of the collection.

We are excited to soon ship our first order to Ikram in Chicago. We are also going to be introducing a collection of pieces in 18k yellow gold. We have been perfecting the color of the yellow gold and are in the process of pairing the right stones with the pieces.

As far as hopes and dreams, I can only hope that we can have continued success so we can keep expanding our collection. We’d also like to do more custom one-of-kind pieces. We are growing organically, and taking things one step at a time.

Right now, if I had to pick one, my favorite is our vintage watch chain necklace, which I wear day to day. Outside the Arik Kastan collection, it would be my vintage belt buckle bangle.

Skinner to Auction Some Stunning Fine Jewelry

gemgossip — Thu, 31 May 2012 03:07:47 +0000

I love looking through auction catalogs of upcoming sales--Skinner has an auction on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 and it seems like they have some really neat pieces going up on the block. The auction is being held at their Boston gallery and will feature over 550 lots of fine jewelry, including diamonds, natural pearls, colored stones and signed pieces by makers such as Buccellati, David Webb, Angela Cummings, Cartier, Schlumberger, and Van Cleef & Arpels. I've chosen the pieces I've got my eye on!

>> Click here for more details about each lot.

Summer Anticipation Inspiration Board

gemgossip — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:49:18 +0000

{from top to bottom:

love the bright colors and ring combination--Cartier trinity, monogram, big engagement ring & bands

Lucie Campbell diamond bow earrings #summerfavorite

Kanye West is wearing a cameo. Cameos are officially back in style.

Scosha adult friendship bracelets, the best bracelets for summertime

Solange Knowles wearing Lady Grey and Jennifer Fisher jewels at the 2012 Met Gala

love this tutti-fruiti antique ring, esp the unconventional gemstone cuts from Lang Antiques

Mary-Kate & Ashley's CFDA Awards portrait; awesome jewelry, interesting necklace combo

I WANT Ileana Makri's double finger snake ring

Posted this photo on Gem Gossip Facebook page; ended up getting the bow ring because you said so!}

Vintage Jewels: Piano Playing Combo

gemgossip — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:59:21 +0000

This shot taken from a 1930s film called Always Goodbye is a great example of Art Deco jewelry. Actress Elissa Landi poses at a piano wearing diamond and pearl stud earrings, a multiple strand pearl necklace, along with a couple of bracelets, including a 5-strand pearl bracelet with gemstone clasp. The synopsis of the film declares that the movie is about a girlfriend of a gentleman crook who falls in love with a diamond merchant. Makes me want to see the movie even more. These antique jewels from Dover Jewelry will give you a similar look--check them out!

Diamond bezel earclips with pearls hanging below--more specifically South Sea pearls! Each pearl is approximately 10mm hanging from 18k gold bezel diamonds that are 0.40 carats each. Priced at $1699 from Dover Jewelry.

This gorgeous double-strand choker from the 1920s has the most beautiful clasp--set with a 1.25 carat Old European cut diamond! Such a pretty piece alone, the clasp really outdoes itself! Priced at $5999 from Dover Jewelry.

Platinum diamond and sapphire bracelet with approximately eight carats of diamonds which are all Old European cut. The motif on this bracelet looks very similar to the pearl bracelet clasp in the picture. This bracelet is $13499 from Dover Jewelry.

Rose cut diamonds accentuate this Edwardian bracelet, dating it back to turn of the century! Pearls line the bracelet all set in 18k yellow gold and silver. Priced at $11999 from Dover Jewelry.

Obsession: Gregio Charm Rings

gemgossip — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:18:33 +0000

Love getting insights from other jewelry lovers--this one comes from Suzanne who wrote to me and wanted me to check out Gregio. She thought I would like these charm rings, and she was right! I love the cross one the best; each is done in 14k gold with black diamonds. Gregio is a jewelry company based in Greece that started in the 1970s. There designs have evolved and so has their reach--being sold worldwide! Love them!

