This week we sat down with our resident style expert-Paulcito Vitug. With 20 years of runway fashion knowledge, Mr. Vitug shared insights into the latest fashion jewelry trends that everyone’s favorite models are sporting.
Alright. The holidays are here and you just discovered that you can’t buy your mom a new house like you promised her when you were 12? That’s okay! Today we are looking at the next best thing-jewelry! Everyone loves high-fashion jewelry, no one more so than our beloved always-on-trend moms. Here at PJD we continue our mission to help you find some of the most fashionable and economically priced jewelry pieces for all your loved ones.
Let’s take a look at some of our Mom Finds for this Holiday Season including affordable and somewhat lavish finds to suit all mom types.
Planning to pop the question to your lady love this upcoming year? Selecting your diamond engagement ring is extremely important and can be a daunting task for anyone, but we thrive on letting our readers know about all the latest styles and looks to perfectly suit your love.
While there will be some looks that will always be popular such as the classic solitaire and the ultra-chic halo, today’s brides are looking more and more to rose gold engagement rings as their bridal ring of choice.
We’ve compiled a list of some of our current blush-colored favorites and some of the reasons why rose gold is one of the year’s top trending bridal fashion trends.
Here at PJD we occasionally love highlighting current fashion-forward fine jewelry designers. One of our current favorites is none other than Gabriel New York. I’m sure you’ve seen their work more than a few times around our blog, but today we’re going to break down some of their most popular models geared towards women and what you might expect from purchasing one of their timeless selections.
Most people are familiar with the two most requested ring cuts (the round brilliant and the princess cuts), but we here at PJD think that simply because those cuts are common, they are not necessarily for everyone. As some of our own staff will attest, these lesser used diamonds are sometimes the most glamorous and most favored for people with bold personalities. No shade to the ever-popular princess and round cuts, but today, we are choosing to show some love to lesser talked about engagement ring cuts!
One of the most versatile, affordable fine jewelry fashion accessories available, the perfect necklaces can take any outfit to that next-level of fashion-forward style and breathtaking (not to mention heartbreaking) sophistication.
While there is as many styles of necklaces as there is people, there is four major types that everyone woman should have as a part of any ensemble.
[author’s note: I hate using the word should, especially when it comes to telling people what they “should” be doing. With that being said, I wasn’t sure what else to say. Sorry! -JG]
One of the most versatile, affordable, and accessible fine jewelry fashion accessories, necklaces are the perfect way to take any outfit to the next level of fashion-forward and breathtaking sophistication. While there are as many styles of necklaces as there are people, we can distinguish four major types that provide a unique splash of class to any woman’s ensemble.
Since its heyday in the 1990’s, choker necklaces have come back into fashion and are a “must have” for any woman looking for a simple, yet distinctive, jewelry accessory. Ranging from simple necklaces that made from a single metal chain (generally made of white gold, yellow gold, or sterling silver), to models that feature bold focal gems, beads, or cameos, chokers fit snuggly and elegantly emphasize a wearer’s neck and neckline.
The simplicity of the choker makes it an unobtrusive bit of elegance that emphasizes everything that surrounds it. Choosing a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt? A choker, for example this stainless steel necklaces by Michael Kors, is sure to brighten your casual look immediately.
Going out to a dinner party in formal, sophisticated attire? A choker like this “Passion” choker pendant necklace from Simon G. can add another layer of beauty to the look chosen for the evening.
Traditional doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned! Pendant necklaces are one of the most ancient types of necklace, but modern pendants are subtle, refined, and effortlessly fashionable. Pendant-style necklaces are an extremely simple way to add a bit of flair and style to a wardrobe without looking too dressy.
Usually consisting of a single, or many, precious metal strands, pendant necklaces are available today featuring an array of pendants, all adorned with beautiful gems, jewels, and diamonds of all sizes, shapes, and colors. The ideal pendant necklace should elegantly reach to the wearer’s mid-chest area, drawing focus to one’s collar bones and neckline, bringing a dash of sophistication and allure to any outfit.
Some of our favorite pendant necklaces are ones like these pieces all from the “Essential” collection by Madison L, and all that features vivid and confident gems.
Also very popular right now are the pendant necklaces of A Jaffe’s “Maps” collection (not to be confused with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps” collection) which allows for the user to customize the piece with an engraved map of somewhere special.
As opposed to the aforementioned necklace styles that are usually worn alone, layering chain necklaces of various sizes, styles, and materials has become an increasingly major trend amongst modern-day fashioninanistas (™ Premiere Jewelry Designs). Creating a unique and personal look, wearing multilayered chain necklaces are a fabulous way to turn any everyday wardrobe into a bold and modern fashion statement.
Achieving the multilayered style is as easy as finding multiple necklaces that complement each other, and wearing them at them simultaneously. Sometimes jewelry designers will sell these multi-stranded models in a single piece, but more often than not, the wearer has the freedom to experiment with various necklace combinations and to find a group that mixture that works best with their individual fashion preferences and style.
Some of our favorite chain style necklaces include:
From the Italian designers at Officina Bernardi comes this wonderful multi-colored 925 sterling silver “Interlock” chain necklace. With its many chains and unique rings, this piece is great for creating the illusion that you’re wearing many necklaces, without having to worry about coordinating all that metal.
This chain style necklace, by the extremely popular designers at Alex and Ani, has been made to be able to “expand” from 21″ to 41″. This distinctive feature makes for a necklace that can match many different outfits, and that than be paired with other necklaces of any length or style.
