Best Coffee Table Jewelry Books
Although no jewelry gift can quite compare to actual jewelry, these stunning coffee table books come close. Think of these tomes as the diamonds of the book world--they're gorgeous, beautifully crafted, and designed to last (both literally and figuratively--the incredible jewelry in these books depict will never be passé).
Like a diamond, these books are an investment. However, each one educates as much as it looks pretty sitting in the center of your living room or on your nightstand. Any one of these books would make a perfect gift for a jewelry lover--or just a treat for you!
1. Vogue: The Jewellery, by Carol Woolton
Carol Woolton is the jewelry editor of British Vogue and an expert on historic and antique jewelry. This beautiful collection highlights the most memorable jewelry moments in Vogue and features both costume and fine jewelry. Illustrating the variety of jewelry featured in the magazine over the years, 300 pieces are organized into five sections: Show-stoppers, Rock Chick, Minimalist, Exotic, and Classical.
2. The Impossible Collection of Jewelry, by Vivienne Becker
Jewelry historian Vivienne Becker captures the milestones of jewelry design from the last century in The Impossible Collection. From the Art Nouveau period to the pre-new millennium era, 100 pieces are showcased for their design and the fascinating stories behind them. Featured designers include Cartier, Van Cleef, David Webb, and Boivin.
3. Pearls, by Beatrix Chadour-Sampson
Spanning centuries and cultures, Pearls traces the history of pearls' role as symbols of status and glamour--and in some contexts, purity. The book begins with a discussion pearls in the Roman Empire and concludes with a feature on pearls (and the impact of their cultured counterparts) in the modern era.
4. Jewels of the Rennaissance, by Yvonne Hackenbrock
The European Renaissance is one of the most interesting periods for jewelry design. Written by Renaissance and world jewelry authority Yvonne Hackenbroch, Jewels of the Renaissance overflows with stunning images of some of the most creative pieces from this artistic period. Hackenbroch also weaves in the compelling stories behind the pieces--including tales about who wore the jewelry, who created it, and who commissioned it.
5. Emerald: Twenty-One Centuries of Jewelled Opulence and Power, by Joanna Hardy
Split into three parts, Emerald celebrates the green gemstone that's reported to be 20 times rarer than a diamond. The first section features emerald jewelry worn by celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Princess Diana, and Elizabeth Taylor. This section also illustrates how emeralds have been featured in art and advertising. The second section covers historic emerald pieces--some created millennia ago, others created by the likes of Cartier, Boucheron, Bulgari, and Harry Winston. The final section discusses the emerald trade and features specially commissioned photos from four continents.
6. Bejewelled Treasures: The Al-Thani Collection, by Susan Stronge
This book features 100 of the most spectacular pieces of a single Victoria & Albert jewelry collection, the Al-Thani Collection. Enjoy gorgeous photos of pieces previously owned by the great maharajas, nizams, sultans, and emperors of India from the 17th to the 20th century. Bejewelled Treasures also examines how Indian jewelry influenced theAvantee-Garde pieces of European jewelry designers (including Cartier).
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Which of these jewelry coffee table books is on your wishlist?
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Photos: Amazaon
Trend Watch: Wellness Jewelry
The fashion world has taken note of the increasing focus on wellness (see all of the yoga class-friendly athleisure for proof!)—and trendy jewelry has followed suit. Combining wellness traditions (like aromatherapy, meditation charms, and crystal healing) with high-end style, the following wellness pieces aim to help you cultivate inner peace—and look good while doing it! These pieces can help facilitate meditation or simply serve as a reminder to practice self-care in the middle of a busy day.
Taryn Toomey Aquamarine Necklace
Aquamarine is believed to soothe the emotional body, support the throat chakra, and promote healthy and open communication.
VLTA Essential Oil Diffusing Jewelry
These beautiful eco-friendly pieces can house a small amount of essential oils (about 15 drops) that gently diffuse while you’re wearing the jewelry. The charm may also be used to topically apply essential oils for a more immersive essential oil experience.
Satya Jewelry Renewed Self Tassel Earrings
Inspired by summer’s rejuvenating quality, these silk tassel earrings are designed to soothe the senses while the gold lotus symbolizes new beginnings.
Ganesh, the Indian god of removing obstacles and fostering new beginnings, is depicted in 22 karat gold alongside an amethyst tusk and a garnet stone. Together, these three charms are designed to inspire compassion, love, success, and good fortune.
