You’re Probably Layering Your Necklaces Wrong

 Elevating your wardrobe or switching up your style can be as easy as reevaluating your accessories. The first step is to take inventory of the pieces you have and think about how you currently wear them. Next, you’ll want to consider the trends — what’s hot, what’s not, and what styling techniques always seem to come back around. For example, if you have a collection of chains and stranded pendants you’d normally wear one at a time, learning how to layer necklaces might be the key to updating your look.

The stacking necklaces trend, which is still going strong in 2021, begs the question: Why wear one when you can wear multiple? Still, chains-on-chains assemblage isn’t always as effortless as it seems. These types of accessories seem to tangle together just sitting in a jewelry box, let alone swinging around a neck all day long. So what’s the secret to making them stay in place, and to look as perfectly layered as they do on Gigi Hadid and Rihanna?

We reached out to Rachel Gindi, to give us her best tips.

Your Shortest Necklace Is Your Foundation

Everyone has a certain necklace length that’s most flattering, so it’s important to test a few lengths and see which one works best for you, Gindi tells InStyle. Once you have that base, think of it as the foundation on which you can layer up.

“[You can] keep it 2 inches apart for something more subtle, or go super long with the second length for a dramatic look,” Gindi says. “Any way you go, having that foundation is always the start.”

Less Is More 

Even though the act of layering literally encourages you to add on to your look, the golden rule still applies.

“Remember, we’re going for that ‘cool girl who just threw these two together without even thinking about it’ look,” Gindi says. “You’ll want to stick to no more than 3 here. Anything more than that might be overdoing it.”

Chain Type and Placement Matter

“When layering three necklaces, you want the attention to go to the top necklace and the bottom necklace,” Gindi says, adding that the middle necklace should be something clean and simple. “If you choose to include only one pendant, go for the bottom. I personally love doubling instead of tripling because I like to give people the chance to focus on each piece individually.”

Add a Pop of Color

If you’ve gone for a neutral or strictly monochromatic look with your clothing, adding a vibrant pendant necklace or chain can serve as the pop of color you’re missing. As for where in the stack said color should lie, Gindi suggests focusing on the shorter chain because it’s the closest to your face, and therefore can highlight some of your features.

Also, you might want to incorporate just a hint of color when layering necklaces, in order to “keep things from looking too busy,” she suggests. “It will also make any stones seem more expensive if there is only one. Less is more here.”

Experiment with Shapes

When layering pendants with different shapes, pay attention to how the shapes work together. Layering a pendant with a chain necklace is an easy way to get around that. Make the chain more of a choker with the pendant hanging down long or keep the pendant up high with a more bold chain around. This is a great way to freshen up a pendant or chain you’ve been wearing for years.

Rock the Look with Loungewear

Layered necklaces can upgrade an otherwise ‘lazy’ look. For example, if you’re lounging in sweats, Gindi tells InStyle that pulling a few necklaces together with a clean pair of studs is the perfect combination to take your comfy attire up a notch.

For a crewneck or V-neck, she suggests mixing chains with pendants to draw more attention to your jewelry than your outfit, while a crisp pullover calls for doubling elegant chains.

Keep Layers Dainty with Formal Wear

“I love a choker paired with an extra-long chain or lariat necklace for a formal event,” Gindi says. According to her, the key is to go with something dainty, that way your jewels won’t “overpower your outfit.”

Kate Middleton has £250,000 ‘antique’ diamond earrings from the Queen

 Kate Middleton, 39, joined the Royal Family in 2011 when she married Prince William. Since then, her jewellery collection has grown in size and she now has an impressive array of jewels. One pair of her earrings could be worth as much as £250,000.

As well as the Duchess having her own jewellery, she also has access to the Queen’s, and will often be seen wearing jewels from the monarch’s collection.

The Queen will often loan other Royal Family members pieces of jewellery too.

For Kate’s most recent in-person appearance back in December, she opted for a pair of luxurious diamond drop earrings. 

Managing Director Nick Withington, or pre-owned vintage jewellery William May provided an insight into the stunning earrings.

He said: “Kate is wearing an antique pair of diamond earrings featuring a round flower cluster of diamonds dropping down to a floral leaf design also in diamonds.

“The diamonds appear to be an old European cut typical of antique jewellery of this kind and with so many diamonds featured, there could be as much as 5.00ct of diamonds in total.”

In fact, it seems as though these jewels actually belong to the Queen and therefore could have been on loan to Kate for the occasion.

The Duchess is rarely seen wearing them and debuted them to a special state reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2016.

