#AGTA - Winner of the Editor's Choice Award at the 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

It was less than a week ago that I posted the Winners of 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards™. 

Following that announcement the AGTA hosts an Editor's Event.  AGTA sends invitations to the Editors of publications, blogs and news sources to a prestigious  where all of the entries are on display and they get to vote on an Editor's Choice Award Winner.

What I have always found interesting is just how rarely the Editor's Choice and Judges' Best in Show are the same piece....I guess it really is all about viewpoint.

If you want to see a few of the Editor favorites, Cheryl Kremkow has posted some drool worthy earrings in a recent blog post!   

http://cherylkremkow.com/designer-jewelry/spectrum-award-earrings-to-covet/

....and now, the winner, "Sometime This Spring" fire opal earrings by Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers!

Photo Source: Facebook & Instagram

#GuestPost #Watches - Eponymous Stephen Silver Watch Boutique Finds a Home in Menlo Park

I am honored beyond words to be able to feature the work of a woman I consider a mentor who has an international reputation for her ability to put pen to paper and produce some of the most beautifully structured prose.  Diana Jarrett is one of the most sought after freelance writers in the Luxury Industries, you may know her trademark feature column,  "The Story Behind The Stone" for the Midwest & Southern Jewelry News. A Gem Expert, Diana is a Graduate Gemologist and Registered Master Valuer.

http://www.dianajarrett.com

http://www.color-n-ice.blogspot.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            _________________________________________________________

Distinguished Jeweler Resonates with Riche

Stephen Silver Watch Boutique Shows How It's Done in Menlo Park

Stephen Silver likes jewels, but not just any kind. The ones attracting this celebrated jeweler are storied miniature works of art. They represent the foundation of his Silicon Valley based company. His business enjoys dynamic customer loyalty in response to his nurturing of clients who often become lifelong friends, and for his joyful philanthropic efforts.

Rare McLaren super cars dazzled Stephen Silver Watch Boutique
celebrants at the Rosewood at Sand Hill hotel,  Menlo Park, CA

Now Silver has taken a bold step with the opening of his eponymously named Stephen Silver Watch Boutique at the uber chic Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel in Menlo Park, CA. The ribbon cutting ceremony and by-invitation press event occurred on October 17, 2014. 

Guests get a close up preview of an extraordinary Victorian diamond tiara

Inside the sleek boutique, signed pieces fit for royalty glitter from within elegantly modern cases alongside supersized diamonds and Edwardian tiaras. 

Guests enjoyed discovering watches like those of Parmigiani

Across the aisle reside nine rare timepiece brands appearing like the Who's Who of horological triumphs. Rare limited editions from Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, Ulysse Nardin, Laurent Ferrier, HYT, Arnold & Son, Ressence, Parmigiani, and DEVON comprise the stellar line up. Each of the carefully selected collections boasts heart-stopping technological feats. And that was the plan from the get-go. 

The rare 22 ct La Splendeur Doree diamond was on hand too

Menlo Park is arguably one of the most affluent regions in the US, perhaps the entire world. Sand Hill Road is where the scions of technology and venture capitalists hobnob in relative undisturbed privacy. This group's short list for what moves them in regards to luxury goods is quite different than you'd think. For example, they may want their timepiece to be as discreet as they are. They are also moved by innovation, not glitz. 

“Our collectors expect to find cutting-edge technology in a timepiece. Each of the brands offered excite the imagination of our clients in that respect,” notes Andrew Block, president of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry. “These timepieces resonate with the Menlo Park demographic who have extraordinary wealth but don’t walk around flaunting it,” he finds.

Stephen Silver company president Andrew Block
and Stephen Silver share a light moment

“These are not brands one finds elsewhere,” Block points out. Mainstream watches can be found in malls all over the country, he adds. “Our timepieces are not for everyone, and that’s fine. The exclusive watches at our boutique speak to a discerning clientele,” Block explains. “We have a different level of watch fans that are true aficionados and know each watch in there.”

