Choosing the Metal That is Right For You

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Harry

Jewelry is like fashion, the options are endless and it’s hard to know where to start. The most important thing to remember when selecting jewelry for your collection is to ensure that the pieces match your style. Select pieces that you will envision yourself wearing on a regular basis and then have fun with it.

Silver

Silver can be done it either a classic style or paired with alternate pieces to convey a more modern look. The most important pieces to purchase in silver are a great statement necklace and a bracelet. If you plan on wearing them on a regular basis, you may also opt for a ring and earrings, but your wardrobe could function without them if necessary. You can always pair any jewelry with a pair of solitaire earrings. Diamonds go with everything.

Gold

Gold is a more traditional metal and is often the go to metal for a traditional look. As of late, people are capitalizing on the trend of mixing metals and are recycling some of those pieces that have long been tucked in the back recesses of the jewelry box.

ROSE GOLD ENGAGEMENT RING

Rose Gold

Rose gold is a more modern metal and is created by mixing copper and gold together to create either or a red or pink tinted metal. It looks phenomenal with some of the dark jewel tones that are abundant for fall and winter.

Pearls

Pears are totally on trend when paired with a classic style like a tailored jacket and trousers, but can be styled in a modern fashion using a long necklace with a decorative knot in it. Now you can select any number of pearl options in both black and white and mix them with modern silhouettes to add flair.

Jewelry is about fun with fashion. Don’t get so hung p on the rules and what goes with what that you forget to have fun in the process. So, go forth mix metals, wear bangles on a Tuesday. Find what makes your heart sing and sing like nobody is listening. After all, you would much rather be a fashion leader than a fashion follower wouldn’t you?

Top 5 Jewelry Trends for Fall 2012

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Harry

There seems to be negative connotations associated with the arrival of autumn, mainly because it is associated with returning to the dreaded classroom, a conclusion of those lazy days of summer and, it is the call sign of colder temperatures. Despite all the negative hoopla associated with autumn, there are some wonderful things in the jewelry world. It brings with it great beauty and charm, and the fashion is simply exquisite. Here are the five jewelry trends guaranteed to turn heads this Fall.

Barkev’s Rose Gold Diamond Engagement Ring

1. Gold Jewelry- Gold is very hot at the moment. Classic, versatile, and very chic, gold is the jewelry of the season. If you’re not really into gold, then try rose gold, which has a pink color to it. It compliments a variety of skin tones and clothing. Ladies, forget about the white gold and silver and parade around in yellow and rose gold instead.

2. Go for the Statement Pieces- Either go all out or don’t go at all. This is not the time for shyness in bauble selections. As far as necklaces go, you can’t really go wrong with large pendants, bib necklaces, or chokers. These pieces will help separate you from the mundane and uninteresting. If you really want to make a statement, express yourself full force with chandelier earrings, as their size, beauty, and femininity will easily help you stand out from the crowd.

3. Jewels Are Better in Layers- It is almost mandatory that you layer your bracelets. Stacking bangles will make a strong, bold statement. It easily draws excitement, which is an excellent attention grabber. But why stop there? Innovate, experiment. Layering necklaces is also a good idea. Pair together necklaces of different sizes, be it long or short – those pendants that shout to the crowd and those more demure, quiet pieces. Be creative, innovative, and original. Find that look that says “You”.

Barkev’s Black Diamond Engagement Ring

4. Go for the Colored Diamonds- It is true that the white diamond is tops when it comes to sparkly jewelry, but it may be time to set aside the ordinary and delve into the extraordinary of rainbow colored diamonds. Brown, Green and Blue are good colored diamonds to experiment with this season.

5. Pick Out Some Jewelry Inspired by Nature – You can’t go wrong with natured colored tones in these delightful autumn months. The most prevalent colors are orange, brown and green, representative of the color of leaves, the barks of trees, and the color of nature itself. Express yourself with nature’s colors with gorgeous gemstones like the beautiful carnelian, drusy jewelry, and smoky quartz. Leaves, feathers, and floral designs add appeal to your jewelry, giving it a more nature-inspired look.