Preview JCK Show 2012

gemgossip — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:50:21 +0000

So incredibly disappointed I won't be able to attend the JCK Vegas Show this year. I will have to reminisce about last year I guess. The lookbook that was put together to highlight some of the exhibitors is dripping with jewels--so many up-and-coming designers to look forward to! I've picked out my favorites above and would've loved to have seen these designs in person. However, their websites will have to suffice!

Khushboo Lakhi

Alberian & Aulde

Amali Jewelry

Vianna Brasil

Margery Hirschey

YNY Jewels

Q & A with Jewelry Designer Ray Griffiths

gemgossip — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:01:21 +0000

Ray Griffiths' Australian roots translate extremely well into jewelry--the prettiest diamonds, opals and sapphires come from the sunny gem mines of Australia--and so do the prettiest jewelry designs. Ray's techniques involve intricate "crownwork" that sort of mimic crown molding in a house--it finishes it off and looks exquisite.

I also admire his love for antiquity, which you can see throughout his work.

I got a chance to catch up with the designer and get some interesting questions answered:

I am really enjoying developing our pendants and charms. I have always loved a big glamorous charm bracelet and am expanding the charm line.

I bought some really beautiful agate drops at the gem show in Tucson – crème brulee, guava and mint agate. I am currently working on some really great earrings to make these stones pop and frame them in my crown work.

I also love working with my private customers of custom pieces, I have a particularly juicy 5ct yellow diamond that I am working on right now. It's going to be quite a rock when I am done!

Earrings are the best seller for us but there is a particular necklace that I just cannot keep in stock. Its a triple wrap with 18ct Yellow Gold crown work clover leafs strung with black tourmaline, pearl, chrysoprase or turquoise. It can we worn long, doubled or tripled, and is designed so the clover leafs line up however you wear it. It's one of those great jewels that you can wear with jeans or a t-shirt or to a black tie event depending on how you style it.

Growing my business and brand in New York. I had a very successful career in Australia and giving that up to start over was not easy. Many years of hard work and sacrifice followed my move to Manhattan but realizing my vision for my own line of fine jewelry was worth it. Moving the company to our beautiful showroom on 5th avenue last year was a defining moment for me and the business.

I want to continue to grow the brand in the US and eventually abroad. I am developing a new cabochon line that I hope to be fully realised by next year. I would also love to see my jewels at the Oscars and in the pages of Vogue!

I am very much a jewelry wearer, it's why my own designs are so comfortable. I have about 6 signet rings that I have made over the years, I kinda like them all equally and I never leave the house without a ring on !!

That would be like forgetting to put pants on !

SHOW ME YOUR RINGS! XXII

gemgossip — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:46:17 +0000

{from top to bottom:

reader Erin with some of her rings she has featured on her Etsy shop Erin Antiques

Twitter-er Nicole who tweeted this photo of her mom wearing all her gorgeous rings

Loved when MK&A used to block their faces from the papprazzi, they would show us their rings

newly discovered jewelry designer from Japan, Hirotaka

jewelry editor of InStyle, Marion Fasel, wearing Bess, Carolyn Ellen and Kathy Rose at Roseark

model Jess Gold of Oyster Magazine wearing some awesome rings

reader Izzy and her collection of pretty diamond rings with lots of dangles

designer Atelier Minyon showing off some of their designs

my friend Emily who I met at GIA wearing a bunch of rings where she works}

LIKE Gem Gossip on Facebook

gemgossip — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:29:14 +0000

Gem Gossip has finally caved and started a page on Facebook. We've held out this long because we felt there wasn't a need to have another outlet which just reiterates what is on our blog--so our Facebook page has a separate focus. The page is dedicated to the upcoming jewelry line as well as the SHOW ME YOUR RINGS project. We want our fans and readers to post their ring pictures, share jewelry designers they love, and leave comments/suggestions. See you over on Facebook!

The above photo is a glimpse into the past, what Gem Gossip looked like back in 2008 when we first launched!