The Tulsi Project Yoga-Inspired Jewelry
Inscribed with phrases like “Om Shanti” and “Namaste,” these pieces are designed to inspire self-love: “I hope to inspire in the women who wear my designs a sense of self-love because I think that once we can begin to love and accept ourselves for who we are, we can extend that love outwards to others much more easily,” says founder and designer Tiffany Taylor Kenney. Part of the proceeds from Tulsi Project jewelry goes toward the ASPCA and Feeding America.
The Sage Lifestyle Amazonite Pendant on Ombre Sky Ribbon by Sage Machado
The tranquil color of Amazonite is celebrated for the way it inspires emotional balance and loving actions while reducing worry and fear.
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Photos: Taryn Toomey, VLTA, Satya, Prana Jewelry, The Tulsi Project, The Sage Lifestyle
From the Studio: Mermaid Necklace and Earrings
When I create new jewelry designs, the process often involves a good bit of play and organic discovery. Like cooking without a recipe, I take a little bit of this and a little bit of that until I have a piece that’s complete and pleasing to the eye.
I recently created this necklace and complementing earring set using a variety of stones with various textures. For the necklace, I used tourmaline, opal, green garnet, and iolite—some stones are faceted while others are not. I soldered clusters of stones together and used granules to separate the clusters. I then attached the resulting product to a leather necklace cord. I’m calling this the “mermaid necklace” because the beautiful blues and greens remind me of the ocean—not to mention the luster of the stones recalls the glint of sunshine on sea water.
For the earrings, I also went for a fun yet pretty touch and made them asymmetrical. Stones in the right earring include turquoise, blue zircon, and sapphire. Stones in the left earring include _____, ____, and turquoise. Each of the stones are bezel set, but you’ll notice that one bezel setting on each earring has a different texture; these bezel settings were hammered to add a touch of organic texture. Although the earrings are asymmetrical, they hang at the same length.
The metal used in the earrings and the necklace is 22 karat gold.
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Four Pieces of “Smart” Jewelry You Don’t Want to Miss
Although it may seem like Apple Watches and FitBits dominate the smart jewelry scene, those two companies certainly aren’t your only options when it comes to the marriage of technology and accessories.
Whether you’d like to track your fitness, stay on top of notifications by the minute, or store special messages and photos from a loved one, there’s a beautiful piece of smart jewelry for you. The following are just four of the chic and innovative pieces that can help you seamlessly integrate fashion and organization.
1. Ringly
Ringly produces cocktail rings as well as pendants and bangles—and they’re all smart. Ringly can track your activity levels and communicate those with your phone via Bluetooth technology. Using Ringly’s app, you can program your Ringly device to notify you if you get a notification on your phone (and you can choose the kind of notifications you receive). The jewelry will subtly vibrate when you receive one of these notifications.
2. Altrius
Like Ringly, Altrius smart jewelry can “buzz” you when you receive certain notifications on your phone. The brand explains that by “reducing smartphone” dependance (i.e. not checking your phone every few minutes for notifications), you’ll reduce your daily stress and feel more in charge of your time. (That sounds like a pretty good deal!)
Love being in touch with your body? A Bellabeat Leaf attaches to your lapel or a special bracelet and monitors your heart rate, sleep patterns, and menstrual cycles; stores the info on your phone via Bluetooth; and even provides fitness recommendations through its app. Bellabeat has a six-month battery and a 14-day memory.
Galatea Momento Pearls—Pearl Jewelry that Speaks
These stunning pearl pieces are unlike most pieces of smart jewelry. Instead of using Bluetooth technology, they use near-field communication (NFC). Each Galatea Momento Pearl piece contains an NFC chip that houses photos and recorded messages. These can be accessed by tapping the jewelry against an NFC-enabled phone. No special app required.
Do you wear smart jewelry?
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Photos: Respective Brands
Crystals in Beauty Products
The belief in crystal healing has been around for ages, but recently, these magic stones have made their way into more mainstream beauty and wellness lines. For some, crystal-infused beauty products may play an important role in daily spiritual rituals. For others, these products may simply be an outlet for dabbling in the now glamorized world of the occult. Either way, it’s hard to deny that crystals in beauty products may make getting ready just a little more fun.
I first heard of crystal-infused beauty products when I was given a sample of Modern Minerals Lotus Wei Infused Lip Gloss. Instantly in love with the product, I looked up the ingredients and was surprised to learn that there was tourmaline in the tube—right along with the coconut oil and shea butter! The gem is in the gloss to “uplift and awaken positivity.” A spiritual lipgloss was certainly a first for me.
In my work as a beauty editor, I embrace healthy skepticism about any product, and I try to learn more about popular ingredients by delving into peer-reviewed studies. On the other hand, what’s the point of beautification rituals if they don’t impart joy? I also acknowledge that many things, such as one’s spiritual practice, elude the reach of science. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s kind of nice.
