Jewelry & Watch News

Earlier this summer, we talked about “high jewelry.” For a refresher, read that post here. We also delved into some of the iconic designers and facts about America’s own Tiffany & Co. As we continue our exploration into iconic jewelry designers and brands, the next stop is literally a trip around the world—to Paris, Italy, Asia, and the United States. JAR, Paris The most exclusive of iconic jewelers (arguably ever!) is Joel Arthur Rosenthal, reverently known as JAR. Though born in Brooklyn, the 76-year-old JAR settled in Paris years ago and is not only exclusive, he’s notoriously reclusive. Jewelry experts agree he is the number-one contemporary jewelry artist that defines modern high jewelry, and most will refer to him as today’s equivalent of the great Peter Carl Fabergé. Not that JAR’s works look like Fabergé’s, but his level of talent and his influence are to contemporary high jewelry what Fabergé’s were to his time. JAR refuses to be interviewed, doesn’

  Marne Ryan enjoys working with couples and admits to being a “mushball” where weddings are concerned. Long before she became known for her distinctive fused-metal art jewelry, wedding rings were her bread and butter. Thirty years later, they still make up about 60 percent of her work. Ryan is finding more customers asking for raw diamonds. “The biggest change in recent years is in social awareness,” she says. “People want to know where the material comes from.” That means metal as well as stones. Like most jewelers, Ryan recycles whatever she can, including 95 percent of the metal she uses. A good portion of that metal comes from the customers themselves. Providing unwanted jewelry for her to melt down cuts their costs substantially without costing Ryan much profit. With gold up to $1,000 an ounce, many couples can no longer afford the rings they want unless they do this. “We’re dealing with a commodity that used to be very stable in value and is not now,

Have you ever wondered what your choice of jewelry says about you? While personality is a highly complex issue, jewelry is a tool that you can use to make a statement to others about who you are. If you take a moment to think about what jewelry says about the people you know as well as those you meet for the first time or see on the street, you can start to understand what your own jewelry says about you. In this guide, we’ll explore jewelry personality types. Fun Costume Jewelry If you enjoy wearing big hoop earrings, statement necklaces, or extravagant cocktail rings with colorful lab-created gems, then it’s quite likely that you are the life of the party. Your personality is very likely to be cheerful and you are probably bubbly and outgoing. People like you because you’re so much fun. Color-Coordinated Jewelry The color-coordinated jewelry trend is nothing new. When it comes to personality, jewelry that comes in matched sets typically appeals to people

Did Princess Diana have a will? It’s one of the most commonly asked questions concerning the beloved Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in August of 1997 at the young age of 36. The short answer is “yes.” Below we explore who were its beneficiaries, the value of her estate, what happened to her wedding dress, and more… Princess Diana’s Will & Testament: Who were the beneficiaries? Princess Diana’s will named several beneficiaries, with the chief heirs being Prince William and Prince Harry. The will also named Princess Diana’s beloved butler, Paul Burrell as a beneficiary. Her 17 godchildren were also named as beneficiaries. Princess Diana’s mother, The Honourable Frances Ruth Shand Kydd, and her sister, The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia McCorquodale, were the will’s executors and trustees. What was the value of Princess Diana’s Estate? According to an appendix to Princess Diana’s Will by The High Court of Justice, the gross value of her estate was £21,711

Just like smart watches, smart jewelry is sleek and sophisticated, yet practical – and many pieces offer go-with-everything appeal. Thanks to an appealing combination of beauty, versatility, and functionality, more and more options are making their way into the marketplace. Here, we take a look at some of the most popular options with an eye toward helping you decide which is the best smart jewelry design for your unique needs. Tory Burch for Fitbit Track activity in style with beautiful cuff smart jewelry from top designer Tory Burch. A range of gorgeous designs in popular colors and gleaming metallic lets you keep on top of your game, ensure you get plenty of sleep and remember to get up and move when you’ve been parked behind your desk for too long. Like many other Fitbit accessories, Tory Burch smart jewelry sends reminders when you need them most. Motiv An alternative to the more run-of-the-mill fitness trackers, Motiv offers all of the aspects you’re loo

