Thanks for visiting Diana’s blog. Here’s where we share all sorts of fun things for fervent jewelry fans (otherwise known as aficionados) –trends, interesting gemstones (ever seen a Burma Ruby?), how to care for fine jewelry and lots more.
The Year of You: 2021
We are all accustomed to reading reviews of products and businesses, the arts, politics, real estate, and anything else we might be consuming physically or emotionally. As a society, we care so fervently about events and things outside ourselves, but how often do we turn to those we love and
The Love Behind Heirloom Renewal
Clients bringing heirloom pieces for renewal always tell the story behind the piece. We talk about possibilities for design and then we settle in to talk about the former owners…mother, grandmother, aunt, father, best friend… We talk about who they were in the scope of your life and in doing
Layering Part 2: Distinctive, Comfortable, Creative
I last wrote to you about layering your jewelry and promised you some concrete advice. Just to remind you, I told you that: “We want to be distinctive, comfortable, and creative. We want our style to be easy and a la mode without being too crazy. We want it to
Reflections on Fabergé
IFrom 1885 to 1917, the House of Fabergé made jeweled eggs for the Russian Tsars, who gave them to their families as Easter gifts. Each exquisite, painstakingly detailed egg opened to reveal a surprise: a functioning watch, perhaps, or a little elephant automaton that walked on its own, or an
Mixing and Matching…or just Matching
We’ve had so many conversations about whether something is “right” to wear with something else of a different color or texture. Are drop earrings too dressy? How many layering necklaces are “too much?” How many bracelets can I/ should I wear at once? Many of you tell me about Coco
Opal Sees the Light of Day: Renew, Redesign, Revive
Hello to all of you and happy summer. Here is another recent redesign project from a client who had never worn the original opal ring, which was gifted by a loving grandfather many years ago. She didn’t care for the filigree cocktail style that was popular in the ’60s-’70s and
Colors of Summer
You can probably tell that I’m in a sapphire kind of mood these days, particularly exploring the subtleties of multicolored single gems. I’m buying gems from Burma, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Montana and combining them as they speak to me. Admittedly, the Burmese stones usually end up surrounded by diamonds, as
The End is Just a Beginning: Jewelry and Divorce
Jewelry is so very personal and distinct in its value to us as both a beautiful object and a symbol of an intimate moment, whether our husbands or wives gifted it for a special occasion or it’s something we bought ourselves “just because.” Many of my clients who are getting
Sample Appraisal Report: Do You know What You Have?
Since some of you don’t know what an appraisal report looks like, I thought it would be helpful if I showed you a few examples. Shown here is part of a report I am doing for a Client who has a vast jewelry collection, including many antique pieces. In this
A Burmese Sapphire to Celebrate a Long and Happy Marriage
This six-carat, Royal Blue oval landed between two high white diamond baguettes in a platinum ring. This ring marks 45 years of love and laughter between two extraordinary people who have traveled the world together and been through thick and thin. I can’t wait to get pictures of this ring’s
A Long Love Gets Renewed
This client brought a series of rings to me for redesign. On the left, her old wedding band, a cathedral-style, white gold piece set with diamonds. Looking for something more artful and updated, we decided that the Curvy band would be a perfect fit for her busy hands. Lucky for
Jewelry Sizing
Since so many of you always ask, here is a guide on jewelry sizing, for necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Chains and Necklaces This photo shows a scale chart for necklace lengths from choker to opera. Most standard necklace lengths fall between 16” and 18” because that’s where the neckline for
Who Are You?
I thought I’d take time to reflect on the people who are my clients… Each one of you is really special and working with you on personal treasures is a privilege. You are all in good company and would really like one another. Pre-Covid, I have had gatherings at my
History of Engagement Rings Part 2: 1300’s to the 1800’s
In 1215, the Pope Innocent lll declared that marriage intentions must be made public in advance. And that there must be a waiting period before the marriage ceremony. This single declaration likely caused the tradition of engagement rings to blossom and become a cultural “necessity.” Around this time, the Roman
Inner World: Life Inside a Gemstone
In my last newsletter, I wrote about Burmese sapphires and their legendary beauty. I’ve created a new series called “Inner World” so that you can see what makes these stones so special. Most Burmese are not heat treated and this letter explains what goes on inside a stone when it
Multi-Color Sapphire Pendant
This two-carat multi-color sapphire has all the colors of the forest in the afternoon… rich green golden highlights and a touch of blue. Surround by a crown of champagne and canary yellow diamonds and set in 18KT yellow gold on a 16″-18″ adjustable chain. One of a kind. Wear it
Tutti Frutti Bracelet
Sometimes in a designer’s life, she throws caution to the winds and makes a piece that is rich, luxurious, and singular. This Tutti Frutti bracelet is a delicate yet substantial one of a kind. Loaded with sapphires, rubies, colored diamonds, and green garnet, it’s a gazers delight. Pair it with
Custom Happy Birthday
A sapphire carousel of purples, blues, and violets… This ring was created by a very loving husband and daughter for a special birthday. The owner loves pieces she can wear all the time and her favorite color is purple, so now she has a ring that turns to reveal different
Inner World: Sapphire Fingerprints
Fingerprints. The inclusions with a descriptive, poetic name, are common in Corundum (sapphires and rubies.) They resemble pieces and parts of a human fingerprint and float inside the stone. Fingerprints are actually fluid-filled inclusions or natural internal healing patterns from the crystal’s growth. When sapphires are heat-treated, much of the
Cluster Necklace
Some people just love color. It makes them buoyant. They are unafraid to wear it and when they do, they just feel “right.” Cue the autumn color palette: butterscotch, pumpkin, wine red, deep yellow, bright green… In the front pendant, we combined cinnamon color garnets with diamonds from an old
Ruby Custom Piece
As you all know, I love rubies and sapphires (they are the same mineral but differently colored) because they are beautiful, rare, AND durable. So it should come as no surprise that when I saw this 2-carat, glowing ruby from Tajikistan , I had to have it for my client.
North by Northwest
This before and after photo collage shows what we can do with a well-loved engagement set when the owner wants to wear it differently. We designed a compass so she can always find her True North. Heirloom renewal is one of our favorite things to do.
Burmese Sapphires and Rubies: Political and Market Updates
One of the benefits of online business is developing relationships with good people from all over the globe. This allows me to bring you rare and nearly unobtainable gems at very advantageous prices. I’ve studied gemology and obtained by Graduate Gemologist certification in order to serve my clients from a
The History of Engagement Rings
When we get a piece of jewelry, we naturally focus on our own reason for the acquisition. Is it a birthday or anniversary? A gift to self after a tough slog at work? We rarely think about the fact that we are part of a long line of humans who