WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN...

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN:
Celebrity vintage platinum jewelry trends starting from $1,450


Hollywood’s biggest names including Natalie Portman, Megan Fox, Helen Mirren, and Scarlett Johansson have recently been spotted wearing stunning vintage jewelry set in platinum. Whether it’s an engagement ring with a delicate engraving, a large diamond hair pin or a statement necklace, platinum jewelry is enduring which means that the setting will look as beautiful today as it did 100 years ago. Here are some of the hottest vintage styles. 

...Platinum offers style that lasts a lifetime...whether it is styled after a Princess (love the sapphire) or a classic Bud Style...enduring.

Art Deco Platinum Engagement Ring
From Fay Cullen, Inc.

Classic "Bud Style" Engagement Ring
in Platinum from Fay Cullen, Inc.

For more info on Platinum and current jewelry trends in precious platinum check out the website of Platinum Guild Int'l.

Happy Valentine's Day from Cari Jewelry

Thanks to Cari Jewelry for the following info:

Rory and Cari Streeter started Cari Jewelry in 2002 out of pure passion for making jewelry. They work together, to design, create and market their collection that has become a craze nationwide. Fashion, artistry and the people who wear their jewelry inspire them to continuously create new things.

Personalized pieces evoke emotion through words, names, dates and anything that has special meaning to the wearer. Each letter is skillfully and artistically hand-stamped, one at a time. Popular words include: LOVE, XOXO, FOREVER, AMORE, TRUE LOVE, JOY, HOPE, PEACE, GRATITUDE, FAITH, TRUTH, DREAM, FRIENDS, ALWAYS, names, dates, and initials of loved ones. Symbols include +, &, and a heart stamp.

Cari Jewelry is a collection of beautiful handmade jewelry that is interchangeable and can be personalized to have special meaning. Each design is hand-sculpted with a distinctive, organic style, is cast in sterling silver or 14kt gold and hand-finished with the greatest of care and attention to detail. Each piece is substantial and weighty with obvious quality in every aspect. People become addicted to the freedom to add pendants, charms, diamonds, gemstones, words and layer chains to create unique ensembles that will be treasured forever!

All pieces are made in the USA with recycled silver and gold and conflict-free diamonds and gemstones. 

#SAGJewelry - Live Tweeting SAG Red Carpet!

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I am a confessed Twitter-holic!  Well I have to tell you that there is no better time to check out Twitter than during Awards Season.  You can follow along and tweet live from TweetChat at: http://tweetchat.com/


It is always a great group of Journalists, Designers, Retailers and Fashionistas!  One red carpet after the other....join us!


Here is an example from last night's SAG Awards:

Halsteadbead RT @JewelryBizGuru: RT @donnajolly: would it kill someone 2 put some big jewelry on & walk down red carpet? I want to see large honking diamonds. #SAGjewelry -4:31 AM Jan 31st, 2011

GRAY_Gallery Sunrise wore a Platinum Multicolored Sapphire Ring and Yellow Gold Inside-Out Diamond Hoop Earrings by VRAM for GRAY. #SAGawards#SAGjewelry -9:53 PM Jan 30th, 2011

GRAY_Gallery Mark Ruffalo & wife Sunrise with vintage jewelry from GRAY. He wore Jeager Le Coultre Watch, circa 1960s from GRAY. #SAGawards#Sagjewelry -9:50 PM Jan 30th, 2011

GRAY_Gallery RT @Delphinewhij: Winona Ryder layering cognac and diamond bracelets and a black rose cut diamond ring by VRAM for GRAY!#SAGjewelry. -9:47 PM Jan 30th, 2011

jewelryinsider Rosario Dawson wore a Neil Lane cuff (@InStyle). I assume he did her green drop earrings (what stone?) too. Still on the hunt!#SAGjewelry -9:06 PM Jan 30th, 2011

JewelryBizGuru RT @stylewriternyc: Christina Hendricks paired her L'Wren Scott gown w/ 3-drop dia earrings by Sutra #SAGjewelry ...... -8:56 PM Jan 30th, 2011

Platinum ROCKED the SAG Red Carpet!

Stars stepped out in their Platinum last night for the red carpet at the “17th Annual SAG Awards” in Los Angeles on January 30th:

NATALIE PORTMAN: Platinum and yellow diamond drop earrings (27.95 carats), and platinum bangles by Tiffany & Co.
LEA MICHELE: Platinum and diamond earrings, platinum and diamond ring, and three platinum and diamond bracelets by Tiffany & Co.
JANUARY JONES: Platinum earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Platinum earrings and ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
CLAIRE DANES: Platinum and old mine cut diamond drop earrings (5.50 carats each), and a platinum and diamond bracelet from the 1960’s by Fred Leighton.
TINA FEY: Platinum and diamond earrings and ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
KYRA SEDGWICK: Vintage platinum and diamond bracelet watch (over 10 carats) by Cartier.
EDIE FALCO: Platinum and diamond cluster earrings, Art Deco platinum and diamond bracelet, and a platinum and diamond ring from the 1930’s by Fred Leighton.
JANE KRAKOWSKI: Platinum earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.
AMBER RILEY: Platinum and diamond 5 row bracelet (80 carats) by Chopard.
ANGELA KINSEY: Platinum and diamond bracelet (60 carats), and a platinum and diamond bracelet (27 carats) by Chopard.
JULIE BOWEN: Platinum and diamond dress clips, platinum and diamond bangles, platinum and diamond cocktail ring, and platinum stud earrings by Neil Lane.
EVA LONGORIA: Platinum and diamond chandelier earrings by Neil Lane.
AMY POEHLER: Platinum and diamond earrings and bracelet by Tacori.
JANE LYNCH: Platinum and diamond bangle bracelets, platinum and diamond drop earrings, platinum and diamond cocktail ring, and a platinum and diamond flower brooch by Neil Lane.
JAYMA MAYS: Platinum and diamond chandelier earrings by Neil Lane.
NAYA RIVERA: Platinum and diamond earrings, and a platinum cocktail ring with diamonds and a pearl by Neil Lane.
COLIN FIRTH: Platinum shirt studs with diamonds and onyx by Neil Lane.

Thanks for the information to my friends at Platinum Guild International (PGI) where platinum rocks everyday! 

Celebrities love platinum jewelry because it’s a naturally white metal, so it maximizes the brilliance of diamonds and other colored gemstones.

For more information on platinum jewelry, visit preciousplatinum.com/designgallery

Learn To Sell Handmade - Halstead Scholarship Available!

HALSTEAD SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE for JEWELRY ARTISTS

LEARN to SELL YOUR HANDMADE CREATIONS to GALLERIES and STORES

Through a generous gift from Halstead Bead Inc., scholarships are available for jewelry artists who want to receive business training in the Visiting Artist Program of the Buyers Market of American Craft.

     The Visiting Artist Program, coming to Philadelphia February 19-20, 2011, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, will provide one- and two-day workshops teaching craft entrepreneurship — how to launch a business, develop and promote product lines and price artwork for wholesale and retail sales.

     Participants will tour the Buyers Market of American Craft, the nation’s largest wholesale tradeshow where artists from the U.S. and Canadian studios sell their work to galleries, boutiques, museum shops and catalogs.  In addition, participants will receive a portfolio or product critique from retailers and tradeshow managers.

     Offered twice a year, the Visiting Artist Program is tailored for studio-based artists   who make and sell jewelry, fashion accessories and designer products for home or office such as tile, pottery, glass art and other fine crafts.  The non-profit Arts Business Institute runs the program with a faculty of experienced retailers and artists. The Visiting Artist Program will also be offered this summer in Baltimore, Md., on July 11, 2011.

     Family-owned Halstead Bead Inc., www.halsteadbead.com, of Prescott, Ariz., has been a supplier of findings, chain, beads, wire and tools for jewelry artists since 1973.

    A scholarship donation presented to the Arts Business Institute by Halstead Bead will cover admission fees for several jewelry artists to attend the Visiting Artist Program in 2011. The company’s own Halstead Grant is presented each year to a new jewelry designer.

     To register online for the upcoming Visiting Artist Program, please visit www.artsbusinessinstitute.org. Registration is $75 for a one-day workshop and $130 for a two-day workshop. To receive a scholarship application contact Erin Hartz at erinh@rosengrp.com. The application deadline for scholarships to the Philadelphia program is February 4, 201l.  For information call 800.432.7238, ext. 206.

What Influences Me...

James Miller - the master at work from Orchid Galleries

I am always getting the question - where do you find all this great inspiration?  How do you find something new to write?    Aside from being on every mailing list in the Industry...these are the Influencers in my life and my go - to websites.

...for the Jewelry Designer and Learner in me:
       Ganoksin  - this is so much more than the Ganoksin Library of Archived Design Articles.  Their latest addition is a section called BenchTube - if you learn easier by seeing it - this is for you!  Videos on everything from beginning soldering to hinges to stone setting. Or draw inspiration and find new Designer talent in the Orchid Galleries. Blog posts from hundreds of voices in the Artisan, Lapidary and Retail Jeweler arenas are available on the Orchid Blogs.  The Orchid Forum gives you the ear of close to 10,000 working Jewelers and Lapidaries around the world. Have you ever wondered how other Bench Jewelers work?  you have to check out the BenchExchange project!  BTW - this amazing knowledge base in offered without fees and operates on donation and advertising ONLY.  So donate today or purchase from Advertisers on the site (and let them know you found them on Ganoksin)

Carol Holaday from Orchid Galleries

      Jewelry Making Daily - the new daily newsletter from Interweave - this pulls together all the best from their publications and tutorials - jewelry making techniques from Beads to Wire and, my favorite, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.



...for the Tool and Equipement need in me:
      MJSA - from their new products announcements to their coverage and clear instructions for implementing new Government Requirements - to the always informational techniques covered in their magazine.  BTW - did you know that MJSA has an "Artisan Jeweler" level of membership?