No matter how long your marriage lasted, the engagement ring – a symbol of hope for a lifetime of love – can remain sentimental for many of us. Or at the least, a symbol of dreams died and thwarted, which can make looking at the once lauded thing itself a little painful. Needless to say, a lot of women probably hide that ring in a drawer, way out of sight, once a marriage has gone sour simply out of negative, bad feelings attached to their ex’s. How could something that once made you smile from ear to ear, make you hurl, cry or huff in anger and pain? So, other than hanging out on a nightstand with other memories that you’d rather forget, what does someone even do with an old wedding ring after the marriage ends and the “I do” turns into an “I don’t?” Here’s a look at what you can do with that formerly dazzling engagement ring both during and after a divorce, plus we’ll cover some engagement ring etiquette for a divorce or broken engagement. Make the ring bring

Double Pearl Earrings When you think of pearl earrings, it may evoke the vision of an outdated trend that your grandmother would wear. Now, it’s possible to bring this jewelry piece back while looking as chic as ever, with double pearl earrings. This look merges classic elegance with a modern feel that both celebrities and fashionistas everywhere are taking advantage of. Double pearl earrings are versatile and can be worn with a fancy cocktail dress, or rocked with a leather jacket and dark denim to mix up a casual ensemble. You don’t have to be a star to pull off this look. Mix It Up With Your Double Pearl Earrings Not all double pearl earrings have to look the same. You can wear the classic white pearl, or a number of amazing different colored options.  Depending on how much of a statement you want to make or the outfit you’re looking to pair them with, there are a lot of options. At Love & Pieces, we have a wide selection, with the Meridian Avenue double pe

  Chunky Chain Necklaces Finding an everyday necklace to wear that isn’t too plain can be a daunting fashion choice. While simple pieces can work with most outfits, they often go unnoticed. This week, we’ll explore the trend of chunky chain necklaces, which are an ideal choice for spicing up any ensemble. Whether you tend to wear silver or gold jewelry, a chunky chain can call attention to what you’re wearing without being too boring or too overstated. Chunky Chain Necklaces: The New Statement Piece Many women may feel intimidated by bold, colorful statement necklaces, but still want a bigger piece to wear with different outfits. If you’re apprehensive about bright tones or funky patterned necklaces, chunky chain necklaces can be a suitable alternative. Without being too flashy, chunky chains make a statement. Pairing a crisp gold chunky chain necklace with a white button down top and leather jeans is a perfect fall outfit that appears stylishly simple. You may b

It can be a bit unsettling when Facebook recognizes the people in your photos and makes tag suggestions. It’s as if no one can escape the social media platform’s knowing eye. But Ewa Nowak, co-founder of the industrial design firm NOMA, might have a way to fly under the radar, Fast Company reports. A concept she describes as “face jewelry” includes “two brass circles that hang down from the cheekbones and an additional long piece of brass that stretches up the forehead,” according to Fast Company. You wear it from your ears like eyeglasses. The jewelry managed to  confound Facebook’s algorithms when Nowak uploaded photos to a gallery on the site. For now, Nowak views the design as art rather than a product. In fact, the work, which recently earned the Mazda Design Award at the Łódź Design Festival, can be thought of as a statement. Nowak, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland, submitted the face jewelry for an exhibition at the national museum

Jewellery or Jewelry, which way is correct? In a strange and interesting way they both are. This is due to geography and local differences. Ever wonder where words come from? Are you curious about what is wrong or right when you see Jewellery or Jewelry? The origin of both these words come from the word Jewel. Let’s take a look at the geography of Jewelry and Jewellery. Is Jewellery Right? Jewellery comes from the word Jewel. Jewellery, spelled in this way, is mainly used in Australia and the United Kingdom. The word Jewellery is also often seen in Canada although both versions are used there as well. But why is this so, and how did it become? Jewel is the root word and anglicized from the French word Jouel. Similar to many other words, when converted from other languages, the spelling differed across different countries. You can see similar words like “favourite” or “finalise” or “practicing” from our interview with Amber Sceats from Australia. All of these wo

What is a Palladium Jewelry Palladium Jewelry has been gaining popularity among jewelry designers for quite some time now. It is also a popular choice for people who are looking for a jewelry that is similar to a platinum, but more affordable. Before you go out and buy a palladium piece for yourself, read this first to learn more about palladium jewelry. What is Palladium? Palladium is a rare and lustrous metal that is part of the platinum metal group. Together with iridium, osmium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium, they are also known as the “Noble Metals”. Discovered by William Hyde Wollaston in 1803, it was said to be named after the asteroid Pallas. Palladium has the same silvery-white tone, purity, and luster as a platinum, but it is less dense which makes this metal more affordable. It can be found in Africa, Australia, Canada, South and North America. Reasons to get Palladium Jewelry It is hypoallergenic. People who have sensitive skin and are prone to