She also wore them for a NATO reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019.

The Queen is also thought to have first worn the diamond earrings at the State Opening of Parliament in 2012.

The carat weight means that the earrings have a huge price tag attached to them.

Nick added: “In terms of value, we have an impressive array of diamonds and with an expected rich antique history, Kate is wearing upward of £250,000 in her ears.”

While Kate has borrowed many pieces from the Queen’s collection, her own one includes an impressive ruby ring that she has worn over the years.

It is also thought to have a huge price tag. Roseanna Croft, the founder of Roseanna Croft Jewellery, explained: “The Duchess of Cambridge’s ruby ring I estimate to be worth in the region of £35,000 and is a stunning piece of timeless yet ‘on trend’ jewellery – a step away from the traditional jewels worn by the Royal Family.

“The setting is elegant and really helps the stone to stand proud in the ring with a simple diamond set band accentuating the ruby even more.”

Chocolate Diamond Engagement Rings: The Complete Guide

 Chocolate Diamond engagement rings sound like a dreamy mix of two of the finer things in life—chocolate and diamonds, obviously. And they kind of are: Chocolate Diamonds got their name because the brown color of the stone resembles everyone’s favorite sweet treat. Not only are these fancy colored diamonds beautiful to look at, but they also make for a unique and interesting take on a classic engagement ring. 

What Is a Chocolate Diamond?

A Chocolate Diamond is a high-quality, fancy colored brown diamond that gets its shade from heat and pressure applied to the precious stone during its formation process.  Chocolate Diamonds are unique to fine jewelry brand who introduced the stone and trademarked the name in 2000.

While they might look similar, Chocolate Diamonds are not the same exact thing as brown diamonds. Chocolate Diamond apart from a regular brown diamond is its quality, rarity, and the strength of color. Brown diamonds must have a certain hue, tone, and saturation to quality to become a Chocolate Diamond, and their inclusions cannot be visible to the naked eye.”

Ahead, learn about the history of Chocolate Diamonds, care advice, and more from the jeweler who trademarked the gem.

History of Chocolate Diamonds

It’s easy to assume that Chocolate Diamonds got their name because of their color, but Le Vian tells Brides that’s not the whole story.  “In reality, the name was actually inspired by my good friend Bill Furman, who used to come and visit me every day after work and bring with him a batch of artisanal, homemade chocolates,” he says. “Frequently he would talk about the special powers of chocolate, about its health benefits, and about how it is an aphrodisiac.”

The passion Furman had for his chocolate business left Le Vian inspired. “Bill helped me to realize that the passion that chocoholics had for chocolate was similar to the way I felt about these rich, pretty-enough-to-eat, brown precious stones,” he says. And the name was born! 

Chocolate Diamonds vs. White Diamonds

Chocolate Diamonds are high-quality brown diamonds. Natural color diamonds, like white diamonds, are the strongest gems in the world, very durable, and ideal for everyday wear. Still, there are some differences. Chocolate Diamonds (and any brown diamond) are more opaque than white diamonds so they aren’t always as shiny.

Chocolate Diamonds are rarer than white diamonds, according to the GIA.

They’re also obviously different aesthetically. “I think a quality that makes Chocolate Diamonds appeal more than regular white diamonds to some women is that they can be really elegantly understated,” Le Vian offers. “Traditional white diamonds, while stunning, can often be a bit too ostentatious and flashy for everyday wear. That’s why lots of sophisticated women are turning to Chocolate Diamonds. ‘Dressing down’ is so chic right now and the range’s earthy, golden tones make its diamonds much more suitable to be worn with every outfit and occasion.” 

Pros and Cons of Chocolate Diamonds

One of the biggest pros of a Chocolate Diamond is the look: it’s different and unexpected, so it pretty much automatically stands out. If you’re not into a classic white diamond, this one is basically aesthetically the opposite, which is an advantage for someone looking for that. 

While rarer than white diamonds, Chocolate Diamonds are also generally lower in price. “The price value of chocolate diamonds has dramatically increased since we trademarked the range,” Le Vian says. “The price of larger brown diamonds has risen by as much as 25 times since the ‘80s and ‘90s.” How Much to Spend on an Engagement Ring: Your Official Budget Guide

Chocolate Diamonds are also more versatile than you would imagine and look beautiful with different metals and other colored stones. 

What to Look for in a Chocolate Diamond Engagement Ring

Want a Chocolate Diamond engagement ring on your own finger?

