Maire Loughran's Blog

Posted by Maire Loughran

I went to see National Treasure: Book of Secrets this past holiday weekend and wanted to give you some info on the fantastic necklaces Helen Mirren wore in this movie. She wore two necklaces that were in the same type of style.

The necklaces were what is referred to as ‘heishe’ style. Over the years heishe has kind of become the generic name for necklaces strung with square cut beads. However, a real heishe necklace is one that is made from hand-drilled shell or stone beads by the USA Santo Domingo Indians.

The first necklace she wore was made from white beads – probably oyster shells – with what appeared to be a carved shell or stone fetish. The second necklace she wore, towards the end of the movie, appeared to be made from multiple strands of red coral.

Both these necklaces are faithful, authentic representations of the ‘heishe’ style. And, what is a fetish? Well, when speaking in terms of jewelry – a fetish is an object that is thought to have special powers – like a good luck charm.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I am in the process of writing an article about Swarovski crystals and jewelry. I'm familar with the brand but I've never had the opportunity to visit one of their retail shops.

A visit was made to a good sized Swarovski retail shop located at the Millenia Mall in Orlando, FL. The mall is a mess parking and traffic wise. Orlando drivers are possible the rudest drivers I have ever encounter. Yes, yes I know there are alot of tourist driving in Orlando. However, it is quite easy to look at a Florida tag and tell the difference between a rental/lease and a resident vehicle.

To limit your time fighting the traffic circling the mall - the Swarovski shop is located on the first floor quite close to The Cheescake Factory and Brio's Tuscan Grille (which are easily visible from the parking lot).

Once I got inside the store the entire experience was a pleasure. Customer service was stellar and the set up of the shop was very shopper friendly and well laid out. Less expensive pieces of jewelry are set up on display racks so you can freely browse. More expensive pieces of jewelry are in cases.

I purchased a gorgeous pair of $40 earrings. The customer service I received was commensurate with the purchase of a $100,000 designer diamond necklace at Cartier.

A second trip was made to the shop a few days later. This mall is the closest to the Orlando attractions and on this trip the shop was full of tourists. However, even though the sales personnel had their hands full with existing customers I was still greeted in a pleasant, friendly fashion.

First class costume jewelry and customer service - I highly recommend this shop should you live in the Orlando area or be visiting for business or pleasure.

Posted by Maire Loughran

A couple of months ago I wrote an article that presented non-traditional ways to transport jewelry in your carry-on bag during airline travel. Here are two more traditional choices that are stylish and adaptable to any type of travel from bike to airplane.

Pottery Barn:

Very cute cotton velvet with channel stitching on the outside. It is lined with cotton and plastic on the inside. It comes in white or red. Closure - snaps then ties wtih cotton straps. Monograming is also available. Item #86-9572363. Cost: $19.

Red Envelope:

Stylish elegant light blue leather carrying case. This case has nickel-plated hardware and measures, in inches, 11 x 4 x 3. This size may be a stretch to fit into a carry-on bag for a plane ride, depends on the size of your carry-on, but it is a totally elegant approach to storing and transporting jewelry under other circumstances. Item#201814. Cost:$48.

Posted by Maire Loughran

The third and final article giving instructions to make the 2007 Suite Holiday Jewelry project will be published on November 24th.

I have to give you a small bit of advise. If you are happy with the way the pendant looks after being set in the dapping block, really think hard about creating the dimple. The dimple is cool but I don't want you to ruin your pendant trying to set the dimple when the basic and medium skill pendants look great on their own.

Also, if you are running out of time, just hang the pendant on a precious metal chain.

Going with the cord and terminators - Here is the link to the page at FireMountain Gems for the terminators. While you are at FireMountain Gems check out the clasp selection too, as you will need one if you plan on using terminators to finish your cord.

Another suggestion - I found some Beadalon brand EZ-Crimp Hook and Eyes in the shop. If you can find some of these, you can just glue the cord into each end and you will be done. I can not remember where I got them - probably Pearl's, Michael's or Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA readers!

Posted by Maire Loughran

The first two articles on how to make this year's holiday jewelry project have been posted.

• Basic Beginner Level
• Medium Skill Level

The third article in the series will give advance directions and also your directions to finish the black cord.

To hang the pendant, you can also use a sterling silver or gold filled chain. Using a precious metal chain will eliminate the need to fabricate the terminators.

Going with the black cord? Ok - where to buy: I checked out my local WalMart. If you do have have access to a WalMart, I am sure these very same selections are available in your local craft store. You can also browse the leather end piece section and the cord and cord tip selection at FIreMountain Gems.

In WalMart's craft department there were two possible cords:

1. 1mm black leather cord
2. Black hemp cord (not labeled but appears to be 1mm)

I had some 1mm and 2mm terminators in the shop. I created a point on the hemp cord by cutting it at an angle with a pair of scissors and the hemp fit into the 1mm terminator ideally. The 1mm was too small, and the 2mm was too big for the leather cord. So, if using the leather cord you will need 1.5mm terminators.

I will be researching and posting info on where to buy the terminators in the next couple of days. The use of a clasp will also be necessary with the terminators.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I've ordered the supplies for this year's project.. The picture of the project pendant is shown at this article.

The instructions start on this page. The instructions will be (a)simple and easy to (b)medium skills to (c)advanced skills. If you have a nail and hammer you can do the simple and easy version. The medium version will require a dappling block and the advanced version involves other jewelry making tools.

The sterling silver used to make the pendant is ordered from Rio Grande. You will need to set up a customer account at Rio Grande - follow the instructions given on the main page of the website.

I ordered the following:

• Item #689433 - .75 inch diameter disc. I practiced with this size. It is small - best used as an earring.
• Item #696964 - 1.25 inches in diameter disc. Comes 2 to a pack. This size makes a lovely mid-sized pendant. This is the size I used for the instructional article.
• Item #696968 - 1.34 inch in diameter Argentium sterling silver disc. This is a large disc, what I refer to as 'tribal' size. Make sure that if you use this size it will look appropriate for the outfit or person for whom you are making it.

Don't want to order from Rio Grande? Try these vendors instead:

16mm sterling silver disc drop (about 5/8 of an inch in diameter) from FireMountain Gems and Beads. Can make earrings or a delicate pendant from this size.

Metallferous - check out item #SSF537. This is a 22mm (about 1 inch in diamter) disc. Good, small to medium pendant size.

Also, check out item #SBZ252. This disc is 41.3mm (about 1.5 inches in diameter) and will substitute nicely for the Rio Grande disc item #696964.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Get a head start on your holiday shopping. Lucky Magazine has a few really good deals for the month of November 2007 in the Lucky Breaks section of their magazine and website.

First up - Lucky is giving away an Ema Takahashi gold plated, peony shaped pendant and necklace. Ten lucky winners will receive this piece of jewelry valued at $120. Enter and view rules.

Discounted Deals:

One of my favorite stores when I lived in Charleston, SC, Hampden Clothing, is deeply discounting a fabulous cubic zirconia and silver ring. Normal price on this ring is $395. Lucky Breaks price is $296.25. Enter 'luckybreaks9' at checkout to receive your discount.

Dilsey Coal - is offering 25% off Sarah Perlis Mixed Sapphire Rings and Gabriela De La Vega Pink Vine Earrings. Go to the Dilsey Coal website and enter 'luckybreaks5' at checkout to receive your 25% discount. The sapphire rings are discounted to $337.50 each and the earrings are discounted to $210.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I flip through at least a hundred magazines each month doing research. Some I have subscriptions to, others are chance encounters at doctor's offices, friend's homes and other venues. All my subscriptions are recycled back into the public by dropping off at doctor's offices etc.

Hands down the best magazine for women as to current USA jewelry trends is Style. The magazine offers that nifty three part section each month with expensive, mid range and cheap jewelry. Most months are very similar but taking a year in total you can really see emerging trends.

November 2007's issue of W magazine (pic of Nicole Kidman by Richard Prince on the cover) has two fantastic articles on diamonds.

Neo Geo has 9 full pages of images of colored and raw diamonds by designers such as Chanel and Chopard. The photography is quite stunning. Page 152 showed a truly unique ring fashioned from black diamonds and a polished green diamond bead. I've never seen anything like this before.

And then on page 160 - yikes - a truly fantastic titanium and diamond bangle by Francis Mertens. I have plans to make a version of this on the cheap. I'm in the process of ordering the supplies now and if feasible I will post the instructions as an article. First, though I have to get the instructions up for the 2007 Holiday Pendant Necklace.