 Innovative hydro-mechanical small edition HYT watch

Silver may be raising the bar on a new business model for the luxury goods sector. With the Stephen Silver Watch Boutique at least, he seems to have hit the trifecta; melding expertise with top tier brands to a demographic who expect to be wowed by real innovation. 

Leading industry expert Bill Boyajian who attended the celebratory event thinks so. “Steve has executed on a concept with his niche boutique that has a great prospect of being a game-changer in the industry; offering a new model to the rich and famous.”

#AGTA Announces Winners of 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

AGTA Announces Winners 

of 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards™

The American Gem Trade Association announced the winners of the prestigious AGTA Spectrum Awards™ today. The design competition, in its 31st year, was held in New York, October 25th and 26th. The distinguished panel of judges were: Jerrold Green, of Reginald C. Miller; Myriam Gumuchian of Gumuchian; Joseph Mardkha of ColorMasters; Tim McClelland of McTiegue & McClellan; Larry Pelzel of Neiman Marcus; and Dr. Jeffrey Post, Smithsonian Institution.

“We were thrilled with the variety of entries at this year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition,” enthused Douglas K. Hucker, CEO, AGTA. “I did not envy the decisions that our judges had to make, yet I was pleased to see how carefully they deliberated over each and every decision they made, resulting in this year’s amazing list of winners,”

And the winners of the 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ are….

Best of ... Winners:

Best of Show

Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 4.71 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with French-cut Diamonds (1.31 ctw.).

Best Use of Color

Paula Crevoshay, Crevoshay - 18K yellow gold "The Venus Bracelet" featuring freshwater baroque cultured Pearls (91.43 ctw.) accented with pink and green Tourmalines (29.32 ctw.).

Best Use of Platinum and Color

Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design - Platinum "Anemone" earrings featuring Tanzanites (5.37 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (2.88 ctw.), purple Sapphires (3.72 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (1.67 ctw.), indigo Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) Paraiba Tourmalines (.26 ctw.) and Diamonds (.16 ctw.).

Best Use of Pearls

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - 18K rose gold necklace featuring white cultured Pearls accented with pink Diamonds.

Fashion Forward Honors: 

This award recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearl in artful, 

trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualified for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging. 

Ion Ionescu, Ionescu Design, Inc. - 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 36 ct. Turquoise accented with a 9.2mm Tahitian silver cultured Pearl, Paraiba Tourmalines (.32 ctw.) and Diamonds (.43 ctw.).

Category Winners:

AGTA Spectrum Awards™ entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones. 

AGTA Cutting Edge Awards™ honor excellence and creativity in lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials.  (the Cutting Edge Awards are covered in a separate post)

Bridal Wear Sponsored by The Knot:

Whether gracing the bridesmaids or donning the bride, herself, this category captures all looks coming down the aisle. Engagement rings, wedding bands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and tiaras were considered. 

Bridal Wear - 1st Place
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design - Platinum "Anemone" earrings featuring Tanzanites (5.37 ctw.) accented with blue Zircons (2.88 ctw.), purple Sapphires (3.72 ctw.), tsavorite Garnets (1.67 ctw.), indigo Tourmalines (.40 ctw.) Paraiba Tourmalines (.26 ctw.) and Diamonds (.16 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - 2nd Place and Manufacturing Honors
Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx - 18K rose and white gold ring featuring a .80 ct. golden Beryl accented with orange Citrines, orange Sapphires and Diamonds.

Bridal Wear - 3rd Place and Platinum Honors
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry - Platinum earrings featuring Diamond slices (7.07 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.67 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Honorable Mention
Bella Campbell, Campbellian - Platinum earrings featuring Aquamarines (5.61 ctw.) and grossular Garnets (3.51 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.56 ctw.).

Platinum Honors: 

Once again awarded with the support of Platinum Guild International. All entries whose primary metal was platinum were eligible in this category. 

Bridal Wear - Platinum Honors
Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry - Platinum earrings featuring Diamond slices (7.07 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (.67 ctw.).

