Jewelry has been one of the prized possessions of the humankind since ancient times. You might have heard about the stone-made jewelry from Stone Age, which proves how interesting jewelry has always been to the human. So, what makes these ornaments so special that no one can resist having a look at them and if possible, buy and possess them?
Indeed, the sheen of the modern jewelry of precious metals along with the exquisite designs makes them this charming. This is where jewelry design comes into the picture as an art or a profession. A jewelry designer creates, fabricates, and renders designs for jewelry. Earlier this used to be done by goldsmiths, which is now a formalized career and a whopping industry.
When my friend Tina started out doing her inschool training to become a teacher, she was sure that she would always be a teacher and nothing else. I was sceptical of this, seeing as Tina had always harboured a secret desire to start her own business. Probably my fault for always banging on about how good it is to work for yourself.
It turned out I was right. Soon after she started her training Tina called to tell me that she was going to run a small jewellery business alongside her training — and I wasn’t jealous, I was proud of her and wanted to help. Her theory being that if the teaching didn’t work out – or she became unemployed like so many others – she would, at least, have something to fall back on. I had to agree that was a wise idea.
She adores her teaching and loves being influential in the lives of the youth, but I’m sure she’ll always do jewellery…
And Tina’s chance came when she got the opportunity to go to Brazil — somewhere I have been a few times for a very special reason; I’m not exactly sure how she wangled it – I’m not even sure she knew how she wangled it – but she managed to go for half price, and when she was there she had the pick of some of the best jewellery-based ingredients on the planet!
With the whole of Sau Paulo at her disposal, Tina quickly came across the kind of rare stones that she’d have spent many years looking for in England. Many of them were set in precious metals, but Tina’s idea was to break them out of them and re-shape them, making them new from scratch.
On her visits, Tina’s problem was that there was simply too much choice…among the stuff on offer were green prasiolite, purple amethyst and yellow citrine – all amazing gemstones that would be very saleable here in the United Kingdom.
Of course, like anyone, like me, Tina had a hero, and her hero was (and is) Brazilian designer Mauricio Monteiro. Sometimes I have to actually put my hand over her mouth to get her to shut up about the man! With his very own independent shop in Iguatemi, selling these stones for a great deal of money, the man is seriously going places and Tina definitely had it right to emulate him! My business does well but this man is something else!
Today, Tina runs her successful small business in her spare time, and we are still best of friends, nothing like enemies. She adores her teaching and loves being influential in the lives of the youth, but I’m sure she’ll always do jewellery, and why not? It seems to be a good idea for her, both for the body and the soul. Plus it doesn’t do her bank account any harm either…which is starting to look a LOT more healthy ever since she came back from her adventure in Brazil. She’ll be catching me up soon if I am not careful…
Jewellery comes in all shapes, colours, sizes and materials so it’s no wonder that leather is fast becoming a popular accessory. From metal heads and rockers to A list celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Lindsay Lohan.
This humble material can be worn as cuffs, bracelets and cords and so much more. Many designers are using this versatile material to create necklaces and earrings. Tanya Igic uses leather to create some wonderful pieces by combining soft pastel shades to re-create More
People sometimes ask me what the draw is with jewelery. They ask me why I was attracted to it all those years ago as a young girl, and what led me to take what many consider to be a hobby and create a business out of it. It’s an interesting question, I think. After all, it’s hard to make money from this kind of thing, and the point, really, is as with anything creative: you really have to love doing it or else, what’d be the point?
I was six when I first became interested in jewellery, although you could say that I had little choice not to be interested. My mother had loved it – still does, adores it – and her mum before her, and the love of shiny-wearable-things dates right back hundreds of years. So when I first set eyes on the stuff in my mum’s workshop there was a familiarity to it that was inescapable. I loved the look of it, and everything about me – including my genes, and my DNA, I suppose – threw he head first towards it. Made me want it around me at all times.
The sketch-pad is where ideas to do with jewellery get recorded for all time
I’ve always loved the idea of running my own business, however small; yes it’s a hassle, and yes there are a few headaches every once in a while which mean it’s not always as simple as you’d like it to be, but it’s still a great way to enjoy employment. At least if you ask me.
And I am always looking for new ways to make money. The other day, in fact, I stumbled across a new small business which More
Youngster love buying inexpensive jewelry. Middle aged individuals who earn a lot love to splurge on expensive stones. How about elderly individuals? One would expect them to overcome the lure of jewelry with passing time. Those who own quality stuff may like to sport them around once in a while. Those who have passed their jewelry on to their children and grandchildren may buy new stuff once in a while. However, one certainly does not expect 80 year old women More
While waiting on a friend of mine after her liposuction procedure I saw this lady in the waiting area with a jewellery catalogue and she was looking at a diamond necklace. Well it appeared to be diamond. I wondered then how many people can tell if they are wearing real or synthetic diamonds.
Diamonds are the fruits of the earth, produced by the intense heat and pressure inside the earth’s core. It takes millions of years for a piece of More
One of the more challenging aspects of having jewellery and other accessories is finding the right jewellery box to store them away in until you need them again. When you are searching for the right bow you must check it out yourself unless you are buying online in which case you will have to take what you get for the most part. Here are some thoughts on choosing a jewellery box that is right for you.
I am a guy writing on a ladies blog site. Since you worked as a jewelery designer - I had come across this shop called Korloff, it’s a brand from Paris. The brand somewhat stands out from De Beers and Tiffany & Co but its well up there to be compared with them as it is unique in its own style. While the former of the two mentioned are more sophisticated and slimmed, the latter is combination of both slim More
I’ve been a fan of jewellery ever since I was old enough to raid my big sister’s jewellery box back in the eighties. In fact there’s a photograph of me standing in our kitchen at the age of five with bright red plastic beaded necklaces strung all over me looking pleased as punch with my accessorizing skills! Hopefully my taste has improved somewhat since then although I still maintain a fondness for gaudy eighties style plastic necklaces. These days though More