The second article, Color Wheel, gave the Clift Notes version of how to buy a colored diamond. The article is so concise yet action packed, I ripped it out of the magazine to keep.

As a bonus, this issue has 9 full pages of celebrity headshots by Richard Prince. If you do not have a subscription it is well worth shelling out the per issue price this month.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My last article was about one of my favorite mass produced jeweley designers, Elsa Peretti. Specifically, I discussed her Round collection - sterling silver, karated gold and gemstone round pendants hung on either precious metal chains or black silk cord.

My next article will be a follow up article on Ms. Peretti, discussing her other jewelry designs and giving a brief outline of her design philospohy and her association with Tiffany & Co.

The sterling silver round pendant hung on black silk cord retails at Tiffany for $425. Theother pendants range in price dependent on the raw material used and whether or not diamonds are involved.

It's getting to be that time of year when I start thinking about my Christmas presents to friends and family. In my Akoya pearl instructions instructions last year I explained that each year I come up with one design to make and give as stocking stuffers for Christmas. This year I believe my design will be loosely based upon the Round pendant.

I'm in the process of breaking the instructions down to simple and easy. If that can be accomplished, I will also post the instructions in a 2 part series of articles in more than enough time for you to secure the raw materials and make the pendants in time for your holiday gift giving.

Also, last year the pictures that accompanies articles were limited to one. This year I will be able to post a full range of photos to accompany the instructions.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Lately there seems to be just an abundance of jewelry advertised as having a certain percentage of activity donated to charity based upon sales.

Some companies offer a percentage of sales; some offer a percentage of profits. I find it irritating. What sales or profits exactly? A company can take any percentage and reduce it to zero with an allocation of expenses. And, to boot, the company from which you have made a purchase is also now eligble to take a charitable contribution that rightfully belongs to you.

If you want to support a cause why not just straightup make the contribution to the charitable cause itself? Cut out the middleman and make sure all your money gets to the cause.

Coach is unique in the fact that they actually state how much they will contribute per sales. For each Coach pink watch purchased $100 is being donated to a breast cancer charity. The watches cost $298, which means that Coach is still making a pretty good profit on each watch they sell. However, at least they are not being vague or ambiguous about the amount being donated.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My latest article discusses traveling with jewelry. I gotta say that there is not an event chi chi enough to make me travel with any type of expensive jewelry.

I was in London a few years ago riding the Tube out to Heathrow while wearing one of my many fake pieces of jewelry. The piece in question was a 2 carat CZ set in an ornate gold setting. Alright, that was probably stupid, but when you know how little something costs you tend to be kind of casual about it.

It was attracting quite a few stares and I considered the fact that I could be seriously hurt if someone decided to try to separate me from a relatively cheap piece of jewelry.

Since then I wear almost no jewelry while traveling. It's just not worth the hassle of 'hiding' it in the hotel room when it's not being worn or sticking it in the trunk of the rental car. However, I must admit that I just do not attend events where one is judged by the the fire power of their jewelry. And, it's pretty much assumed that I must have quite the arsenal of fine jewelry (not true - most of it gets sold to customers).

On a side note - I just got back from Newport, RI last week. I did travel with a pair of Swarovski crystal earrings that I inadvertently left in a zippered pocket on the outside of my checked bag. I remembered them about 15 minutes after I checked the bag.

At $40 for the pair of earrings, it was one of those 'oh,well' situations. However, had they been a pair of diamond earrings, I would have been frantic.

The earrings were in the bag on arrival.

Posted by Maire Loughran

A while back I wrote a review of the book 500 Necklaces. Lark Books latest in the 500 series, 500 Earrings is the source of an exhibition at Velvet Da Vinci.

The name of the show, obviously, is The Earring Show - Celebrating 500 Earrings by Lark Books. The exhibition will open October 17, 2007 and run through November 25, 2007. The current details of this show are not up on Velvet Da Vinci's website yet. However, this link will take you to info on their current exhibition, Architectonics: Foundations in Jewelry. And will also be the link for info in a couple of week aboutthe 500 Earrings exhibition.

One artist whose earrings will be on display at the exhibition is Beate Klockmann. I scrolled through her website and found images of these three stunning rings. She has images of other pieces of jewelry that are equally as spectacular.

Velvet Da Vinci is located at 2015 Polk St, San Francisco,CA. If you live near or are planning a visit to the San Francisco area during the exhibition, I think it would well be worth a look.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I mention two of the featured artists shown in the 2007 Metalsmith Exhibition in Print(EiP): Todd Reed and Kristine Bolhuis. I have a few different references to Todd Reed on this site already.

So, I thought I would give you some additional info about Kristine Bolhuis. I've always been a big fan of architectural style jewelry and her jewelry pieces in the latest EiP remind me quite a bit of this style of jewelry.

Architectural style jewelry is set apart by the way it seems to be constructed like tiny machines or buildings. Checking out the details of this style of jewelry you can image the blueprint that went behind the making of the work. Most architectural style jewelry is very clean in appearance with lines and forms.

Kristine Bouhuis' website shows images of a few of her jewelry and sculptural pieces. Unfortunately, there are no images of her impressive hinged jewelry.

A page at the Velvet Da Vinci website shows an image, top left, of a hinged finger ring. At the bottom right there is also an image of a Todd Reed raw and cut diamond ring.

Velvet Da Vinci also has a very nice page showcasing Todd Reed that is worth checking out.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My latest article discusses upscale watches. If you have read my earlier blogs you know that I once had a ill fated watch collection that bit the dust as soon as all the watches came due for batteries.

The watches mentioned in my upscale watch article are pave set with Wesselton diamonds. So what exactly is a Wesselton diamond? Wesselton was actually the name of a diamond mine that produced gorgeous white diamonds.

Today the tag 'Wesselton' is used for color grading diamonds. Wesselton refers to diamonds that are H white; Top Wesselton refers to colors F and G (sometimes F is refered to as Top Wesselton+).

Cutting diamonds is a precise art that is fascinating to view. If you are interested in this process and live near or plan on visiting Johannesburg, South Africa check out the Wessleton Diamond Cutting Company located on the 5th floor at 216 Fox St. Visitors to this factory can see the diamond-preparation process from cutting to shaping and polishing.

The TAG Heuer watch mentioned in my article is pretty pricey. As an alternative, check out the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 2000 for sale at Amazon for $1,700. This watch has a pink mother of pearl face and is constructed in stainless steel. Amazaon also has a few other Tag Heuer ladies watches available with prices ranging from $1,500 to $4,000.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I was flipping through a recent Glamour magazine dos and don't - I love those pictures with the black rectangles over the eyes. I can not even image how horrifying it must be to actually see yourself as a black bar don't. Horrifying but amusing I would imagine in kind of a mixed up sort of way.

Glamour more that likely was the inspiration for all those how to style yourself shows on the various cable channels. Which I also love. My favorite is the TLC version of BBCs What Not to Wear. It is annoying how depressed the fashion victims get about spending $5,000 during the course of the shopping trip.

A few of the Glamour top picks were visible panty lines, bib overalls, mesh tops - then oversized earrings. It got me thinking - how big is too big. Obviously, if the earring is stretching out your piercing or giving you a headache, whatever the size it is too big.

Another criteria for the size of earring is your overall facial size and feature type. Those with delicate features and a small bone structure obviously need to scale down the size of the earring. Also, the shape of your face and the way you are wearing your hair will have an effective on how large the earrings can be.

Best rule of thumb in my opinion is to use the trying on technique outlined in my earring article. In short, hold each pair of earrings up to your face and take a good hard look. The earring should compliment your face, not overwhelm it.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Ivanka Trump announced last month that she is launching her own line of jewelry. Prevalent in the line will be her signature gemstone – the oval-shaped diamond.

I would imagine that if anyone has a keen eye for fashion it would be Ivanka Trump. “I always had an appreciation for fashion and jewelry,” was told to WWD in an interview with Trump a few months back.

Indeed - she learned at the knee of her extremely elegant mother, attending numerous couture fashion shows together as Ivanka was growing up. Money does not always equal taste but I have yet to see a fashion photo of mother or daughter where they are not impeccably turned out.

A very cool design addition to each piece of Ivanka Trump jewelry is a hidden trademark – that of a piece of enamel in coral. Blue enamel and coral make for a stunning color combination and is similar to colors combined by the ancient Egyptians. Lapis Lazuli and carnelian were frequently combined in Egyptian adornment. You can see some specimens of both these gemstones in my latest article.