Bridal Wear - Entry Platinum Innovation
Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry - Platinum "Tilt-A-Whirl" ring featuring a 2.06 ct. Tanzanite accented with Diamonds (1.63 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Platinum Honors
Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith - Platinum "Blooming" ring featuring a 21.40 ct. Opal accented with spessartite Garnets (1.35 ctw.) and Diamonds.

Classical - Platinum Honors
Rex McClure, Sohn & McClure Jewelers - Platinum ring featuring a 4.16 ct. Emerald accented with white Diamond baguettes (1.20 ctw.) and yellow Diamonds (.21 ctw.).

Classical - Entry Platinum Innovation
Mimi Favre, Mimi Favre Studio - Platinum "Etude d'Vert" earrings featuring tapered drops of shades of green Tourmalines (15.50 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Platinum Honors
Cara Becker Lichtenstein, My Blue Heaven - Platinum bracelet featuring multicolored Tourmalines (7.26 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.29 ctw.).

Men's Wear - Platinum Honors

Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - Platinum "His and His" rings featuring brown natural Diamonds (5.68 ctw.).

WJA Gem Diva Awards: 

Now in its third year with the Spectrum Awards with the support of WJA, awards were presented in the Bridal Wear, Evening Wear, Classical and Business/Day Wear categories. All women who 

entered the Spectrum Awards competition were eligible for this category simply by marking the check-box for Gem Diva on their entry form. 

Bridal Wear - Gem Diva Award
Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan - 18K white gold necklace featuring a 30mm white Topaz accented with white Diamonds (3.70 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - Gem Diva Award
Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine - 18K gold and sterling silver "Jewel" ring featuring a 24.6 ct. green Quartz accented with Diamonds (.23 ctw.).

Classical - Gem Diva Award
Caroline Chartuni, Caroline C - 18K white gold "Astra" ring featuring a 24.16 ct. star Sapphire accented with Diamonds (8.08 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Gem Diva Award
Maria Canale, Suna Bros. Inc. - Platinum and 20K pink gold bracelet featuring multi-colored natural Spinels (44.31 ctw.) accented with white Diamonds (6.80 ctw.) and pink Diamonds (1.00 ctw.).


Manufacturing Honors:

All designs that qualified for the Spectrum Awards competition were considered for Manufacturing Honors.  This award celebrates outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. 

Bridal Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx - 18K rose and white gold ring featuring a .80 ct. golden Beryl accented with orange Citrines, orange Sapphires and Diamonds.

Business/Day Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd. - 18K yellow gold ring featuring a 11.25 ct. Chrysocolla accented with tsavorite Garnets (.56 ctw.) and Diamonds (.62 ctw.).

Classical - Manufacturing Honors
Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design - Platinum ring featuring a 5.81 ct. green Sapphire accented with Diamonds (3.87 ctw.).

Evening Wear - Manufacturing Honors
Linda Quinn, Linda Quinn Designs - 14K white gold ring featuring a 6.11 ct. pink Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (1.24 ctw.).

Business/ Day Wear:

Business/Day Wear - 1st Place
Jennifer Rabe Morin, Gregore Joailliers - 18K rose gold ring featuring carved Turquoise (29.0 ctw.) accented with Amethyst cabochons (14.0 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 2nd Place
Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine - 18K gold and sterling silver "Jewel" ring featuring a 24.6 ct. green Quartz accented with Diamonds (.23 ctw.).

Business/Day Wear - 3rd Place
Heath London, Heath London Jewelry - 18K yellow gold and copper "In The Swim" earrings featuring Paraiba Tourmalines (7.11 ctw.) accented with pink Tourmalines (2.23 ctw.) and Diamonds (.80 ctw.).



Classical:

Classical - 1st Place
Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc. - Platinum ring featuring a 4.71 ct. Paraiba Tourmaline accented with French-cut Diamonds (1.31 ctw.).