• Where can I buy a Chocolate Diamond? Chocolate Diamonds specifically are an exclusive Le Vian item—that means that you won’t find them made by other jewelry brands, and they aren’t going to be available everywhere. Look for stores or companies that sell Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds to find the one you want.
• Do Chocolate Diamonds come in different shades? Chocolate Diamonds come in a few different shades ranging from a lighter brown, almost golden hue, to something darker and richer. You can look at different ring options to find the one you like the most.
• Are brown diamonds exclusive to Le Vian? While Chocolate Diamonds are a type of brown diamond, brown diamonds are not exclusive to Le Vian and can be found at most jewelers.

How to Care for Your Chocolate Diamond 

Like any other diamond, your Chocolate Diamond will be durable and suitable for everyday wear. You should clean it weekly using alcohol unless the ring also includes soft gems. Even though diamonds are very strong, you might not want to wear your Chocolate Diamond engagement ring while doing rough work with your hands. 

Meghan Markle has changed her engagement ring

 The Duchess of Sussex was presented with a beautiful gold trilogy engagement ring when Prince Harry proposed in November 2017, but just over 18 months later Meghan revealed a significant change to the ring, having replaced the yellow gold band with a delicate diamond-studded band.

It is unknown whether Meghan is currently wearing the special ring in LA as she was spotted without it during her previous pregnancy with Archie, likely due to swelling in her fingers.

However, it has now emerged that it was Prince Harry’s decision to upgrade the band, and the work was carried out at the same time that he ordered a bespoke eternity ring for his wife as a gift for their first wedding anniversary.

In the new royal biography, Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand explain: “On May 19, 2019, Harry also surprised his wife of one year with the gift of a ring that he had created with jeweller-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz, a favourite of Meghan’s.

“The conflict-free diamond eternity band paid homage to the family of three with Meghan’s, Archie’s and Harry’s birthstones (peridot, emerald, and sapphire, respectively) on the underside of the ring.”

The jeweller told the authors that Harry wanted to make the eternity ring “special”. She added: “‘He’s the loveliest person ever. So romantic, so thoughtful.’ (So much so that Harry also thought to have Lorraine resize and reset Meghan’s engagement ring with a new diamond band.)”

Eagle-eyed fans first noticed the changes to Meghan’s engagement ring at her post-baby appearance at Trooping the Colour in 2019. The original band was made of gold and the ring was created by Cleave and Company, Court Jewellers and Medallists to Her Majesty the Queen.

The trilogy ring boasts a large central diamond flanked on either side by two smaller jewels. The stones were specially selected by the Prince; the central diamond is from Botswana, where the couple previously vacationed together, and the other two diamonds are from his late mother’s personal collection.

“The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s [Meghan’s] favourite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” Harry said during the couple’s first sit-down interview with the BBC, hours after they announced their engagement.

Antiques Roadshow guest floored at necklace’s ‘astonishing’ value

 An Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned to discover how much some family jewellery was really worth on tonight’s show.

The owner explained that the pendant necklace had belonged to her great grandmother, who was very involved in the arts and craft movement.

The guest said she believed the pendant had been specifically designed for her relative.

Expert John Benjamin said there was a very important craftsman John Paul Cooper who he believed was behind the pendant.

John said the craftsman specialised in small bits of workmanship and the piece was typical of him, despite there being no signature on it.

He said he often used bunches of grapes and these were clearly visible on the pendant, and there was also a sapphire in the pendant and three natural pearls.

Expert John then moved on to the second gold necklace. The guest said she had been given the item by her grandmother when she turned 18, and that it had been originally made for her grandmother when she was herslef 21.

John was very excited by the piece and said: “This is a very important piece of jewellery, this one really gets me very excited and the reason it does is the name Murphy.”

John said Henry George Murphy was a craftsman who had been active in the 1920s and had a shop in London.

He pointed out Murphy’s signature on the piece and said that made it “incredibly important” as last year a piece of his jewellery had sold for £90,000.

The owner looked stunned and said: “I hope mine aren’t worth that much”

John turned to valuing the items and said that the Cooper pendant was worth around £8,000, to which the owner said: “Wow, that’s very interesting because I took it to a jeweller when I inherited it in case it needed insurance and they said it wasn’t worth anything.”

To which John simply replied: “Wrong.”

He then moved on to value the Murphy necklace and said: “The Murphy necklace in its original box, £10-15,000.”

The owner was visibly shocked and said: “Ok….yeah, thank you, that’s very nice to know.”

Viewers watching at home were quick to comment on the necklaces.