Trump plans for both an internet presence and a flagship retail location on Madison Avenue in New York.

What about the prices? Well, she’s using diamonds so you know the prices are not exactly going to be deminimis. Projected prices are going to run from $750 to $350,000.

I did see one of her designs. It was a simple necklace with a pendant that reminded me of the tassel on prayer beads. Of course, a very high-end, chic prayer bead tassel. No projected date as yet as to the formal launch of the website or retail shop. I’ll keep you posted.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Over the last two weeks I have noticed that you can not pick up a fashion magazine without seeing that stunning picture of actor Cameron Diaz in the fuchsia (hot pink) Dior by John Galliano gown paired with the chunky turquoise necklace and earrings.

In Style magazine had two pictures of Diaz in it's latest edition (August 2007) - previewing the combo in it's Sneak Peek with a follow up in The Look section. As In Style puts it: "Two brights don't make a wrong."

Quite true but how do you know when it is too much and which brights to combine? My latest article discusses the hot colors for Fall/ Winter 2007. In that article I also give a link to my article on using a color wheel. A color wheel is an invaluable aid in combining colors for your wardrobe, jewelry and home furnishings.

Combining hot pink and turquoise is an example of combining triad colors on the color wheel. This means two colors that are three apart from each other on the color wheel. Hot pink and turquoise are both tints - a color plus white. In this case red + white and blue + white.

Combining two strong colors such as pink and turquoise is only successful if one color is dominate. In this case, the hot pink dress is dominate. Check out my Cool Color forecast article for more info on combining colors.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Bag Borrow or Steal has extended it's rental jewelry line to include Chanel. My favorite is the 35" pearl necklace with the two double C accents. I tried to rent it for a business meeting that I have in a few weeks and was wait listed.

As a matter of fact, most of the Chanel jewelry is wait listed with the exception of the bracelets. Which leads me to believe that either the demand for those pieces is awesome or they just have not yet made the investment in those pieces.

I did put myself on the wait list and I will keep you posted as to my success. The bad thing about the wait list is that you are never sure if you are going to receive the piece of jewelry in time. And then - what if they ship it and you no longer need it? Their prices are not exactly deminimis. So this is not an option I really recommend.

There is really no substitute in my mind for wearing a nice silk, collared, long sleeve blouse to a business meeting. And the perfect jewelry accessory for this type of blouse is a pearl necklace. Depending on the bottom you pair with this combo it can go either dressy or very casual.

If the Chanel is still wait listed I am going to wear my Judith Leiber fake pearl necklace shown in my article about pearl wedding jewelry.

My next article is going to discuss Fall 2007 choices for cool colored gemstone jewelry.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I was reading the latest Colored Stone magazine and there was a very interesting article in the magazine - "Marking Your Turf". It discussed how designers could protect their jewelry brand.

Of course, one of the examples was David Yurman who has been in and out of court since the early 2000's fighting manufacturers of knock off jewelry and additionally - interestingly enough - a suit against a company that had Yurman retail approval for pushing the jewelry onto another retailer for sale. Yurman is very picky apparently about what shops in which his designs are sold.

You know - why shouldn't he be? If there is a legally binding contract that states shop A will sell his product in only shop A then those were the terms that Yurman and shop A agreed to. Maybe whichever shop A passed the jewelry onto was the equivalent of a WalMart (in Yurman's world at least). That would serve to lesson the effect of his brand name.

Back to the copyright and trademark enfringement - the most recognizable of Yurman's designs is the twisted cable helix bracelet. Yurman himself states this design was inspired by ancient Egyptian designs. If you've read any of my articles you know I find this design to be identical to the Celtic torq.

What sets Yurman's bracelet apart are the assembly details: the helix shape, the terminators which are jeweled in a particular way. And quite important in the equation - do consumers identify these details with Yurman's designs alone? Might be a hard sell on jewelry design besides his twisted cable helix bracelet - but time will tell as subsequent cases go through the court system.

Posted by Maire Loughran

In the last few weeks Bravo repeated twice the Law and Order Criminal Intent episode that was partially shot inside and outside Robert Lee Morris' jewelry shop in New York. For anyone that is familiar with Criminal Intent it is the last in the Nicole Wallace trilogy of shows.

I find it so interesting to see the inside of my favorite jewelry designer's shops. And I always wonder what precipitated the filming at that particular shop - just a factor of media involvement, does someone associated with the televison show wear Morris jewelry or know him or his wife? Then I always try to spot whether or not talent is wearing some Morris jewelry during the show.

What's new with Robert Lee Morris:

He's won the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award and has just completed a new design line based upon Andy Warhol's drawings and paintings. One such design that was immediately recognizable as Robert Lee Morris was the Fragile Sign Cuff .

It is a very sculptural in design wrist cuff with a cutout spelling 'Fragile'. Etched on the inside of the cuff are the words " My Mind is like a tape recorder - Erase." Very cool. This sterling silver cuff bracelet is priced at $400.

There is also a charm collection on his website that I am less impressed with - strictly due to my knowledge of the ritual and historic aspect of charms. Any of the charms on his site would be a totally appreciated gift for a fan of Robert Lee Morris. But if you are looking to combine charms for their intended purpose I see nothing that is all that interesting.

If you would like to find out more about Robert Lee Morris, please read my review of his book, RLM:The Power of Jewelry.

And check out the Robert Lee Morris official website for more info about this jewelry artist and his design line.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I've posted the introductory article regarding the topic of making your own charmed jewelry. One of my recent blogs discussed the lock charms at Tiffany and Co. These lock charms are great because you can open and close the lock to rearrange the charm on the necklace or bracelet. Unfortunately, they are also quite expensive. The Tiffany and Co. logo sterling silver charm is $125. Yikes! I did not take the time to check out how much the karated gold ones were - probably triple.

The second article that really gets into the practical instructions on how to make the bracelet will be published in about a week. Prior to that start checking out different online vendors to make your charm selection.

You can also try any local craft store to see what they offer. I was at Pearl's last year and I bought a bag of 5 cat related charms to make a bracelet for a cat lover friend. The charms were really cute and the whole bag cost under $5 - of course they were not sterling silver - they were made from some sort of base metal.

If you are interested in duplicating the charms shown on the surfer girl charm bracelet in the article, with the exception of the mermaid charm, I bought all these charms at Fire Mountain Gems. The mermaid charm is my own design. I sketched the original line drawing, had my graphic artist refine the artwork and then forwarded it to a casting company for fabrication.

The design was based upon my research of mermaid lure and of the voodoo legend of Sirene, Protective Loa of the Oceans. So far, I have yet to get that line of jewelry up and running. That is the way it is - sometimes a year goes by before you can bring an idea to production. The closest I can come to my design is at Silver Enchantments. They also have some at Chains and Charms.

While I have shopped many times over the years at Fire Mountain Gems with complete satisfaction, I have never shopped at either Silver Enchantments or Chains and Charms. Just make sure you check out their return policy prior to finalizing your order.

Posted by Maire Loughran

If you near in or near Philadelphia here are some of the classes that will be given at beadfest at the Valley Forge Convention Center.

August 23:

• Kiln Formed Dichroic Glass - You will learn how to form the beads and use actual kilns to make your beads. Should be a fun class.
• Flameworking - Totems and Tikis - Totems and their meaning are a particular favorite of mine. In this class you will be using sculptured beads to create totems or tikis.

August 24: Crystal Ring Making - touted as an excellent class for beginners.

August 25, 2007:

• The Five Secrets to Selling Handcrafted Jewelry. This class will probably sell out quite early so reserve now to make sure that you have a seat. This 3-hour lecture will be given by Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and Step by Step Beads marketing director Dr. David Weiman. His goal in the three house will be to teach you the strategies you need to become a more confident, seller of your jewelry.
• Ruffled Bracelet Class - ruffled bracelet made with a matching toggle clasp.

The expo itself will be held August 24th through August 26. However, if there are any classes in which you are particularly interested I would go to the website - the link is shown above - and sign up for the classes now.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I've written quite a bit about charms and charm jewelry. I am very interested in charms strictly due to their historical use in ritual jewelry. Back in the day charms were used to bring about a certain effect - for example - the four leaf clover. Finding a four leaf clover is an example of a charm that is supposed to bring good luck.

