Mysterious Pearls and Magical Moonstones
Mysterious Pearls
June birthdays are especially lucky! They not only get one amazing gemstone to celebrate their special month, but 2 incredible gems!
Pearls are some of my favorite gemstones! They come in such a wide array of colors, sizes and shapes! Their luster beats no other! Pearls have been revered for centuries as an adornment and are one of the best loved gems of all time. From Marie Antoinette’s famous Baroque pearl necklace (which recently sold at auction for an incredible $32 million and dates back to the 18th Century!!!), to several American First Ladies (Jackie Kennedy, Barbara Bush to name a few), were all known for their amazing pearls. It just goes to show that pearls have been revered and adored throughout the centuries!
Did you know that pearls come in a variety of colors? The palette of pearl colors extends to every hue from bright white pearls to deep, rich black pearls and everything in-between. Pearls derive their color from the color of the inside of the shell of the oyster. The outside body of the pearl is called “nacre” and it’s the protective coating that the oyster produces to protect itself from a foreign body that enters the shell. Pearls are one of the few “organic” gems. Meaning that they are derived from an animal, not a rock.
The nacre that covers a pearl is delicate, so care must be taken when cleaning and wearing pearls. Avoid ultrasonic machines and harsh cleaners. No abrasives!!!! A soft cloth and a little soap and water will work just fine to keep your pearls shiny!
Magical Moonstones
Many cultures associate the gem Moonstone with moonlight, and it’s easy to see why. The gem is reminiscent of the moon with its white milky color and the way the light scatters through the gemstone. Legends say moonstones bring good luck and that if you hold a moonstone in your mouth during a full moon, you will be able to see the future. I’ve never tried this…but hey…why not?
Moonstones are a hardy stone and are great for most jewelry. They hold up to normal wear well but can be prone to breaking along natural fracture lines in the stone, so care should be taken not to bang them up against a hard surface.
Moonstones have an effect within the stone called “Adularescence”. When light falls into the stone, the thin, flat layers scatter the light in many directions, causing an effect of motion within the stone. Adularescence causes the light to give a glowing appearance within the stone. (You can see the glow at the bottom of the moonstone in the pendant above).
When caring for your moonstone jewelry, warm, soapy water is always safe and best. Mild cleaners should be okay. Because of the many layers that comprise the stone, it’s best to avoid ultrasonics.
British Elle and Harper's Bazaar
The past two months, I’ve been honored to have my work featured in both British Elle and British Harper’s Bazaar! I still pinch myself that the jewelry I make has made it’s way into such world class publications!!!
The edition of British Elle is now appearing on US newsstands, while the Harper’s Bazaar issues will be in US newsstands beginning in August. You should be able to find them at most retailers that sell these issues.
I want to thank everyone for all of your love and support of my jewelry! It means the world!! I can’t wait to see where we will be “seen” next!!
Looking Great for Your Next Virtual Meeting
Lately, I’ve had to attend a few more virtual meetings than I have in the past, and as COVID-19 is still here and still a part of our lives, I suspect virtual meetings will become a more normal way of doing business.
So, how do you dress and accessorize for your virtual meeting where you still want to look professional but yet, have a casual comfortable appearance?
The one thing I’ve noticed in particular when it comes to doing meetings online, is that our face and torso are front and center. Because of this, color, lighting and background are very important.
The type of call is also really important. Is this an interview for a new career or position? Board meeting for your favorite interest group? Meeting with your boss or business colleagues? All of these things are considerations when picking out what to wear for that next video call.
Here are a few things that I’ve noticed on my video chats that may help you standout and look your best on your next video chat.
Lighting is very important. Too dark, and you look hidden and unengaged. Too light, and you look washed out and pale. Most of the meetings I’ve attended where the lighting is too dark, it makes the participant appear uninterested or not engaged in the meeting. Too light, and the participant appears washed out and maybe a little sickly. It’s a subtle factor in how you appear to show up to your meeting.
I recently learned, that the best lighting is placed in front of you. For photographs, think standing in the doorway with the sun shining on you (not so bright that you squint), and you want to apply that same concept to your video meetings. For a reasonable fee, there are round LED lights that are perfect for this! Here is a great article on lighting for videos: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-led-video-light/. Natural lighting is definitely the best, but that is not always available.
Dressing for your virtual meeting is also really important, as it will convey the right message you are trying to send.
Pick out a color that is complementary to your background, and also flattering with your skin tone. For me, black is a great choice because my background is yellow and the black color usually absorbs some of the background color without making my skin tone appear too yellow. White makes me look too washed out. Dark navy is another one of my favorites, but go with what colors look best for you. If the meeting is a formal one, dress as if you were attending the meeting in person. That means a business suit, nice blouse or shirt, tie, etc.
For accessories, I’ve noticed that statement earrings are great because they bring attention up to your face and the eyes of the viewer in line with your eyes. You will notice that a lot of newscasters and talk show hosts wear bolder earrings during their interviews.
These beautiful handmade sterling silver hoop earrings are a great choice, because they are bold, light and easy to wear, but make a subtle statement:
A short statement necklace is also great, because it also brings the eyes of the viewer to the center of your face and neck. I would avoid anything too long, as it brings the focus down towards the end of the necklace and towards the bottom of the screen, which takes the focus away from you, and places it down below.
Do you use your hands a lot when you talk or for emphasis? Then think about a nice statement ring that will show up on video. The idea is to have your jewelry help enhance your virtual image, not detract from it.
Colorful jewelry is also great. Brightly colored gemstones such as turquoise, amazonite, amethyst, carnelian, to name a few, and bold statement pieces in silver or gold are great attention grabbers.
The idea is to look put together, confident, and your best!
Now go rock that next meeting!!!
All the best!
Chrissi
Pearls, the gem of the sea.
The sea evokes a sense of mystery and beauty. it’s calming waters can be stormy at times and provides a sense of passion and wonder to it’s observers. I miss the sea. The sound of the waves crashing in a steady rhythm, lulling one to sleep or to a sense of calm. Hopefully, soon, we can travel back to the ocean’s waters and enjoy the beaches again soon.
Pearls are the gemstone for the month of June. Pearls are one of the only gems that make their origin from the sea. Mother-of-pearl is the other one, and is usually gathered from the same shells we collect pearls from. The beautiful colors of the mother-of-pearl shells are the influence for the color of the pearl.
Pearls are one of a handful of gems that are organic in nature, meaning that they originate from a live organism, rather than inorganic, such as coming from not alive, such as rocks.
Pearls have a fascinating history. They were well regarded for their beauty, and valued much higher than diamonds for many, many years. Marie Antoinette’s famous baroque pearl earrings, recently came up for auction. They are large baroque pearls, and highly unusual and definitely beautiful! I suggest googling them to take a look!
We have a lot of pearl jewelry to choose from in our collections. Pearls have always been one of my favorite gems. They always seem to have a quiet beauty about them to me. They don’t sparkle as much as other gems, but have a rich color and depth of tone that draws you in. The range of colors is also fascinating. I love the dark pearls as much as the bright white. They all have beauty.
Because pearls are a natural gem and are created from the nacre of the mollusk, they do require some considerations when it comes to their wear and care. Pearls are not well suited for rings or bracelets unless the stone is well protected in the setting, such as a bezel setting. They are most ideally suited for necklace, earring and brooches. When it comes to cleaning your pearl jewelry, avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners as well. When storing your pearl jewelry, it is best to keep it in a soft cloth bag, away from other jewelry, especially diamonds, or harder gemstones, as they can be damaged when they make contact with those other gems.
All the best!
Chrissi