Classical – 2nd Place
Heena Chheda, Real Gems, Inc. - 18K white gold "Ophion's Treasure" ring featuring Emeralds (6.74 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (2.19 ctw.).

Classical - 3rd Place
Evelyn Huang, China Art & Fine Jewelry, Inc. - 18K yellow and white gold "Midnight Kiss" ring featuring a 5.76 ct. unheated blue Sapphire accented with white and yellow Diamonds (1.18 ctw.), blue Sapphires (.91 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (.79 ctw.).


Evening Wear:

Evening Wear - 1st Place
Maria Canale, Suna Bros. Inc. - Platinum and 20K pink gold bracelet featuring multi-colored natural Spinels (44.31 ctw.) accented with white Diamonds (6.80 ctw.) and pink Diamonds (1.00 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 2nd Place
Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc. - 18K yellow gold "Milky Way" earrings featuring Opal drops (46.06 ctw.) accented with Diamonds (1.98 ctw.) and Paraiba Tourmalines (2.03 ctw.).

Evening Wear - 3rd Place
Gil, Gil Int'l - Platinum ring featuring a 6.50 ct. Alexandrite accented with Diamonds.

Evening Wear - Honorable Mention
Wendy Brandes, Wendy Brandes Jewelry - 18K pink gold "Pink Elephant & Tipsy Writer Maneater" ring featuring a pink Sapphire elephant (2.0 ctw.) accented with a Ruby and brown and white Diamonds (2.23 ctw.).

Men’s Wear:

Men's Wear - 1st Place

Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Fine Jewelry Studio - 18K red gold and stainless steel "Pink2" cufflinks featuring pillow cut Morganites (8.74 ctw.) accented with Rubies (.87 ctw.) and Diamonds (.60 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 2nd Place

Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design - Platinum ring featuring a 16.73 ct. Tourmaline accented with yellow Diamonds (.67 ctw.) and tsavorite Garnets (1.02 ctw.).

Men's Wear - 3rd Place

Micheal Kanners, Michael Kanners - 18K blackened gold cufflinks featuring Tanzanites 20.06 ctw.) accented with tsavorite Garnet (6.5 ctw.).

Men's Wear - Honorable Mention

William Travis, William Travis Jewelry - 18K yellow gold and sterling silver ring featuring a 13.17 ct. Citrine.

This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards™ will be presented during the 2015 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson to be held February 3 - 8 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. Winning entries will be displayed during the show and AGTA Spectrum Awards™ recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala. The event starts at 7:00 pm Saturday, February 7. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged. 

For further information on the 2015 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson or the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, please call (800) 972-1162 or visit our website at www.agta.org. For inquiries regarding the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition, please contact Megan Whitmire at megan@agta.org or (800) 972-1162. 

The American Gem Trade Association is a not-for-profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as "The Authority In Color" and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.

#SilentSaturday - GORJANA HAS TEAMED WITH KALEY CUOCO SWEETING DESIGN JEWELRY TO #DOGOOD

Gorjana & Griffin: The company began in 2004, born from the design and business ambition of husband and wife, Gorjana and Jason Griffin Reidel, whose bi-coastal residencies have fused a West Coast lifestyle inspiration with the sophistication and polish of East Coast trends into each design and collection. The company offers functional, stylish and highly wearable jewelry and other accessories – branded gorjana for women and griffin for men. In addition, gorjana & griffin is committed to charity and social causes.

Design supporting their local Children's Hospital - CHOC:

Gorjana & Griffin website:  Live. Love. Layer | www.gorjana.com

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/gorjanagriffin

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/gorjana

Pinterest:    http://www.pinterest.com/gorjanagriffin

DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND APPROVES GRANTS TOTALING $240,000

DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND 

APPROVES GRANTS TOTALING $240,000 

The board of directors of the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) today approved the granting of funds to its existing beneficiaries, the African Leadership Academy, Botswana Top Achievers Program, and CIDA City Campus, and added a $15,000 donation to the Tanzania-based Flaviana “We are thrilled to be supporting these four amazing programs,” said Phyllis Bergman, president of D.E.F’s board of directors. “Each of these organizations has a mission of empowerment through education, which reflects the core of D.E.F’s mission. We are thankful for the support of our partners and look forward to continuing to spread the message that through the industry’s efforts, ‘Diamonds Do Good’.”
(diamondempowerment.org).