All ancient cultures had certain gemstones, metals and shapes that were thought to bring good luck, wealth or love - especially when consecrated in ritual. Many of these old beliefs are still widely utilized today without the user knowing the why or the history of the lore. I just recently finished designing and casting a mermaid charm in the shape of Sirene, the protective loa of the oceans, to be used in my line of surfer jewelry.

In any event, charm jewelry is one of those perpetual favorites whose popularity ebbs and flows throughout the years but never truly goes away.

TIffany and Co. has come out with a new line of totally cool sterling silver lock charms. Their Charmed by Tiffany section of their website has a link to customized your own charm jewelry in gold, silver and platinum, a link to look at some of their most popular designs and a link to get some design ideas for necklaces and bracelets.

Their site is very informative and well worth a look. Want to do it yourself for a fraction of the price? My next article will show you how to make my Surfer Girl Charm Bracelet using Loc-Links.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My last article gave a review of Clever Clasp brand magnetic jewelry clasps. I was not impressed with Clever Clasp due to the fact that I thought they were not user friendly for those jewelry wearers with hand issues that make putting on jewelry hard. This is the reason for the appeal of magnetic clasps.

A big part of jewelry design is a well thought out clasp that accentuates the beauty of the body of the piece. It you can negotiate the closing of an elaborate clasp why would you want some bare bones looking barrel clasp. However, in Clever Clasp defense it does not state on the box that they are made for arthritis sufferers or those with long nails. They merely state that you can 'connects your necklace with ease!'. And for me, with no hand issues, this was 100% correct.

Obviously, if you have arthritis it is going to be extremely difficult to screw the barrel over the threads to lock the assembly in place. I gave the four clasps to friends and family that have arthritis, long nails and no hand issues at all to see what they thought.

We really tested them and it was primarily one clasp in the group of four that had the bad barrel thread - the rest worked pretty easily but my mother who has arthritis in only one finger had a difficult time using the clasp. My friends with long nails thought the clasps were ok but just a deminimis improvement over using the clasp that came with the piece of jewelry.

I'm in the process of hunting down some other magnetic clasps and I will report back on my findings.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I have a friend with a subscription to Latina Magazine and I just love flipping through it. Cultural differences really interest me and Latina Magazine is an entertaining way to get a look at what is currently popular with the Latina woman.

Monogram jewelry goes back and forth in popularity - however, it is one of those classics that never actually go out of style.

Last month Eva Longoria's love for her green gold monogram necklace was discussed in the round up of her current favorites. The monogram was designed by Kacey K and given to her by her stylist Robert Verdi. I've actually never seen green gold (I am familiar with pink, white and yellow) - so I am not sure what metal is combined with 24K gold to give it the green hue. I am going to do more research on that topic and report back.

I went to the Kacey K website and they had a vast array of different monogram styles and fonts. No prices were listed. This actually is understandable as the price of gold fluctuates daily and based upon this fact and the style of the monogram the price could vary wildly.

All orders appear to be custom made - there is no shopping cart - you just get in touch with the business and discuss specifics.

I find cutting out monograms very tedious as each letter must be started with a punch hole in the metal blank and then a saw blade is carefully inserted through the hole and used to cut out the letter from within. This is something I rarely do.

Posted by Maire Loughran

One annoying thing about putting live links in articles is the fact that they very often go dead. As a reader it is frustrating; as an author it is time consuming to regularly go back and check articles for bad links. In fact, as a textbook author I am discouraged by the publisher from putting too many internet resources within the body of the text.

Such is the case with my article about jewelry designer David Yurman. Went back to check the article and the Overstock.com link to their Yurman replica jewelry is no longer live. This is not too unusual - obviously this is a product that Overstock no longer has available.

I'm been doing some research trying to find other Yurman replica jewelry artists and just happened to have a conversation with jewelry designer Vivienne Chang at a recent show. She is expanding her design business into replica jewelry that specializes in designer replica jewelry but takes it back one step to the historical origin of the designs.

For example, Yurman's cable design is based upon ancient Egyptian designs and the Celtic Torc. Right now she is working on a twisted cable bracelet and a tasseled necklace.

As soon as the jewelry is ready to go and I have had a chance to examine a few pieces I will post some replica pictures in an article. Should be able to have some info up and running by August 1, 2007.

Until then - check out his fabulous jewelry at his website.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Looking for a gift for your father for his special day? As I've said earlier the jewelry options for men are not as expansive as for women. I'm of the option that gold chains on men have an age limit similar to that of wearing a base ball cap backwards - somewhere in the early to mid 20's.

You might not agree with me - if so have at those men's gold chains. Father's Day is but a week away so for that last minute shopping extravaganza check out the cuff link/watch page at Blue Nile.

I've never purchased anything from Blue Nile but my brother 'built' his wife's engagement ring there and was totally satisified with the experience and the quality of the ring.

Blue Nile has an option to view by budget - either under or over $100. They also have a very informative page on how to select a watch with suggestions for casual, work, sport and so on.

They are offering free FedEx and have a 30 day return policy. Also, if you order by 3:00pm EST they can have it to you next day. See - now you have until next Thursday to make your decision so you really are not last minute - not yet.

Happy shopping!

Posted by Maire Loughran

I am a huge fan of cubic zirconia (CZs). They look great and can be set in 14K gold creating a very impressive piece of jewelry at a fraction of the cost of using diamonds.

In the past I have also blogged that one advantage of owning CZs in the fact that if you ever loss the piece of jewelry it is not a major event. I speak from experience. I had (note the had) a really attractive pair of hoop earrings set with 8 CZs. The hoops were 10K gold and the 4 CZs were appropriate for the size of each hoop. They really looked spectacular worn in my second piercing with a pair of diamond studs.

I got them at Big Lots for $9.99 - yeh Big Lots. What a buy. Well, went to put them on last week and I am missing one. Tore the house and studio apart - even emptied out the vacumn cleaner bag - no luck. I'm in the process now of just making another hoop to match the first.

In a recent In Style magazine article that month's man of style, Chris Rock, list his 'Right Stuff' and on the list is a pair of CZ earrings. As he puts it they "look the same as diamonds. It's not like anyone's going to put my earlobe under a microscope." My point exactly.

The earrings are an attractive tricky cut that resembled a square but is known as radiant-cut and are set in a white gold 14K post setting.

Here is the link to find out more about Chris Rock's CZ earrings at Fauxsie. Fauxsie's motto is that 'sometimes it's cool to fake it'. I took a quick look around their website and the jewelry is quite spectacular. Check out this pair of impressive Martini stud earrings.

Fauxsies also has a Eternity Band set in 14K white gold with approximately 2.5 carats of CZs - there was alot of press about this ring in Bride's Magazine.

Posted by Maire Loughran

The Wire Jewelry Fest is going to be held on July 20th, 21st and 22nd at the Chase Center on the RIverfront in Wilmington, DE. The Chase Center is located off 1-95 about 30 minutes away from Philadelphia.

Many jewelry artists get their start by wire wrapping or beading. Wire wrapping allows you to create designs that are as varied and sturdy as soldered metal designs without the stress of using a torch.

If you live in the Pennsylvania or Delaware area this is a fantastic chance to learn about the art of wire wrapping, enroll in classes and buy supplies.

Associated with the typical wire wrapping techniques there will also be classes in chain maille (basically connecting jump rings) and wire crochet - that's right - depending on the gauge of the wire you can actually crochet wire using a special tool and fabricate the crocheted product into bracelets and necklaces.

For more info, to find out which jewelry artists and vendors will be in attendance and to sign up for classes check out the festival website.

Interested in beading? Here is info for the beadfest Philadelphia 2007 which is being held August 24st, 25th and 26th. Classes start on August 23rd.

It's been a long time since I've been to Philly. Apparently parking is an issue because both the beadfestand the Wire Jewelry Fest are advertising 'Free Parking!'

Posted by Maire Loughran

If your wedding is scheduled for mid to late June it is not too late to make a stunning calcedony and pearl bracelet for your wedding day. It also makes a beautiful gift for your bridesmaids.

This bracelet is one of my most popular due to the fact that it combines pearls, which are a perpetual bridal favorite and the beautiful blue gemstone calcedony (also known as chalcedony) - using a blue gemstone covers the 'something blue' of the bridal lore. Additionally, in myth and lore pearls are a symbol of Nelle, an angel of incredible beauty, which further makes them an excellent choice for the bride on her special day.

Once you master using crimp beads or Scrimp beads - here is a link to my instructions - it should only take about 15 minutes to make each bracelet.