The paradigm of prestige and glamour, nobody should be without a pearl necklace! Perfect for those inevitable-to-happen formal events, or even to just add a bit of effortless grace to any outfit, these days pearl necklaces are more affordable and available than ever and whether worn in single or with multiple strands (such as the two pictured below, both from Mikimoto), will always invoke comparisons of the wearer to Jackie O, Eartha Kitt, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, and other queens of women’s fashion.
While there is no accepted way to wear a pearl necklace, most stylish folks agree that they look best with the wearer’s hair in a graceful up-do, so as to guarantee that everyone gets a glimpse of those beautiful pearls!
Hey, we’re sure we missed something in this article. There’s so many necklaces out there and we’re only one bloggin team!
Pleas feel free to reach out to us on our Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and tell us all about your favorite necklaces! ~~The Team @ PDJ
Diamonds have famously been called a “girl’s best friend”, but whoever said that must have never had to deal with diamond shopping.
Generally speaking, most loose diamond sold at small fine jewelry retailers, as well as the ones used by designers like Tacori, are certified by a variety of independent diamond grading laboratories including, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the American Gem Society, as well as the International Gemological Institute. All of these groups follow four very simple steps to determine what makes a quality diamond, the 4 C’s.
Consisting of Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight, the 4 C’s are very important to keep in mind when searching for diamond-adorned engagement rings, wedding bands, and other jewelry items.
Determining how light moves through a diamond, the cut of a stone is probably the ultimate determining factors of a diamond’s ultimate brilliance, fire, and sparkle. Popular diamond cuts include:
According to the GIA, cut is graded on a scale goes from Excellent to Very Good to Good to Fair to Poor, with the higher grade diamonds costing more.
(Left to Right: Tacori engagement rings including the Tacori”Classic Crescent” with a Round diamond, Tacori “Classic Crescent” with Princess diamond, Tacori “RoyalT” with Emerald diamond)
Referring to how white (or “color-less”) a diamond appears, the color of a diamond is graded on a scale ranging from D (colorless) to Z (noticeable color). Most retailers only carry diamonds that are graded G or better. The standards for diamond color are generally as follows:
As a way to talk about the small, perfectly natural imperfections in that occur in basically all diamonds, diamonds with the highest clarity grades are free of blemishes and inclusions (the fancy names for flaws) are generally more expensive than those diamonds that are less clear. Similar to color, clarity is graded on the following scale:
FL: Flawless. No internal or outside flaws.
IF: Internally Flawless. No internal imperfections.
VVS: Very, Very Slightly Included. Very difficult to notice flaws.
VS: Very Slightly Included. Difficulty to notice flaws without extreme magnification.
SI: Slightly Included. Blemishes and flaws noticed with slight magnification.
I: Included. Obvious flaws.
Note: While clarity is important, flaws generally tend to be microscopic and easily hidden by a ring’s settings.
(Pictured: The “Clean Crescent” by Tacori engagement ring. This ring features a round diamond, and a 1/2 side-stone continuation)
Finally, carat weight is used to discuss the actual weight of a stone (but not the visual size of a stone). The price of the diamond increases with the increase of the carat weight You should pay close attention to the cut, color, and clarity of the stone, as greater size does not guarantee greater quality.
What are some of your tips for finding the perfect diamond? Comment, or hit us up on our Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
From King Midas to Don King, who shared a—some might say—unhealthy predilection for all things gold, people throughout history have been obsessed with the gleam, glitter, and glitz of precious metals. Today, if you walk into any jewelry retailer you’re sure to be blinded by an immense array of bridal, fine, and fashion jewelry items that are made of enough gold, silver, platinum, and other stunning precious metals that would surely make King Midas just green with jealous rage.
But with this immense variety of metals, how is anyone to know which metal is the best choice for them? What follows is a (brief) explanation of what precious metals are perfect for you and your budding jewelry collection.
Probably the most recognizable precious metal in existence, gold has been coveted for centuries for its flexibility, bright yellow-colored shine, its long-lasting, and tarnish-resisting attributes. Featured prominently in all types of jewelry including, most famously, wedding bands and engagement rings, gold is the ideal metal for crafting items of intricately formed designs, and perfect complements diamonds and gems of all colors and shapes.
Generally, fashion and bridal jewelry is made with three major types of gold, yellow, white, and rose, all of which have various advantages and disadvantages depending on what they’re used to make.
While the “alternative metals” sounds like something you might listen to in a mosh pit, precious metals such as Tungsten, Stainless Steel, Cobalt, Titanium, and others, are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those individuals who are searching for a metal that is different, special, and unique.
When it’s your time to shop for precious metal jewelry pieces, be it engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, money clips, or whatever else, it is of the utmost importance that you do your research, and find a retailer that you know and can trust. Due to the extreme value of many of these materials, the sad truth is that it is risky to buy jewelry from retailers, be them
online or otherwise.
Luckily for those looking for fine jewelry, most independent jewelry retailers are held to strict guidelines by jewelry designers, such as Madison L and others, who hold their authorized retailers to rigorous standards of quality and excellence.
Additionally, the staff at these retailers are specially educated to answer any questions that anyone could possibly have about the before mentioned metals and others, and are trained to assist in making the jewelry purchasing experience as simple and stress-free as possible.
Whether it’s Tolkien’s “One Ring”, Rose DeWitt’s “Heart of the Ocean”, or Fitzgerald’s “Diamond as Big as the Ritz”, the world of fiction is littered with storylines that depend on the destiny of jewelry items of various levels of power, value, and prestige.
And while you might not be able to wear an engagement ring adorned with the Pink Panther diamond, or gain the anti-aging capabilities of Melisandre’s ruby necklace, here are a few “real world” jewelry items that are a very real and very beautiful way to look good while paying homage to the stories you love.