The $240,000 is the result of funds raised by D.E.F’s Diamonds In The Sky Las Vegas event held at the Four Seasons Hotel this past May. D.E.F received a tremendous outpouring of support by the industry, including Premier Presenting Sponsors De Beers Group of Companies, Rio Tinto Diamonds, and Signet Jewelers Limited (Kay Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Zales Jewelers). Joining them were Premier Partner Sponsor Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, and Premier Patron Sponsors KGK Group, Le Vian Group and Tiffany & Co. A full listing of sponsors can be found on diamondsintheskylasvegas.org.

DEF’s first beneficiary, CIDA City Campus, is South Africa’s first non-profit university to
offer a four-year business degree. CIDA has an 80% employment rate among graduates.

The African Leadership Academy is a university preparatory school in Johannesburg,
South Africa, founded on the belief that ethical leadership is the key to sustainable
development on the continent. Students come from all 54 countries in Africa. The
Botswana Top Achievers program provides the top high school students countrywide
the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then
return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development. 

The Flaviana Matata Foundation was founded by Flaviana Matata, an international fashion
model and D.E.F. Ambassador. The Foundation seeks to create a future through
education and improve livelihoods among the youth in Tanzania. D.E.F is also actively
looking to expand its beneficiaries to other areas of the world where the industry does business.

In an effort to further communicate the positive impact the industry has on diamond
communities, D.E.F will be highlighting scholars from each of its existing beneficiary
programs on its consumer facing ‘DiamondsDoGood.Com’ website, currently in
development with Condé Nast Media Group and set to launch in late 2014. D.E.F.
Scholars will also be in attendance at the upcoming GOOD Awards
(www.goodawards.org) to be held in New York City on January 8. 

The good works of Jane Seymour and her Open Hearts Foundation together with David Rocha and Jewelers for Children will be honored at the event.

Gemfield's Welcomes GIA Field Gemologists into Zambian Emerald Mines

GIA Field Gemologists Gain Insight into Zambian Emerald Mining

Kafubu region is home to the world’s largest emerald mining operation

Tao Hsu with a large emerald found at the
Charma pit of the Kagem mine. This will
be added to the GIA reference collection
for research and educational purposes. Photo
by Vincent Pardieu; © GIA.

In September 2014, a team of GIA (Gemological Institute of America) field researchers journeyed to Zambia to collect emerald samples for the Institute’s gem identification database and to document the current state of Kagem, the world’s largest emerald mine, located in the Kafubu mining area. Since Gemfields, the publicly-traded gemstone mining company, acquired the open pit mining operations six years ago, ore mining has increased from 3,000 to 8,000 tons per month and rock handling has increased from 125,000 to 750,000 tons per month.

Field Gemologists Vincent Pardieu and Andrew Lucas, Gems & Gemology (G&G) Technical Editor Tao Hsu, videographer Didier Gruel and expedition guest Stanislas Detroyat made up the research team. “I’ve visited numerous colored gemstone mining operations throughout the world, but one of this size, modernization and organization really gives a visual of the changes that may be coming to our industry,” said Lucas.

“Standing in front of the pit is like looking at a geological textbook,” added Detroyat. By combining an understanding of the geology with professional mining methods, Gemfields has turned Kagem into a profitable operation. In July 2009, its first high-grade rough emerald auction achieved $4.4 million, and in February 2014, $59.31 million.

Robert Gessner from Gemfields explains the local geology underground at the Kagem mine to
Tao Hsu, Andrew Lucas and Stanislas Detroyat. Photo by Vincent Pardieu; © GIA.