All of the supplies can be purchased at local craft stores except the calcedony beads. Here is the link to the online vendor I use - Rishashay. Click Search, the last option in the left hand tool bar and search for 'calcedony'. Order 1 of item number M0007-Ds (you need two of the round beads and this item number is for the pair) and 1 of M0010-Ds.

Your order should arrive in about five days. I will be publishing the complete instructions on how to make this bracelet by June 1, 2007.

More info about crimp and Scrimp beads is located at my Mother's Day blog. Check out the instructions to use either crimps or Scrimps, order the calcedony beads and you will be all set to make your bracelet when the article posts.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Woman's Day magazine is sponsoring a contest to win one of 10 watches worth $375 each for Father's Day. The giveaway starts on June 1st and ends July 2nd.

Let's face it - there are fewer jewelry options for Dad for Father's Day - compared to woman's jewelry for Mother's Day and watches are high on the list.

Here is the link to access the rules on how to enter. However, this particular sweepstake is not yet up on the Woman's Day site - all details will be available this coming Friday, June 1st.

It is a very cool looking white faced watch with a silver case and a black leather band by TX Technoluxury, a watch company headquartered in Germany. The watch includes a perpetual calendar, a compass (I could really use one of these when I am out driving around - sometimes I get totally turned around if I am in an unfamiliar city) and a dial to set a second time zone for traveling.

It is worth a look see even before June 1st as they still have some May giveaway items available.

We getting ready to enter the big month for weddings - June. There is still time to make a very nice bracelet to either give to your bridesmaids or wear yourself on the wedding day. It is made from pearls and chalcedony. I will be posting the simple instructions in a article this weekend.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My last blog discussed signature styles in jewelry. Watching celebrity signature style is a little hobby of mine that falls in line with my interest in the ritual and historic use of jewelry.

Every female should think about adopting a signature style of jewelry. Men do not have as many options open to them as women - rings, watches - not much is going on. But women have a plethora of different ways to go.

On those days that you are pressed for time it really uncomplicates your morning to already have some sort of jewelry battleplan in place. For example, my signature style now is earrings and has been for the past few years. I have a pair of diamond studs and a pair of karated gold hoop earrings that pretty much go with all my outfits. Most days you will see me in one or the other.

About ten years ago I briefly adopted watches as my signature style. My favorite was a Swatch brand Halloween watch with a pumpkin face that I wore for the entire month of October each year. Well, this was a great idea until each watch needed a new battery at a different time. If I could change the batteries myself it would not have been such a big deal but it became such a pain to take the watches to the jewelry store that I eventually just replaced all the batteries at once and gave the bulk of the watches to Goodwill.

I still have the Swatch pumpkin watch to the amusement of my son who thinks it is the ugliest watch he has ever seen. And I occasionally think about buying a men's vintage Rolex to wear as a bracelet/watch but for now I am sticking with the earrings.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I was scanning a recent issue of Vanity Fair lately looking for jewelry ads or pictures of celebrities wearing signature pieces of jewelry. That is one of my favorite jewelry related hobbies. A signature style can either be a type of jewelry such as earrings or an actual piece of jewelry.

For example, I ordered 21 Grams from Netflix last week so I could at last completely check out the necklace that the Christina Peck character (Naomi Watts) wore throughout most of the movie. After replaying certain scenes a few times I was finally able to see that it was a small round charm with a Peace symbol etched on it.

Now the hunt is on to see if this is a piece of jewelry personally owned by Ms. Watts or just chosen by the wardrobe department for the movie. That is always of great interest to me - whether or not jewelry that is worn throughout a movie is done so for a specific story line related purpose.

Another good example would be the Elaine character (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the television show Seinfeld. This character wore a lot of jacket/ skirt combos and 9 times out of 10 the jackets were accessorized by a pin. I've seen quite a few interviews with Louis-Dreyfus and based upon the style of clothing worn in the interviews I imagine Elaine's garb and jewelry in the television show had less to do with Louis-Dreyfus and more to do with the inspirations for the character - Carol Leifer and Monica Yates.

Posted by Maire Loughran

The quilted jersey fabric purse with chain strap is a signature of the Chanel style. However, Mlle. Chanel also was a highly regarded designer of costume jewelry.

In the 1930's Coco Chanel started her jewelry line with a selection of chains, pearls and glass gemstone jewelry that was meant to be worn with her daytime sportswear collection. Later, Chanel presented a design that is still in popular use in jewelry today - that of the Maltese cross. She incorporated this cross into her necklace, pin and bracelet designs.

The Maltese cross is differentiated from other cross designs in that the four arms of the cross are equal in length and they widen as they extend from the middle of the cross. The origin of this cross design was that shown on the back of the robes worn by the Knights Hospitallers - a religious and political order headquatered in Malta in the 11th century.

The original Chanel cross was designed by Verdura and was made of hand-poured glass. Mlle. Chanel's later designs were inspired by early Persian and Egyptian jewelry.

As an aside - Fulco di Verdura, designer of the Maltese Cross collection for Chanel, went on to open his own design house which is still thriving today.

My next series of articles will discuss the interesting topic of costume jewelry - what it is - what sets it apart and hi-light various costume jewelry artists.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Ask any jewelry designer (or any designer for that matter) and they will tell you that the bane of their existence is the knock off. All well known designers are at work on new designs as soon as the current ones hit the stores so as to stay ahead of the curve.

Of course, there has not really been any new twist on the old theme for the last few centuries but all designers have a signature, particular style of constructing the jewelry or use of the gemstones and precious metals that sets them apart and this is what they resent being copied.

Part of the lure of looking at fashion magazines is to check out the styles being worn by our favorite celebrities. Next time you see your favorite celebrity wearing a fantastic piece of jewelry check out Famous Fashions Found to see if you can purchase the exact designer piece (no knock offs are sold at this site.)

This website gives you the ability to purchase the actual designer jewelry as shown on television shows, in movies, by the celebrity and more. I clicked on the link for "Shop by Designer" and found approximately 200 designers - about 15 of which were jewelry designers.

I clicked on Kipepeo Likoni and found gold plate and green 'emerald' quartz earrings worn by Paris Hilton. These large chandelier earrings were very cool in appearance with a kind of foreign, what I consider Moroccan, feel about them. Each chandelier earring had 8 quartz briolettes hung in a V shape from the bottom of the gold plated chandelier base.

Ms. Hilton was shown wearing these with a gold halter top dress but they would be appropriate worn with and would really dress up a pair of dark, unfadded jeans and white silk t-shirt.

Shipping charges are reasonable and they have a 14 day return policy - also not bad - that does not cover their jewelry however. So really make sure before you click that finalize purchase button.

Posted by Maire Loughran

2008 Update - this year I am publishing a series of articles giving instructions on tying charms onto a cotton cord to give as a Mother's Day charm bracelet. It's a quick, easy and inexpensive project.

A while back I wrote an article giving a brief history of charm bracelets and my take on their perpetual popularity. Giving charms for any special occasion is a very evocative gift - choosing just the right charm for the recipient is a lot of fun and really shows that you care - and that you gave it some thought.

However, suppose your mother does not like to or can not wear bracelets - not to worry - you can make a charm necklace for her. This is not exactly an original idea. I can remember my brother giving my mother a sort of charm necklace years ago. It was a base metal chain necklace from which were hung three little stick figure children each set with a colored birthstone.

20 years later it is still sitting in my mother's jewelry box - and quite a bit worse for wear - but my mother would never consider throwing it away.

One easy idea is to buy a sterling silver chain with larger links such as a figaro chain (at least 3mm would be best.) Then attach charms to the links with jump rings or lobster clasps. You could also purchase a large ring to hang on the necklace and attach the charms to the ring pendant style.

A sterling silver heart link chain would also be an excellent choice for the neck chain. Just make sure before you buy that the links are large enough to insert the charms.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My latest article gave the directions on how to make a glass pearl and crystal rondelle necklace for your Mother as a Mother's Day present.

My instructions in that article gave a very simple closure system of tying the necklace loosely around the neck using satin or lace ribbon - this looks very pretty and is very easy to do.

But, if you would like to have a more professional finish to your necklace try using a Scrimp or crimp bead. I've used both and like either method. I think for a beginner the Scrimp bead is easier to use. However, using the screw driver to tighten the screw is an acquired skill. It was not pretty in my workshop the first few times I tried to use the Scrimp beads. Once you get the hang of it, Scrimp is a fantastic system.