There you go! These are some of the best, most fashionable jewelry trends we’ll be showing off this Fall. How will you express yourself?

Celebrities Sporting Rose Gold Out on the Town

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Harry

While many of us already know that rose gold is not pure gold and instead it is an alloy made up of both gold and copper of varying percentage based on the depth of the color pink desired, celebrities have made no secret of their love of this novel gold color. If celebrities want to show off their level of wealth through their jewelry, rose gold may not be the best way to achieve this desired end as it still does run more inexpensively than solid gold. However, celebrities have also been touting white gold for years and that, too, in most cases is an alloy of gold and silver. So, who on the red carpet (or elsewhere) is showing off their love of this new pink-hued gold?

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon was recently seen walking the red carpet at a How Do You Know photo call wearing over $13,000 in just a rose gold necklace alone. Irene Neuwirth, the necklace designer, combined onyx and rose gold in this beautiful long circular necklace available for $13,180 at Landsberg Jewelers. Witherspoon’s choice to wear a black and rose gold necklace over a black dress might be seen as a bad choice by some because the onyx gold in the necklace will blend into the dress behind it. However, it does allow the beautiful rose gold to shine center stage.

Leann Rimes

Leann Rimes

When Leann Rimes became engaged to her former-lover-turned-fiancé Eddie Cibrian, the tabloids were abuzz with shock and awe at the couple’s audacity. If Cibrian proposing to Rimes just shy of three months after his divorce to former wife Brandi Glanville wasn’t a statement enough, her $85,000 engagement ring certainly was. Cibrian spared no expense for Rimes’ platinum band showcasing a 5 carat oval diamond encased in a rose gold fleur-de-lis.

So, despite the fact that some jewelry aficionados might snub their nose at any gold other than pure gold, celebrities are displaying their love for this novel pink-hued gold and pairing it with some interesting fashion choices. And, what’s more is that it is becoming clear that rose gold is capable of being paired with a myriad of wardrobe color choices.

Newer Gold Color Standing Out From The Crowd

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Harry

While the debate still rages as to whether current and future brides to be will be wearing predominantly white gold or yellow gold this year, another gold has entered into the jewelry market in a big way. Rose gold, sometimes also referred to as pink gold or red gold, has made a pronounced entrance into the jewelry market and onto top celebrities’ hands, ears, necks, wrists, etc. this year.

How is it made?

Basically rose gold is made by combining two metals: gold and copper. A typical combination of white gold and copper used to create rose gold is about 75% gold and 25% copper. Because rose gold is a combination of two different metals, also called an alloy, there is no such thing as “pure” rose gold. And, just as colored gemstones, especially those created in a lab setting, can have different variations of a particular hue, so too can rose gold. This accounts for the names “red” and “pink” gold. By varying the copper content and sometimes by adding silver, different shades can be made within the rose gold spectrum.

How popular is it?

Because traditional, or yellow gold, is often not a compound or alloy, it remains the most expensive and the most popular gold worldwide. However, gold prices are currently on the rise in the United States because of the relatively limited amount of it left in the country and fewer mines in existence than years ago during “The Gold Rush.” This means that all gold prices are rising, regardless whether it is solid gold or an alloy. Also, shows like Gold Rush on the Discovery Channel are reigniting the somewhat long-lost American Dream of mining for gold and striking it rich as a result.

How to Wear It

Rose gold is beautiful and can be worn as such all by itself in earrings, a necklace, rings, or just about any other kind of jewelry. However, many jewelry stores today are selling multi-tone jewelry. While white gold and yellow gold two-tone jewelry has been around for quite some time, now that rose gold has made its entrance known, jewelry stores are capitalizing on this novel look and also using it with white gold to create a unique, newer, two-tone look.