Modern Minerals is not alone in its inclusion of stones in makeup or skincare goodies, of course. The following stones appear in multiple products with the purpose of beautifying the wearer while also imparting spiritual benefit. I encourage you to give them a try, have fun, and see for yourself.
Quartz
Celebrated as the most powerful crystal for healing the soul and amplifying positive energy, quartz is believed to absorb, store, release, and unblock energy. According to crystal philosophy, this “master healer” boosts immunity and serves just about any condition.
Try Aquarian Soul Cactus Flower & Quartz Essence Spray. This spray is designed to enhance meditation and calm anxieties. Infused with the full moon-ripened flower essence of desert cacti, this magical mist promotes spiritual vision and opening of the heart chakra. A quartz is included in the bottle.
Garnet
Associated with passion, wisdom, sensuality, and beauty, garnet is prized for its ability to revitalize the body and spirit and inspire hope. In skincare, crushed garnet is used as a gentle exfoliant.
Try Lotus Wei Joy Juice Mist. Formulated to inspire joy, laugher, and euphoria while dissolving the feeling of the weight of the world in on your shoulders, this fragrant toner is infused with garnet and a host of flower essences, including those of african daisy, lotus, chocolate flower, and pink spirea.
Amethyst
A stone known for it’s power to boost intuition and aid in meditation and lucid dreaming, the amethyst is a calming stone. It’s believed to inspire patience and peace while clearing negative energy.
Try Aquarian Soul Headache Oil . Created with pure almond oil and essential oils, this roll-on headache oil has a refreshing, minty and lightly floral fragrance. The oil is designed to soothe pounding headaches. The blend is infused with both quartz and amethyst to help dispel anger, fear, and anxiety while encouraging tranquil energy.
Rose Quartz
The stone of love, rose quartz is believed to inspire self-love as well as compassion for family, friends, and lovers. Rose quarts warms and soothes the spirit of those around it. It is also used to raise self-esteem and attract potential romantic partners.
Try KORA Organics Vitamin Enhanced Lip Balm. Crafted with jojoba, avocado, and rosehip oils and infused with rose quartz, this lip balm nourishes lips while potentially enhancing the wearer’s love energy.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is believed to be particularly suited for those coping with hardship, loss, and emotional pain and is credited with the ability to dispel the fear or sense that one is being victimized. Crystal healing proponents also believe that tourmaline is anti-aging.
Try Aveda Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Cream. Finely-powdered tourmaline and marine extracts deliver radiance and anti-aging benefits to thirsty skin.
**You can also DIY your own crystal healing beauty product by adding a crystal to a bottle of pure body oil—like argan, macula, or almond oil.**
Photos: @PeaceDumpling, Aquarian Soul, Lotus Wei, KORA Organics, Aveda
Trend Watch: Tassel Jewelry, Plus DIY Beaded Tassels
2016 has played host to several fun and innovative trends. From glass nail art to Renaissance-inspired evening wear, there’s no shortage of ways to express yourself. The jewelry department is no different. Tassel jewelry, in particular, has made a splash this year.
The cool thing about this trend is that there are so many ways to wear it—from big tassels to tiny tassels, from a single tassel to several tassels, tassels are appearing on earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Some tassels are beaded, others are made of metal, and some are made with good-old-fashioned upholstery thread. Indeed, no two pieces of tassel jewelry look alike.
Here are just a few examples of this festive trend:
Lanvin Striped Tassel Earrings
Farfetch Aurelie Bidermann Tassel Bracelet
Eddie Borgo Silver Tone Tassel Necklace
Oscar de la Renta Acqua Polka Dot Beaded Tassel Earrings
Isabel Marant Mild Bead and Tassel Necklace
Want to try your hand at a beaded tassel? They’re actually easier than they look!
DIY beaded tassel instructions:
1. Cut roughly seven inches of ribbon (ribbon may be around ½-inch thick). You will be sewing your beaded tassel trailers onto this ribbon. The ribbon will also provide the base of the tassel.
2. Cut a length of fireline thread or upholstery thread. Choose a length that you’re comfortable working with (you’ll probably use more than one piece of thread.) Thread your needle.
3. Starting in the middle of the ribbon, thread the thread through the ribbon, leaving yourself a few inches of a tail (will be glued later).
4. Using a ruler for reference for trailer length, thread your needle through the beads you’ve chosen until you reach the desired length for your tassel trailer.