Fire Mountain Gems has a very detailed instruction page on how to use a scrimp bead. They also sell Scrimp beads. If you use this method you will also need to purchase a clasp and beading wire - all are available online at Fire Mountain Gems.

Interested in checking out how to finish your necklace with crimp beads? Click here. You will need to buy crimping pliers. The beading wire and clasp requirement is the same as with Scrimp beads.

Posted by Maire Loughran

The image shown in my article about pearl jewelry for weddings is my own pearl necklace. The necklace is pretty much a constant in my jewelry selection - that and my two diamond necklaces. No matter what I have on, if I can not find anything else to coordinate with the outfit or if I just run out of time in the morning the pearls or the diamonds are always appropriate.

This necklace is made from 'fake', huge glass pearls with either a white gold or sterling silver accent bead/clasp that I wear in the front instead of the back like a normal clasp. It's been about ten years since I purchased the necklace so I honestly can not remember which precious metal was used to make the clasp.

It's cost back then? - $425 (on sale). Why? The designer was Judith Leiber. Leiber is a celebrity designer favorite who started off by specializing in odd shaped, beaded handbags and has since moved somewhat into jewelry design.

Quality will tell, however. This necklace looks as good today as it did ten years ago when I first purchased it.

I was at WalMart a couple of weeks ago and found some big, glass pearls for $1.99 per bag in their craft department. This week's article will show how you can make your own glass pearl necklace for a fraction of the cost of my Leiber necklace.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Remember my book review of 500 Necklaces and the article I wrote regarding how to have your jewelry art included in a publication such as this?

Well, in the latest Metalsmith magazine Lark Books has issued a call for entries. Their next book in the series of "500" will be pendants and lockets.

The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2007 and the two jurors are Elizabeth Shypertt and Mike Holmes. The anticipated publish date of the book is spring 2008. Up to three submissions are accepted (two images for each submission)- current design work is preferred.

Some general image instructions: Lark Books prefers slides/transparencies for submission and does not want any altering of the slide image using PhotoShop or the like. According to the instructions they will accept TIFF data format files but as I said earlier - they prefer slides or transparencies.

This gives you about a month to design and hand craft your pendant or locket and get the slides made and out the door.

Good luck!

Posted by Maire Loughran

Obviously there is a limit to how much money any of us wants to spend on jewelry - even wedding jewelry. For some it might be millions and others it will be much, much less.

If you are guessing that it is easy to find high quality diamond jewelry if you are willing to lay out the big bucks you are right. However, your quest for high quality, less expensive diamond jewelry starts with observing what design details are present in more expensive diamond jewelry.

Start by looking online. Cartier and Bvlgari are two excellent places to start. View their diamond jewelry and observe what design details you notice that sets them apart - this is not about the size of the diamond - rather how are the diamonds set or arranged in the band or what precious metals are used.

Visit some chi chi jewelry stores in your local area and examine some fine pieces of jewelry in the flesh - then migrate down to JC Penneys or a similar department store and see what design details are missing or present.

Look over your notes and use your observations to buy the best in your price range.

Posted by Maire Loughran

The 6th annual CraftBoston presented by The Society of Arts and Crafts will take place this coming weekend March 30, 2007 through April 1, 2007 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, MA. 20% of the artists were invited to present at the show - the remaining 80% were selected through an open jury process.

One of the featured artists is Todd Reed, my favorite contemporary jewelry artist. This would be a perfect opportunity to see some of his raw diamond jewelry in the flesh.

175 artists will be showing their work. In addition to Reed, look for the work of jewelry artist Lisa Crowder. Crowder does a lot of work fabricating rings, earrings and brooches from oxidized metal domes - some with pearl accents.

Metal Werx, a very cool school of jewelry and metal arts, will also be showing some pieces made by students and faculty.

For more information regarding directions, prices and times go to the CraftBoston website.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I mentioned wearing black wedding gowns for an evening wedding as being an occasion trend. Flipping through the Spring/Summer 2007 edition of Wedding Style magazine I found a very interesting looking black lace wedding gown by Pnina Tornai on page 46.

I picked up the magazine at either Borders or Barnes and Noble. If you have one of these bookstores convenient it is worth trolling the racks so you can check out this wedding gown. It kind of reminded me of a really vamped up version of the hat and gown worn by Scarlett O'Hara during the scene in Gone With the Wind where she is working the charity booth at the dance and Rhett Butler bids on her for the first dance.

The model is wearing a very goth looking black onyx beaded necklace with a large two tiered dangling pendant. This outfit and necklace, while not everyone's cup of tea, is a perfect example of coordinating jewelry to the gown and veil (in this case a large black head arrangement with feathers and netting).

There is a lot going on with this gown and head ornament - the simple beaded black onyx necklace does not compete with but compliments the gown. The two tiered pendant is not too detailed but picks up the lace theme of the dress and opera length gloves.

The whole outfit is black, stunning and stylish. Wear this look as a bride and your wedding will be talked about years later.

Note: Sorry, I searched around online to see if I could link to either the dress or the designer's website - no luck - however, here is a link to the online presence for the magazine itself.

Posted by Maire Loughran

03/28/2008 Update - Here's a link to my article on how to make leverback earrings set with princess cut cubic zirconias.

I teach classes on simple jewelry design that does not involve soldering. I sometimes solder but I prefer cold connections. Cold connection refers to any manner of joining jewelry components that does not require heat - such as riveting, stapling and joining with wrapped wire.

I think in many cases cold connections are more interesting looking and most of the time you can fabricate an entire piece that is durable without the use of solder.

The Adobe textbook that I wrote for my last few earring design classes is being updated so I am providing a link to download the old 74 page textbook - free.

You will need the Adobe reader to download the book. None of the jewelry designs are copyrighted so you can make them to sell at craft shows if you like. However, the written word is copyrighted.

It gives complete instructions on how to make five pairs of earrings including the ruby hoop earrings and the chrysophase and iolite earrings. I also provide links to online vendors and the item numbers to buy all the raw materials.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Tripp's Mfg has a fantastic video available that illustrates exactly how to use gemsetting pliers I referenced in my ring making articles.

In my series of articles on how to make a ring with bling I gave instructions via the written word but sometimes it is just easier to follow along while watching someone.

This video shows how to set numerous shapes and sizes of gemstones and also gives a brief tutorial in how to inspect gemstones. And in addition to the basic instructions I gave on how to set one large facted gemstone this video also shows how to set cabochons (flat domed gemstones) and gem clusters.

I've ordered from Tripp's in the past and have always been satisfied with my purchase. Check out their website - this video is available for $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Live in or near St. Paul MN? The 21st annual American Craft Show will take place on April 13th through April 15th. More than 250 new and established artists will present their latest handcrafted jewelry, clothing and furniture.

From looking over the artist profiles and some examples of their jewelry art there will be a wide selection of jewelry in all forms. Sterling silver, gold and many different semi-precious gemstones such as amethyst, citrine and garnet.

I especially liked jewelry artist Samantha Freeman's dangling earrings in citrine and oxidized metal. Michele Friedman has a very cool architectural style bracelet that is very minimalistic in appearance but is simply stunning. And if you are in the mood for lucite jewelry - that was represented as well.

It will be held at the St. Paul RiverCentre located at 175 West Kellogg Blvd. Tickets are $12 per person or $18 for a two day pass.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Latina Magazine has a fantastic Fashion column each month called 'Chic on the Cheap'. They showcase different actresses and show how you can recreate the particular outfit worn by the actress on a budget. In March 2007 Jennifer Lopez was featured - for April 2007 it is Eva Mendes.

The column also shows 'Straight-up Splurges' - showing a more expensive version of the 'Chic on the Cheap' fashions, jewelry and accessories. April's splurge is a gigantic door knob size 35 carat blue topaz cocktail ring that can be purchased at Darby Scott for $1,325.

Find out more about this trend towards oversized cocktail rings that have migrated to everyday wear. I also give a lesson on how to you can quickly, easily and inexpensively make your own oversized cocktail ring.

Latina Magazine also has a great giveaway going on. They are giving away five sterling silver bracelets with taupe and blue colored gemstones in various shapes created by Baroni Designs. Click here for more info on how to win.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Whether or not you have a subscription to Lucky Magazine you can access discount codes for jewelry purchases by going to their online site.

The jewelry is not actually sold by Lucky Magazine, the links provided at their website will take you to various other online vendors of jewelry who will negotiate the sale with you. The offers change each month and appear to sell out quite quickly so you really need to stay on top of it.