How to Dress With a Variety of Gold Colors

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Harry

If you are lucky enough to have a large assortment of gold jewelry, you probably like to mix and match your jewelry with other pieces of jewelry and with a variety of outfits. Jewelry is just one of many ways to make a fashion statement and sometimes those statements go well and at other times they don’t, as in the case of many fashion shows dedicated to critiquing celebrity styles at major events. Some gold colors pair well with just about any color in your wardrobe while some should be paired more strategically for a rich look.

White Gold

Because white gold is a cold metal and it reflects a lot of the colors in its vicinity, white gold is probably the most versatile of all of the gold colors. However, white gold does stand out considerably against darker colors like black, navy, and darker shades of brown. So, if you desire to make a more subtle statement with your jewelry, you might want to avoid wearing white gold with any of those colors as there will be a stark contrast.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold has quite a lengthy history of standing for richness, royalty, and wealth. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt favored the color of yellow gold because they tended to pair it with ornate garments and headwear. In more modern times yellow gold has been fashioned into a form of currency and the United States Government still houses quite a large sum of solid gold for good reason as well: it’s valuable. And if you’ve been watching the gold market lately, you’ve noticed that gold prices are on the rise. For this reason, if you wish to make a statement regarding your wealth, prestige, or power, yellow gold is great for making this kind of statement. It pairs well with almost any color but should be worn with warmer tones such as yellow and orange for a more subtle look.

Rose Gold

Barkev’s Solitaire White & Rose Gold Engagement Rings

Rose gold can be the most difficult gold color to wear. First of all, its widespread appeal is one that is relatively new to the gold market. Second of all, it doesn’t quite possess the richness of yellow cold and it’s not as cold or reflective as white gold. Many people who wear rose gold like to pair it with other colors that are reminiscent of the fall since it is such an apt choice depicting the change of seasons. Rose gold, then, could be worn with yellow, orange, burgundy, and many of the colors in the jewel tone family.

Many people wear some pieces of jewelry on a regular basis, like wedding rings. While you certainly don’t have to have wedding and engagement rings in every color of the gold spectrum, you might choose to be more mindful of which color of gold jewelry you select based on the type of function you’re attending and the other colors you intend to wear.

In Style Again: Yellow Gold

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Harry

Throughout the years, jewelry fashion fluctuates just like clothing fashion. White gold, platinum, sterling silver and the like have often been referred to as cold metals, rather than the warmer hues of yellow and rose gold. Despite the fact that white gold and metals of similar colors seem to have dominated the jewelry scene in the last twenty years or so, yellow gold is still the most popular gold sold and worn today. However, those who prefer yellow gold will also be comforted by the fact that our society’s elite has been affirming the shift back to yellow gold as a popular engagement and wedding ring metal.

Miley Cyrus Gold Engagement Ring

One of society’s current leading pop country stars, Miley Cyrus, recently became engaged to her The Last Song costar, Liam Hemsworth in 2012. Her stunning 3.5 carat cushion cut diamond is surrounded by 18 karat yellow gold.

Halle Berry Engagement Ring

When Halle Berry began dating fellow actor Oliver Martinez in 2010, it was anyone’s guess whether this couple would make it. After all, this was Berry’s fourth highly publicized long-term romance, with two prior resulting in marriage. However, she is now happily engaged and flaunts it with her engagement ring showcasing a 4 carat flawlessly colored emerald encased in yellow gold.

Priscilla Chan Wedding Ring

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg surely knew what he was doing when he chose the perfect wedding ring to adorn wife Priscilla Chan’s finger just after one of the most surprising celebrity weddings of the century. If Chan was expecting a large diamond to be her wedding present from her multi-billionaire husband, she was likely quite disappointed. However, in keeping with the new, old twist on jewelry, he chose a ruby wedding ring encased also in none other than yellow gold.