5. Loop the thread over the last bead, and run your needle and thread back through the entire row of beads (excluding the last). Gently tighten until the trailer is flush against the ribbon (but not so tight that it buckles).
6. Loop the thread back into the ribbon about a bead’s width away from the first strand, and repeat the process in step 5 until you have desired number of tassel trailers. (You may need to grab another thread if you run out of length along the way.
7. Fold the remaining un-beaded ribbon over the row of beads. Trim the other side ¼ inch past the end. Fold the ¼-inch bit over the raw edge, and roll the ribbon tightly until you have a round shape.
8. Create a few stitches along the top edge of the ribbon to secure the roll in place. Then create a stitch at the bottom of the ribbon, and stitch your way back to the top.
9. Trim any remaining thread tails, and glue them down.
10. Take a length of thread through your needle, and knot a single bead at the bottom of the thread. Add more beads to this thread—you’ll want your beaded thread long enough to be able to wrap around the rolled ribbon.
11. When you’re ready to wrap this around the top, use a little bit of glue as you go to prevent making a sticky mess. Let dry for at least an hour.
12. To create a beaded loop from which to hang the tassel, take your threaded needle, and run your needle through a few of the beads at the top of the tassel, coming out one side of the top of the tassel. Add five beads to your needle, and go through a bead on the other side of the top of the tassel. Weave your thread through a few more of the beads and tie off your thread. And you’re done!
If you’re a visual learner, check out this video tutorial for making a beaded tassel.
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Photos: Lanvin, Farfetch, The Outlet, Halsbrook, Matches Fashion, Meijer Style
The Art and Jewelry of René Lalique
René Lalique (1860 - 1945) is one of the most celebrated artists from the Art Nouveau period. Lalique was a French glass art designer and is best known for his perfume bottles, vases, jewelry, chandeliers, clocks, automobile hood ornaments, and artistic additions to architecture.
St. Matthew's Church in Jersey. Glass interior work by René Lalique.
His sumptuous style often features nature-inspired elements, including foliage, flowers, and flowing lines. Lalique took inspiration not only from the French countryside but also from nature motifs in Japanese art. In addition to creating period-defining work, Lalique left behind a style that continues to inspire designers and collectors alike.
Broche Libellule (1900)
Lalique grew up in the suburbs of Paris and summered in Ay, whose scenic country views inspired his signature naturalistic style. While apprenticing for goldsmith and jeweler Louis Aucoc in Paris, Lalique took drawing and sketching classes at Collège Turgot. He also studied at Ecole des Arts Décoratifs where he learned to design jewelry and later at the Crystal Palace School of Art Sydenham in London where he studied graphic design and further developed his naturalistic approach. During his time in Britain, Lalique was exposed to and inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement.
After returning from London in 1882, Lalique worked as a freelance artist and designed jewelry for French jewelry firms Cartier and Boucheron, among others. In 1885, Lalique opened his own business where he designed and made jewelry and other glass pieces.
Plaque mounted on gold with baroque pearl (circa 1904-1905)
Lalique’s work was met with mixed reviews. His unique pairings, which included horns and diamonds and carved ivory with enamel and pearls, certainly challenged ideas of what was acceptable in art. Fortunately, Lalique’s glasswork and jewelry were favored by emerging popular voices of the period. In particular, French actress Sara Bernhardt was among his admirers. She wore many of his finest pieces while on stage.
Opal, glass, diamond, and enamel "Rose" plaque (circa 1901)
By 1890, the glass artist was regarded as on of France’s foremost art nouveau jewelry designers. Around this time, Lalique opened a new jewelry store in the fashionable Opera district at 20 Rue Therese in Paris. As his business grew, his experimentation with craft continued. By the mid-nineties, Lalique began producing pieces using the “lost wax method” and pâte-de-verre. He was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1897.
Lalique’s iconic perfume bottles really took off around the turn of the century, and his evolving glass work with bottles further informed his jewelry design. Lalique introduced a new type of glass called demi-crystal. Containing 12% lead, demi-crystal isn’t as bright as regular crystal; it’s softer effect made it ideal for Lalique’s Art Nouveau designs. Around 1909, Lalique developed a method by with the interior glass walls of a bottle could feature a design that could be seen through the smooth exterior of the bottle.
One of Lalique's many beautiful perfume bottles inspired by nature and feminine beauty.
Perfumer Roja Dove suggests that Lalique’s glasswork be viewed by candle light to get the original effect. His work simply can't be fully appreciated in the harsh light of modern electricity.
What inspires you about Lalique's enduring style?
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Photos: Danrok (Wikimedia Commons), Alain Truong, lartnouveauenfrance via Flickr