This month the jewelry offer was for a black diamond and 14K gold necklace by Mizuki. The necklace was 14 inches in length and was strung with black diamond and 14K gold beads. Original price of the necklace was $700 and the Lucky Magazine discount brought the price down to $560. Not a bad discount.

When I went to the site to test the purchasing procedure I was informed that the necklace was sold out but available via backorder. Certainly if you don't need the jewelry for a special occasion and the vendor honors all backorders this would be a great way to occasionally buy jewelry at a discount.

The same site had a gorgeous turquoise ring for sale that was showcased in Instyle magazine. This ring was also on backorder. The description of the ring stated it was sterling silver dipped in gold. Honestly, I have no idea what this means - maybe gold plate over sterling silver instead of a base metal. If you are interested in ordering this ring, please ask for more info about the gold dipping prior to ordering.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I've checked my print catalogs and here is current information regarding purchasing your setting to make your ring with bling:

Fire Mountain Gems - their Gemstone and Precious Metals Catalog 2006 - 2007 is the most current. On page 482 you can see all their sure-set basket style settings for rings - both in 14K yellow gold and sterling silver.

• Prices at Fire Mountain Gems: for example a 16x12mm sterling silver emerald cut basket is $14.87 while the 14K gold equivalent is $133.50.
• All the rings are pre-notched (this makes it very easy for you to set the gemstone) and are sized to about a size 6. If you ring finger is larger or smaller you will have to have it resized at a jeweler.

Jamming Gems does sell basket ring settings by size. They do not have a print catalog - you order directly from the website.

Rio Grande - their Gems and FIndings August 2006 - August 2007 is the most current. Their ring settings start on page 694 for sterling silver and on page 163 for the white and yellow gold settings. You can order from this vendor online but you have to order a print catalog first as your reference for item numbers.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Naomi Watts wore a stunning pair of drop earrings to the recent Golden Globe awards. I never could get a definitive answer as to the identity of the single large teardrop shaped gemstone hung on the earrings. The base of the earring appeared to be a white faceted gemstone such as a diamond and the drop gemstone was opaque - and looked like either rose quartz or organic pink coral.

Depending how rose quartz is cut it can look transculent or opaque - that is the gemstone has more of a flat shiny surface that you can not see through. Coral, as it was originally a living creature, is not a gemstone rather it is organic - the same as pearls, amber and jet.

Well, fast forward to this year's Oscars. Ms Watts had on what appeared to be the same pair of drop earrings. They were translucent rose quartz drops. The post of the earring was a large square cut diamond - the designer - David Yurman.

There is a beautiful close up picture of these earrings on page 415 of March 2007 In Style magazine and a picture of Ms. Watts wearing them. The shape, size and color of these earrings perfectly compliment her features and makeup shades. This is a perfect example of choosing jewelry that fits not only the occasion but is carefully chosen to flatter.

Ms. Watts has very delicate features and is fair skinned. The simplicity of the drop earrings did not compete with her facial features. The pinkish hue of the rose quartz coordinated quite nicely with the blush and lip shades she wore.

Looking to recreate the look on a budget? I quickly checked out Overstock and here are a couple of suggestions that should fit most budgets:

Rose Quartz and Diamond Drop Earrings at Overstock for $139.99

Rose Quartz and Crystal Drop Earrings at Overstock for $22.95

Posted by Maire Loughran

There is no purchase required to enter a contest sponsered by Woman's Day magazine to win one of three pieces of Marah Lago jewelry.

One beautiful Marah Lago piece being given away in the contest is a triple toggle closure necklace that adjusts from choker length to 18 inches. That is just such a fantastic idea for a necklace.

Depending on the neckline profile of the blouse or dress you are wearing sometimes a choker just does not look good and sometimes 18 inches is just too long - it get swept up under your neckline.

This is also a great idea for office to evening. For example if you are wearing a low cut dress to the office with a t-shirt or tank underneath you can wear the necklace at choker length. Take off the t-shirt or tank to go out after work and the necklace can be adjusted downward towards your cleavage.

The necklace is set with a large center Larimar blue stone with blue topaz and iolite accent stone. Iolite is also known as 'water sapphire' to give you a little hint as to it's color.

Click here to find out more about how to enter the Marah Lago jewelry contest to win this necklace or one of the two others being given away

Posted by Maire Loughran

I love dig-for-fee mines. While I would not go as far as to say that I plan my vacation destinations solely on this criteria I am always happy if a mine is comfortable drive from where I am vacationing.

Diamonds are a very popular precious gemstone in the U.S. yet diamonds mines in the United States are pretty scarce. I think the only diamond dig-for-fee mine in the United States is at Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas (and this is the only diamond mine in the world that is open to the public).

Diamonds mined by the recreational prospectors at Crater of Diamonds usually total about a few hundred carats per year - so your chances of finding one are not too shabby.

Basically, you show up and pay a fee ($6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children) to dig for diamonds and you can keep any diamonds you find. Very basic equipment is also available for rent (very inexpensively).

There is a lot to do at Crater of Diamonds State Park besides the obvious digging for diamonds. There are nature trails, fishing facilities, a wildlife observation blind and much more that will interest the whole family.

A couple famous finds at the Crater of Diamonds:

• Strawn-Wagner Diamond – found in 1990 by an amateur - it is the most perfect diamond the American Gem Society (AGS) has ever rated.
• Uncle Sam Diamond – at a little over 40 carats this is the largest North American diamond found.

Check it out and let me know what you find - I love this place.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I have a very comprehensive textbook on the history of beads - but there is no mention at all in the book about the history of Mardi Gras beads or why green, purple and gold are the traditional colors.

However, I did find a very informative link explaning the history behind Mardi Gras and the symbolism behind those three colors. The three colors represent justice (purple) , faith (green) and power (gold).

The wearing of gold jewelry has been a symbol of power throughout modern history. Gold, being a precious metal, is expensive and the amount of gold worn represented the wearer's standing in the community. And is that not still true today?

If you are headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this week and you would like to purchase some jewelry with a purpose my recommendation is Erzulie's Authentic Voodoo located at 808 Rue Royal in the French Quarter. Erzulies does not sell Madri Gras beads - bumble into Jackson Square and I am sure you will find many street vendors selling some cheap.

Erzulies does sell beaded jewelry that is combined and blessed by voodoo practitioners for specific purposes. I was in New Orleans last month and the owner of Erzulies, Anna Parmelee, took me on a tour of her lab and I met some staff at the shop. Believe me - when they say the jewelry was blessed in a certain way or that the seven components used were purchased according to tradition in seven different stores - they mean it.

The name says it all - Erzulies Authentic Voodoo. If you happen to see Anna at Erzulie's please tell her Maire says hello.

Posted by Maire Loughran

This Valentine's Day buy some heart themed jewelry and help woman's health awareness.

Swarovski has a new line of crystal jewelry tied to the Go Red for Women health initiative. They have pledged to donate a portion of all sales of this line of jewelry up to $125,000 to benefit woman's heart related health initiatives in the USA.

Not familiar with Swarovski? This jewelry manufacturer is considered to be the top of the line as far as crystal beads and jewelry. Swarovski jewelry is made from crystalline - not the gemstone quartz crystal.

Their beads are sold through many trade jewelry catalogs such as Rio Grande and can also be purchased in smaller lots at many arts and crafts stores.

Swarovski is offering 7 pieces in this collection consisting of rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Most of the pieces have either heart shaped charms set with clear crystals or pink colored crystals. The pink colored crystals resemble the gemstone pink tourmaline.

For example, there is a pair of sterling silver and pink crystal drop earrings and a dainty, linked silver bracelet hung with a clear crystal heart charm.

Find out more about this offer at the direct link to that page at Swarovski online.

Posted by Maire Loughran

It is hard to contemplate a wardrobe for Fall when it's only February and it is just so darn snowy in many parts of the country. None the less the fall fashions were presented in New York last week.

What's hot - simple dresses and pants, and in the case of Mizrahi - pants with a dress (or long tunics with pants) ala BBCs What Not to Wear. Plum, brown and black are once again popular colors as are yellow, gray and emerald green.

What does this mean jewelry wise? Well, most of the jewelry that you might have purchased for last fall and this spring and summer will migrate nicely in fall 2007. Remember the proliferation of amethyst being worn with purple gowns at many award shows last fall? Well, plum is a deep rich hue of purple so any amethyst jewelry you might have purchased will coordinate wonderfully.