The History and Significance of Bishop Rings

 The bishop rings are the sign of emblem of the highest clergy in the Catholic Church. When hallowing a bishop, the archbishop or pope hands him a gold ring along with other elements of insignia. It is the symbol that he belongs to church. In fact, bishop has the authority or receive or purchase other rings as a gift. Episcopal ting is a prominent sign of importance.

The clergy does not have the right to part with it. Bishops use to pass these rings from one to another by inheritance. Therefore, no one can be the owner of these rings. The ring belongs to the church, so that there are taken back after the demise of bishops or his abdication. Learn more about the history and significance of Bishop Ringsin the below lines.

History of the Bishop Ring

It is an ancient custom to wear the bishop’s ring long time ago. Around 600 AD, this tradition had introduced. Since, it represents the bishop’s marriage with the church. He uses to wear this ring in his right hand in the ring finger. Moreover, the Episcopal ring, clerics and popes wore different sorts of Christian religious rings. This custom stopped toward the finish of the nineteenth century when the congregation prohibited the synchronous wearing of a few stately rings.

The traditional religious ring was huge and large and it was formed with pure Gold with a mandatory huge gem in the middle, and often ornamented with minor stones as a supplementary accent. Now by the passage of time, most of the bishops have moved away from this tradition using this ring or ornament. The use to wear wide golden signets or bands with common place Christian symbols.

Significance of Bishops ring

Episcopal ring symbolizes that a Bishop has married to his eparchy. This ring has no gem inlay but it contains a signet design. It is used to make an impression in the hot wax to seal the confidential documents as a stamp.

It does not mean that this ring is limited to identification work. Some rings have holy relics. These are given to successor from the predecessor. The modern rings are holy but these are not relicts. These rings are the signs of respect for the bishop’s congregations, clerics, authority. It is another tradition to kiss the Episcopal ring in the bishop’s hand. Even, today, it happens since it is taken as the element of piety.

Is it a Fashion Item?

People use to put on the crucifixes and crosses without giving them any religious important, these rings cannot catch the attention of fashion influencers and designers. It is not difficult to understand its reason. May be, due to its huge size or an extra-ordinary massive appearance.

Most of the informal groups use to wear these rings. Some of the subcultural followers use these rings too. For instance, the bikers like to wear these rings instead of using an attractive trinket. These are available on the jewelry shops.

How Smart Jewellery Can Be Both Practical And Stylish

 

The wearable tech market around the world is expected to have an annual growth rate of 15.9% from 2020 to 2027, according to Grand View Research.

Consumers are usually familiar with seeing wearable tech like new smart watches on the market. The complaint is that while wearable tech is practical, it often looks bulky and lacks the aesthetic appeal that comes with fashion accessories.

A good way to combine tech and fashion, however, is through smart jewellery.

Available In High Fashion Brands

Wearable technology is often synonymous with big tech brands like Samsung and Apple, so they were often thought to look futuristic and unmistakably gadget-like. However, well-known fashion brands like Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and even Kate Spade have incorporated smart technology into their pieces.

For example, Tory Burch has created fashionable fitness trackers in partnership with Fitbit. They even come in a metal hinged bracelet for those wanting to keep track of their steps even when they have to dress up.

Comes In Various Styles

For tech-loving consumers who are aiming to curate their own jewellery collection, now is the time to combine tech and jewellery. Smart jewellery comes in various options like pendants, rings, and even bangles, so there are a lot of options to cover a base collection and standout pieces that you can supplement with classic items.

There is news of smart earrings being developed by Joule and other brands, so given enough time, there will be a wide array of smart jewellery options to fill up most collections.

Designed For Discretion

One of the biggest appeals of wearable technology is that it is able to do multiple things like track one’s health and send messages. Smart jewellery brings the same features but makes the design more discreet — so discreet that it doesn’t even look like wearable technology.

A good example of this is InvisaWear, which has pieces that look like regular bracelets, fashion keychains, and even bejewelled hair ties. InvisaWear’s smart jewellery is designed to work like any regular smart device with the added feature of being able to call emergency services without needing a phone.

With wearable technology here to stay, it isn’t surprising that the fashion industry has started to embrace it. Indeed, anyone looking to have delicate, fashionable and practical accessories can be assured that smart jewellery can fill their needs.

Jewellery fans should be on the lookout for any innovations in the smart jewellery sector so they can be ahead of the newest trends.