Along with a standardized grading system for emerald rough and an auction platform, environmentally sound practices and community outreach programs have revolutionized the mine-to-market gemstone business. In-pit dumping ensures that the environmental liability is kept as low as possible, while increased exploratory drilling, mapping of pegmatite and talc magnetite schist, resource calculations and mining software have improved the technical output of the mine.

Following the visit to Kagem, Pardieu, along with Detroyat and Gruel, continued on to additional Zambian emerald mines to collect comparative samples. At the small mining operation of Musakashi in the Solwesi province, the team confirmed the existence of an emerald deposit with interesting internal features and color reminiscent of Colombian emeralds as reported in the summer 2014 issue of G&G. Meanwhile, several other operations in the Kafubu area, such as Miku, Dabuisha, Matenke and Benisa, are now run by Chinese companies.

Wida Kapiji, son of Prince Martin, displaying 

an emerald found at his mine, Musakashi. 

Photo by Vincent Pardieu; © GIA.

“It was fascinating to visit and study the Kafubu emerald mining area, one of the oldest gemstone producing areas is Africa, and to witness the challenges faced by the local miners. In comparison to other gems, emerald is very difficult to mine since it’s mainly mined from primary deposits and production is technically much more challenging,” said Pardieu.

In keeping with its mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry, GIA regularly conducts research field trips to important gem and jewelry centers around the globe, incorporating findings into research practices and education programs and providing information to the trade and public. GIA appreciates the access and information provided during these visits; however, they should not be taken as or used as a commercial endorsement. Findings from the Zambia field trip will be featured in an upcoming issue of G&G, as well as in field reports and video documentaries on www.gia.edu.    

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu. 

#DesignSpotlight - Introducing a Very Tipsy #Maneater from Wendy Brandes

Introducing a Very Tipsy #Maneater 

from Wendy Brandes 

If you have ever had the opportunity to meet Wendy Brandes you know she sees the world from a different viewpoint. There are volumes of knowledge packed in among all the wacky fun that you never expect from this tiny bundle of energy that, by the way, looks to be in her early twenties!

I met Wendy at the Pricescope Soiree during Jewelry Week in Las Vegas where I was introduced to her New York Taxi Cab Ring the latest (at the time) from her Maneater series...

Wendy explains the concept behind her Maneater Series:

“The rings are inspired by my lifelong interest in powerful women. My signature Wendy Brandes jewelry line started with pieces that were named after real-life bad-ass women, including the warrior queen Xenobia and the 12th-century Empress Matilda. A lot of these strong women have been called “dragon lady” or “man eater” in pejorative ways. A tough man is just a guy doing his job, but there always has to be some kind of mean-sounding name for a tough woman, right? I got to thinking that some of these wimmins might have relished being called these names. I’m sure 7th-century Empress Wu would have been like, “Ha ha ha! Dragon lady! YOU’RE RIGHT!” before she executed the guy who spoke those words. Accordingly, each Maneater ring has a triumphant animal on top and a man tucked away inside the band.”

This week Wendy introduced the latest member of this esteemed assemblage - the "Pink Elephant and Tipsy Writer" ring.   Now I'm with you - how will Wendy give Pink Elephants an historical provenance?  well she did it!

"Novelist and journalist Jack London (1876 – 1916) was the first person to write about pink elephants as a hallucination suffered by a certain type of heavy drinker. My elephant is made of 18K rose gold and covered with 262 tiny pink sapphires totaling 2 carats. (She also has white diamond eyes.) The 18K-yellow-gold shank of the ring — representing a wooden bar — is set with 174 brown diamonds weighing 2.15 carats.

You can peek inside the ring to see the too-drunk, 18K-white-gold writer,  slumped between a wine bottle and a glass that’s adorned with another small white diamond - The look of the writer isn’t based on Jack London. Instead, it was loosely inspired by this photo of Cary Grant.

But Cary Grant looks a lot more dapper than my guy, who is really hurting."

 Just reading the stories of these rings will bring a smile to your face - so - I am going to introduce you to the entire Maneater series as daily posting as #DailyJewels next week!