Your gold chains will look quite elegant with the simple styling of fall's dresses. Gold is also the best precious metal to wear to coordinate with brown and taupe colors. Remember though that the simple styles of clothing being shown for fall 2007 can more than likely support more elaborate jewelry than say a poufy, ruffled top from the spring.

Chandelier earrings remain in vogue - the chunkier you can wear with your facial shape and features - the better. Of course, if you have very delicate features less ornate chandelier earrings will be in order. Hold the earrings up to your face and examine from many angles - make sure the earrings do not overwhelm your face.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Bag, Borrow or Steal originally just rented couture handbags. They have now expanded their services to also renting jewelry and belts.

Check out their Valentine's Day jewelry specials. They have some fabulous couture earrings and necklaces by Vera Wang, Kara Ross and Simon Alcantara.

For example - couture pink tourmaline, 18K white gold drop earrings by Vera Wang. These earrings are a vibrant pink color with large pear-shaped tourmaline gemstones accented by 132 diamonds. That's right - 132 diamonds.

The earrings can be borrowed by the week or by the month: $265 for a week or $795 for a month. $265 might seem a bit pricey but these earrings look reallly spectacular.

Less expensive is a luminous pearl choker necklace by Kenneth Jay Lane. This choker strings large (slightly over 1 inch in diameter), creamy, opalescent pearls finished with a gold chain adjustable closure. This necklace can be had for $8/week or $25/month.

Why buy when Bag, Borrow or Steal makes it so easy and inexpensive to borrow.

If you can not find that perfect piece of jewelry at Beg Borrow or Steal check out the selection at Borrow Bling. I personally do not have any experience renting from Borrow Bling but the terms and conditions seem similar to that of Bag, Borrow or Steal. In addition to jewelry, evening bags and belts Borrow Bling also rents accessories such as designer sunglasses. Their website is worth a look.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Since Amethyst is the birthstone for February it is not surprising that it is also the birthstone of St. Valentine.

I've always thought that rubies make a nicer Valentine's Day present and I have found the perfect pair of ruby colored murano glass heart earrings with pearl danglers at RedEnvelope. Not only are they gorgeous but they are very affordably priced at $38.

The earrings come with sterling silver leverbacks.

Choose next day delivery and you can order as late as 6:00pm on February 13th.

As a bonus RedEnvelope is also giving away 25 nested heart trays. The set contains a tray in lilac, pink and red. The giveaway goes from February 1st to March 1st and no purchase is necessary.

Click on my giveaway link in the paragraph above and you will be taken to the Woman's Day website. Click on 'giveways' in the left hand tool bar and scroll about 1/2 way down the page that loads to access the nested tray giveaway.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Whether this beautiful purple crystal is your birthstone or not you can dig for beautiful 'grape jelly' amethyst at Jackson's Crossroads in Wilkes County, GA.

Grape jelly amethyst is so called because it's hue is similar to that of grape jelly. It is a strong, rich purple color with no brown tones.

If you are interested in digging for amethyst the next dig is scheduled for February 24, 2007 at the Hogg Mine in Lagrange Ga.

Click here for more information about amethyst, the birthstone for February.

Interested in digging for diamonds in Arkansas? FInd out about the only open to the public diamond mine in the world - and you can dig for your own diamonds there too.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I loved the book the devil wears prada but did not get around to seeing the movie when it original played in the movie theaters. I finally got around to watching it on pay per view last week and was really impressed by the use of layered gold necklaces worn by the Andy character.

I scouted around the internet to find a recommendation for a attractive yet affordable karated gold necklace and my top pick was found at Blue Nile.

My favorite was a 18k gold bar lariet necklace. It has a slightly layered look and can also serve as a foundation for shorter gold chains to create a total layered look.

Affordability is relative - however at $200 I found this necklace to be a good deal.

I've never ordered from Blue Nile. However, my brother did 'build' his wife's engagement ring there and was totally satisfied with the result.

They have a 30 day return policy - check out the link at the bottom of their page for complete details.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Chandelier earrings are just a very nice look for evening wear. They look dramatic when your hair is swept up and they also are very noticeable when you wear your hair down.

I saw some really attractive chandelier earrings on Katherine Heige, Vanessa Williams (my favorite) and Sheryl Crow.

Naomi Watts worn a stunning pair of drop earrings. They were gold with a single large teardrop shaped stone. The stone was opaque - I've done some research but I still am unsure of the nature of the stone - might be rose quartz or organic pink coral.

Posted by Maire Loughran

A while ago I wrote an article on different types of earrings and I referenced Jolie's love for hoop earrings and the absolutely fabulous 14K gold hoop earrings she was currently wearing. Since then it has been driving me crazy - I know I saved an article I had read about the jewelry artist who made those earrings but I could not find it.

I finally found the article - I had just ripped it out of the magazine - so I am not sure it's origin. Perhaps In Style or Vogue - apparently Angelina Jolie was given by the designer a pair of Lana Jewelry La Bangles 14k gold hoop earrings to wear to the premiere of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. She liked them so much she purchased them for her personal use.

They are quite cool. Here is the link to Lana Jewelry's website. Lana has devoted a page on the website to various celebrites wearing her jewelry.

Loaning jewelry to celebrities is a common practice by designers. The amount of exposure received by the designer via electronic and print media is just stunning. Unfortunately there are some celebrities out there that perhaps are not as eager to return or buy the jewelry as Ms. Jolie. Recent jewelry trade magazines that I have read indicate that more and more designers are having celebrities sign statements attesting to the fact that the celebrity realizes that the use of the jewelry is just that - a loan.

Posted by Maire Loughran

Chandelier earrings traditionally were made with one large gemstone from which three smaller gemstones hung. Modern chandelier earrings can have many different levels with charms or metal beads hung in place of the gemstones.

This style of earring had a hugh presence at the 2006 Golden Globe awards. I also noticed quite a few of the guests at the recent Cruise/Holmes wedding wearing chandelier earrings. I imagine chandelier earrings will be seen at the upcoming 2007 Golden Globe awards.

Here are two links to chandelier earrings at Novica to get that Golden Globes look on a budget:

Amethyst and Sterling Silver - amethyst is the birthstone for February.

Blue Topaz and Zircon - blue topaz was the second most popular colored gemstone in 2006.

Posted by Maire Loughran

I was flipping through the January/February 2007 edition of Colored Stone magazine last night and was not too surprised to see that Blue Topaz has gone from being the 8th most popular colored gemstone in 2004 to number 2 for 2006.

I started working with blue topaz back in 2002 combining it with moonstone for a weight loss ritual bracelet. At that time blue topaz was relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Over the years these two facts have changed - obviously because of the surge in popularity of blue topaz.

Blue sapphire has consistantly come in at number 1 and my favorite blue gemstone aquamarine did not even make the top ten list for 2007.

Neutral colors (black, white and tan) dominated the runways for Spring 2007. Blue topaz can be worn with all three.

Posted by Maire Loughran

My last article discussed how I store my jewelry. I mention the plastic bag and anti-tarnish strip method and provide a link to Fire Mountain Gems - a seller of anti-tarnish strips.

However, you can just do a google search for '3M anti-tarnish' and find many different vendors of anti-tarnish strips and tabs. You can find small jewelry size plastic bags at Wal-Mart, JoAnn Fabrics and most craft stores like Pearl'sand Micheal's. I've also purchased them online but there are large minimum orders.

Worried about the anti-tarnish strip brushing up against your jewelry in the bag? Don't be - the active ingredients in the strips that retard the tarnishing do absolutely no harm to your jewelry.

As I mention in the article you still need to occasionally polish your sterling silver jewelry but using the anti-tarnish strips dramatically decreases the frequency.

Posted by Maire Loughran

No matter how familiar I am with a particular gemstone I always do additional research while writing any article to see if there is any updated news about the stone.

Garnet is the classic choice of gemstone for January. I do not work with garnet alot so I was very interested in finding out about color changing garnets.

Apparently there is a variety of garnet, pyrope-spessartine species, that changes color based upon the source of light. Now, all colors do appear as different shades in bright light versus shadow but these garnets actually change hue.

Obviously they are quite costly. This link to the International Gem Society shows a color changing garnet currently for sale.

More color changing garnets can be viewed at Multicolor Gems.

Please be advised, unlike my article on buying jewelry for the holidays, the links to the IGS and Multicolor Gems are not meant as endorsements. I have no knowledge, good or bad, of these two sites. The links to the IGS and Multicolor Gems are provided simply for the images of the color changing garnets.