Modern day brides or those who were married within the last decade or two might be wondering why yellow gold remains the best-selling gold hue even today. While that question may never be directly answered, per se, one only has to look around to notice why gold is considered to be such a luxurious metal. When Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to forbid private ownership of gold coins, certificates, and bullion in the United States in 1933, the value of the gold held by the Federal Reserve rose from $8 to $12 billion in just four years. Gold is also considered the color of royalty in England. Even in the Olympics, athletes contend for the gold medal, not silver or bronze. While white gold and platinum sure had their run of popularity, it seems as though yellow gold may be coming back in style for celebrities and average American brides to be alike.

Finding Vintage Bridal Jewelry

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Harry

Tradition states brides need “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” Put a stylish touch on the “Something old” requirement by wearing a distinct piece of vintage jewelry on your wedding day. From shimmering diamond bracelets and natural pearl necklaces, to classic pieces that are centuries old, there are a myriad of options to choose from.

Local Jewelers

Vintage jewelry can be obtained in various ways. Visit your local jeweler to see if they have any vintage pieces in stock. The jeweler will provide the history of the piece, and an interesting story about the way it was acquired. Most importantly, they will ensure that the piece is structurally sound before they resell it.

Online Jewelers

Online jewelers that specialize in vintage jewelry are another option. By shopping online, you have access to pieces across the globe. This increases your options of finding unique jewelry from different regions and countries. You can peruse the online inventory and look at pictures of the jewelry and the historical information the jeweler provides. On the downside, you will not have the opportunity to see the piece in person. However, if you do your homework and purchase from a reputable online retailer, you will find a quality piece.

Estate sales

Estate sales are routinely held in most areas on the weekends, and they generally feature unique jewelry pieces that were acquired during someone’s lifetime. The jewelry is typically very unique since it represents the previous owners taste, interests, life and travels. Some of the jewelry offered at the sales can be expensive. However, you can find beautiful antique jewelry pieces at reasonable prices. Estate sales are typically advertised in local newspapers or online classified websites such as craigslist.org.

Jewelry Auctions

For the well-to-do looking to make a statement at their wedding, auctions are a great way to find one-of-a-kind fine vintage jewelry. Auction houses such as Christie’s International and Sotheby’s in New York routinely offer up the world’s most glamorous pieces which once belonged to royalty, affluent families and Hollywood legends.

Family Heirlooms

If you are looking for a piece with familial attachment, talk to your parents and family members and see if they have any vintage jewelry to spare. A family heirloom will add a touch of comfort and a connection to the past, while you head into a new life with your significant other.

The Dubai Gold Souk

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Harry

Dubai is a renowned Middle East destination known as the playground for the rich. The desert gem rose to international prominence due to its futuristic architecture, lavish attractions and opulent lifestyle. The United Arab Emirates’ most famous city is also a top destination for jewelry lovers. In fact, Dubai’s legendary jewelry prowess has led to it being dubbed “the City of Gold.”

Dubai’s main trading district for jewelry is the dazzling Dubai Gold Souk, an open-air market nestled along the narrow alleyways of the old Deira area. The marketplace gained notoriety in the 1940s after the government lessened restrictions on free trade. Today, the district is a popular spot for tourists looking to score fine jewelry products at deeply discounted prices.

The Dubai Gold Souk is home to approximately 300 retailers that supply the majority of the Middle East’s jewelry. The district is the second largest distributor of gold bullion in the world. According to industry estimates, 95% of the yellow gold sold at the Dubai Gold Souk is 21 karat, while the remaining 5% is 18 karat. The Dubai Gold Souk is strictly regulated by the government; therefore, the jewelry sold there is genuine.

The Dubai Gold Souk offers a staggering selection of wrist and foot bangles, necklaces, amulets, rings and pendants that feature a distinct Middle Eastern flair. Retailers also offer impressive selections of diamonds, platinum and sterling silver jewelry. The jewelry is so glamorous that it is routinely featured in Bollywood films, where it is worn by India’s biggest stars.

If you find yourself in Dubai with a little time to kill, spend the day at the Dubai Gold Souk. Whether you are in the market for jewelry, or are simply looking for an interesting place to people-watch, the marketplace is among the city’s must-see attractions.