Saturday, March 31, 2012

JEWELRY SAFE AND SOUND

The trail starts in 1917 in Russia when Bolshevik revolutionaries shot to death the Czarist royal family who had sewn priceless rings, necklaces and other jewels into their undergarments. 
 Royal Russian fine jewelry continues to be the stuff of mystery.

INTRIGUE

Dateline yesterday, from AP, renovators found priceless pre-Bolshevik era jewelry and artifacts hidden inside a secret compartment in a St. Petersburg’s mansion.
During World War II, Nazis looted, boxed-up and shipped-out untold amounts of Royal jewelry and other priceless treasure from the Soviet Union. At least 2 James Bond 007 movie plots feature Russian jewelry.
The city government and the Communist party (yeah, they're still around) made claims to the jewelry found yesterday.  AP reports that French descendants of the nobles who owned the mansion before the revolution may have a valid claim to the treasure.

Have you taken steps to safeguard your own jewelry, art and other valuables? Here's how.

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES

  1. Insure items at market price NOW, rates are low on jewelry riders under homeowners/renters policies.
  2. Place valuables in a bank safety deposit box, about $50 for small boxes.
  3. Install an in-home safe
  4. Remove valuables from view on dresser tops and in cabinets
  5. Carry minimal amounts of jewelry while traveling
  6. Use hotel safes for items from premier jewelry designers.

MOTHER’S DAY JEWELRY GIFTS – NOW OR, UGH, LATER!


Want to avoid floundering in a sea of people gift shopping? Here are a few fine jewelry ideas for early Mother’s Day shopping in less crowded stores.
1. Do you love your mother’s strand of white pearls, that look just like Jackie O's?
  • Consider buying a strand of multicolored pearls in soft hues.

2. Does Mom always wear her diamond pendant?
  • Look for a couple of sapphire pendants she can add-on for the trendy charm necklace look.

3. Is the crystal scratched on her wristwatch?
  • Get a new diamond Swiss watch with a sapphire crystal.
4. Has Mom worn the same small gold hoop earrings for … well, forever?
  • Shop for small diamond hoops so she can update.
5. Is your mother’s wedding ring in the bank safety deposit box?
  • Shop for a handcrafted garnet, amethyst, or crystal gemstone right-hand statement ring
Start shopping early, pronto, to avoid being among  the last-minute crowds looking for a fine jewelry present. I admit some of these gift ideas are pricey.  Save up now to surprise your priceless lady.


Friday, March 30, 2012

WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR MUCH JEWELRY

There will be times and places when you will want to have an understated jewelry look.  Here are suggestions for those events that allow you to still feel gorgeous:

 SOME IDEAS

  • Very small, eye clean white diamond stud earrings about .2 carat with maximum facets
  • Swiss watch
  • Replica of your wedding ring in gold overlay with a diamond substitute
  • Small gold ball earrings 18k gold
  • Sapphire earrings, any color or white
  • Handcrafted jewelry can be a subtle focal point.

These suggestions are for times when there’s the risk of your treasure being lost, stolen or misinterpreted:

SCENARIOS 


  • You’ve got to ride public transportation through the city to downtown
  • You have to go through Homeland security at the airport
  • Traveling and hotels stays.  Over $100,000 in jewelry was stolen from one of the Beastie Boys during a hotel stay earlier this month.  He had insurance, you should get it too, now not later, to cover theft and loss.
  • You are going to spend the afternoon at the beach
  • You’ll be in a meeting, interview or financial audit
  • You DON’T want to wear much jewelry period and prefer looking unadorned.

JEWELRY FOR WHEN YOU'RE BARELY WEARING THAT DRESS

Do you want to look as polished as Jennifer Lopez in huge diamond dangles or Viola Davis in emerald earrings at this year's Oscars?

TAKE  YOUR TIME


What's the smartest way to find the best jewelry to show-off your bare skin in your barely-there evening wear ? Answer: Slowly.  Don't wait until the last minute and wind-up throwing on the same gold Swiss watch, pearl necklace and diamond stud earrings you wear to work.

About a week before your big-time event, start going through your fine jewelry stash of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Pull out all jewelry pieces that are sparkly, long and chunky items.

Then pull out the trendy unique stuff you've bought over the years, for example,  feathered earrings and animal rings. Don't forget your costume jewelry, it can be just as striking as items by top jewelry designers.

Start testing the jewelry combinations you are comfortable wearing together. Then take everything off.

TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT


Don't  stop there.  Next start putting-on jewelry combinations you've never worn before but have seen other people wearing online, on TV, in magazines, at church, walking down the street and so on.

Long feathered earrings are making a big statement now.  Maybe you can combine them with your big diamond studs. The South Asian, eclectic look is popular.

One large bracelet with an animal design like a jeweled snake can be attention grabbing. Big colored gemstones make the biggest fashion statement.  Bold gold jewelry is always classy.

Don't have what you need? Start shopping at once  online or go to the jewelry store.

MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOUR JEWELRY


Look in the mirror and make sure you can see every jewelry piece from ACROSS THE ROOM.   Then decide which rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces you are going to wear with the dress you'll barely be wearing.

Take your time and you'll  find a rare look that's precious with your evening gown.