Ruby Bracelet Market To Witness Growth Acceleration During 2020 to 2025

 Ruby Bracelet industry report is outfitted on the grounds of different standards through several methods of study procedures. A number of those Ruby Bracelet market significant intervention performed by the research team to get information through different practices. The Ruby Bracelet data accumulated here are being authenticated until the study is in the last point. By these means, the excellence and high quality of the content supplied in this Ruby Bracelet report have been tagged statistics and data as well have been made available are around this mark and precise.

 The Ruby Bracelet market report entails all critical factors such as the key trends and growth opportunities that govern the industry dynamics over the forecast period. Besides, it delivers multiple solutions to tackle the prevailing and upcoming challenges in the industry vertical. Also, the research literature illustrates the sizes and shares of the market segments, inclusive of the product landscape, application scope, and regional terrain. Moreover, it elaborates the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on this domain, unveiling the risk-aversion plans and top revenue generating tactics for the ensuing years.

Key pointers from COVID-19case studies:

• COVID-19 effect on socio-economic status at regional and global level.
• Fluctuations in demand share and supply chain.
• Market scenario before and after the pandemic.

Overview of the regional assessment:

• North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa are the key regional markets.
• Each region’s contribution to the overall market growth is documented.
• Growth rate, sales, and revenue of every region are taken into account.

Other vital inclusions in the Ruby Bracelet market report:

• The report segments the product landscape of the Ruby Bracelet market into Ruby & Diamond Bracelet,Ruby & Gold Bracelet,Ruby & Silver Bracelet andOthers.
• Each product category’s revenue and volume share are provided.
• The document comprises valuable insights about the annual growth rate, market growth, and production patterns of every product type over the analysis timeframe.
• The application spectrum of the Ruby Bracelet market is divided into Decoration,Collection andOthers.
• Expected growth rate and market share of every application segment over the analysis period are included.
• Leading contenders in the Ruby Bracelet market is Two Tone Jewelry,TJC,Artinian,Ernest Jones,GLAMIRA,Juniker Jewelry,Stauer,Bulgari,Bijan andTraxNYC.
• The listed companies are evaluated with respect to factors like production capacity, market remuneration, gross margins, and pricing model.
• The report assesses the predominant trends and their implications on companies to deliver a holistic view of the competitive landscape.
• A complete study of the industry supply chain is conducted by elucidating the top manufacturers, downstream customers, and raw material & equipment suppliers.
• The document dedicates a section for determining the investment feasibility of a new project through various practices such as Porter’s Five Force analysis and SWOT assessment.

Highlights of the Report:

• A clear understanding of the global Ruby Bracelet market size, share growth, drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, feasibleness study.
• Analysis of the evolution of market segments and sub-segments has been mentioned in the intelligence review.
• The study provides an overview of the market relative to the major geographical areas of North America., Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.
• All the micro-and macroeconomic elements affecting the market have been included in this research study.
• Comprehensive SWOT analysis and unmatched research accuracy contribute to research reliability.
• Trends and developments that could boost the market over the next few years are examined in detail.
• Key industry players are analysed in terms of product portfolio, mergers and acquisitions, and potential future development strategies.

Win this diamond necklace in Chest of Chance grab bag

 Paxtons Jewelry is pleased to once again donate to the St. Mary’s Virtual Ball and Charity Auction on March 6 – A Starry Night. The prize this year is a striking diamond necklace in trendy 14K rose gold. The necklace has one-carat total weight of diamonds, in stations across the center of the necklace. Notice that several of the stations appear to be in a “star” shape, and of course the sparkle is almost as bright as the stars.

You could win the necklace by participating in the virtual auction and purchasing a Paxtons Chest of Chance grab bag online for $30 each. The bags will include gift certificates, t-shirts, sweatshirts, gift items and one lucky bag will have a certificate for the necklace.

Since the St. Mary’s Ball and Charity Auction will be virtual again this year, the chair couples for the March 6 event Dr. John and Lindsay Armstrong, and Colin and Trisha Schmitt are excited to offer something new and fun. Purchase a Starry Night Party Basket donated by VT Industries and host your own virtual bidding party.

Starry Night Party Baskets may be purchased online at stormlakecatholic.ejoinme.org/starrynight or stop in the St. Mary’s Parish Office at 300 E. Third St. or call 712-732-3110 for more information. Orders must be made by Friday, Feb. 26. Pickup will be Friday, March 5 from 4-6 p.m. at the Parish Hall. $100 Big Raffle Tickets are still available to be purchased online at saintmarysgives.com

Funds raised through the St. Mary’s Virtual Ball and Charity Auction are from an online auction, a $100 Big Raffle, sponsorships, Starry Night Party Baskets and a funded item. All proceeds help to operate St. Mary’s School.