...to feed my need for Beautiful Shiny Objects:
      JCKOnline - this magazine sets the standard for the Jewelry Industry, with news and marketing information for the Retail Jeweler.  But, what I draw from are the great Cutting Remarks blog by Rob Bates (this whole Kimberley Process thing has me confused and Rob helps me sort out the details).  My latest favorite at JCKOnline is the great behind the scenes posts by Jennifer Heebner on her Style 360 blog.  Whether it is a pictorial of outtakes from a cover shoot, shots of submissions for articles or her great coverage of venues like the recent Jewelry Show in India...she feeds my need for something gorgeous everyday.

Adrean Bloomard from Orchid Galleries 

...for the Gem Geek in me:
     AGTA - the American Gem Trade Assoc. - the website is filled with information for professionals and for customers alike...and their new e-Prism Newsletter collects some of the best information from the Internet and provides it to subscribers.

I get great information from Industry contacts, blogs (yep your blog may be influential), Google Alerts (for those of you who can't figure out how I found you) and press releases - if you want to inspire me - email me !

Golden Globes: Hollywood SHINES in Platinum Jewels...

So tonight was the Golden Globe Awards and I got together with Fashionistas and Jewelry Industry people for a Live Tweet Fest.

Take aways?  Same Black - Same gigantic earrings - Same stacks of bracelets...but...there were a few surprises.  The occasional pop of color was brilliant...in addition to the ones pictured below, there was...

Katey Sagal in the most exotic shade of coral-orange (I would love to know who made her earrings) had a surprise win for Sons of  Anarchy -  see LATimes story

Angelina Jolie shimmered in a fresh grass green...see the stunner on the Jewelry Insider blog

The adorable Lea Michele from Glee was sweet in Pantone's latest "hot color"....Honeysuckle.

In varying shades of soft coral pink were Clare Danes (love her stunning cuff - any idea who made this one?),  Emma Stone and in a vibrant coral red, the vivacious Sofia Vergara and the elegant Elizabeth Chambers on the arm of hubby Armie Hammer.



The Blues: Jane Krakowski showed her "Baby Bump" in soft Cornflower Blue and the girls in midnight blues...Amy Adams, Tina Fey

Eva Longoria decided to wear her jewels at her waistline...

Thanks to the Platinum Guild and Niki Ostin at PRLAB for the following:

• Natalie Portman: Platinum and diamond necklace, and platinum and diamond stud earrings by Tiffany & Co.
• Halle Berry: Platinum and diamond stud earrings (3.03 carats), and 5 platinum and diamond bracelets by Harry Winston.
• Jennifer Lopez: Platinum and diamond cluster earrings, platinum and diamond hair pin, platinum and diamond cuff, and a platinum and diamond ring (7.06 carats) by Harry Winston.
• Scarlett Johansson: Platinum and diamond bracelet from 1920 (22.48 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet from 1930, platinum and diamond hair clips from 1934, and platinum and diamond stud earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
• Catherine Zeta Jones: Platinum and diamond earrings (26.8 carats), platinum and diamond bracelet (14.87 carats), and a platinum and diamond ring (7.2 carats) by Van Cleef & Arpels.

• Michelle Williams: Vintage platinum and diamond stud earrings by Fred Leighton.
• Claire Danes: Platinum and diamond drop earrings (3 carats) by Fred Leighton.
• Amy Adams: Platinum and diamond ring by Cartier.
• Camilla Belle: Platinum and diamond bracelet from 1924 (12.50 carats) by Cartier.
• Christina Hendricks: Platinum and diamond earrings (20 carats), and 2 platinum and diamond bracelets (200 carats) by Chopard.
• Helen Mirren: Platinum and diamond necklace (55.08 carats), and a platinum and diamond bracelet by Cartier.

• Jennifer Lawrence: Platinum and emerald drop earrings (23 carats) with diamonds, and a platinum and diamond bracelet (21 carats) by Chopard.
• Julianna Margulies: Platinum and diamond cuff, and platinum and diamond stud earrings (8.07 carats) by Cartier.
• Edie Falco: Platinum earrings from the 1930’s with diamonds and onyx, 2 platinum and diamond bracelets, and a platinum and diamond ring by Fred Leighton.

• Tilda Swinton: Platinum and diamond chain necklace (100 carats) by Fred Leighton. 
• Lea Michele: Platinum earrings, bracelets and ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Megan Fox: Platinum earrings and ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Annette Bening: Platinum earrings and bracelet by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Tina Fey:  platinum earrings, bracelet and ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Christina Aguilera: Platinum rings and earrings by Lorraine Schwartz.

• Jane Krakowski: Platinum earrings and platinum cuffs by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Julia Ormond: Platinum jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Elisabeth Moss: Platinum earrings, and platinum ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
• Eva Longoria: Platinum and diamond brooches, and platinum and diamond stud earrings (5 carats) by Neil Lane.
• January Jones: Platinum and diamond earrings (7 carats), and platinum and diamond bracelets by Neil Lane.
• Jenna Ushkowitz: Platinum and diamond ring, platinum and diamond earrings, and a platinum cuff with white and pink diamonds by Neil Lane.