Coral is a great material to create jewelry pieces. It is a material that has a special charm, a real incarnation of summer, sun and sea. There are a lot of places where corals live. But when people speak of coral reefs, they first of all think of coral reefs and atolls situated in South Sea and Australia. They really can be called one of prodigies of nature. But these are not those corals who are protected. They use such corals as for instance “corallium rubrum” and “corallium japonicum”as a material to produce jewelry pieces.
As well as pearl it belongs to organic materials. You should know that corals and pearl are very similar in their chemical structure so it is a real miracle that nature created them absolutely different in their look: bright red corals and snow-white pearl. It is also interesting that corals are not obligatory red even if red color is considered to be typical for them. There are even white, blue and black corals in nature! But the most loved and popular are red corals. The most fashionable are considered to be black and golden corals. As for blue ones, they are extremely rare. Very expensive are blue colors - “angel skin”. Corals are rather soft that is why your jewelry piece made of coral can be damaged. In order to avoid this you should know that corals do not like cosmetics, hot water and bright light. Take care of your coral jewels and if necessary take it to a jeweler. From ancient times people have used corals as protective stones. People have been wearing corals to protect themselves from evil spirits as talismans. They also help in family life. Corals inspire fashion designers all around the world. So don't be afraid to touch this wonderful world of gorgeous corals!read more
Go to Sleep or Loose Weight with a Stone
The color of a stone has a different influence upon us; yellow color imposes us to immediately start acting, but if we choose a bracelet with bright red stone there is a chance to have twice more power. If you want to loose weight you should choose a ring, a bracelet or a pendant with stones of a fashionable this season blue color you will feel how your appetite will slow down because there is nothing eatable of this color in nature. Instead of one more deodorant it is better to buy bijouterie with
Some insertions of crystals and stones of pink color. According to psychologists this is the most fragrant one.
By the way your desire to take off your jewels together with your attire and put them into your jewelry box is not quite right. You can leave your ring or a bracelet if there is at least one precious natural stones.
It is known that majority of them are powerful means to sleep well.
Look at your favorite bijouterie and hold it and you will feel how your stress reduces and how your body relaxes after a hard working day.
A necklace or a bracelet made of wood can also be of use to you. Wood contains oils that
Compatibility Test
Do you know that people can be divided into gold and silver? Human qualities have nothing to do with it. The way how we bear different surfaces divide humanity into two almost equal parts. A silver ring can cause allergy. What to do in this case? To put on gold necklace – if you are gold person it will certainly work.
Medical professionals of different kinds use bijouterie ways of treatment. The legend that it is possible to return sight just by piercing ears is only a beautiful fairy tale. But earrings can really calm you down (but if you choose clips do not wear them more than 4-5 hours. There is a bijouterie zone responding for our spiritual harmony). The heavier earrings are the more quiet you are.
Those who create bijouterie started treating people by creating bijouterie from mollusk shells. Scientists have found out that this material contains some properties that have a powerful anesthetic effect. Those who love mother-of-pearl hair clips, bracelets and brooches do not use anesthetic often.
Symbol comes first: While looking for the astrological or astronomical pieces, people are usually interested in the background of one thing or another. It is not the planet signs, symbols of Zodiac or the multifunctional complicated devices that they are keen on. People appreciate the very symbolic meaning of the thing. Or I can even say - a symbol of what had long become a mythology.
And there are people sharing this point of view or having quite a similar approach. Wolfgang Steinkruger, great designer and the general manager of Sothis Company understood it long time ago. Wolfgang Steinkruger doesn't deny the fact that observing the night vault of heaven made him pay attention to the old time connection set by the people between the Earth and stars motion. It has got a hypnotizing impact on him.
Sothis is a divine personification of the star Sirius in the Big Dog constellation. To get the real value of the product of any company, and especially of the watch company you need to know something about its background. That is the company's history of foundation, its main aesthetic values and so on.
The star Sirius is the brightest one in northerly winter sky. When the Egyptian calendar was introduced, it meant the astronomical beginning of the New Year.
Origins and technologies
The origin of the significant and harmonious name Sothis can be found in Bielefelds. Bielefelds is the metropolis at the edge of Teutoburg Forest. The main designer and owner of Sothis Wolfgang Steinkruger established himself as a world known manufacturer of timepieces within the shortest time. Sothis has got serious mechanical development, such as the moon phase used in the model range 'Spirit of Moon' or 'Stardust'.
Unique design
Superior ornamentation and refined engraving of the Stardust timepiece along with its gold plated rotor makes this timepiece a real treasure for true connoisseurs of original design. The depiction of stars as well as the deep blue color of the 'Stardust' watch dial makes it really precious from the aesthetic point of view. White, detailed watch scale and yellow color of the second hands makes an obvious but beautiful reminiscence to the night starry sky, when the sky is cloudless and the Moon surrounded by the stars is looking at the Earth inhabitants like a mythological deity.
Dial of the Stardust watch is whether black or silver. Stardust model features leather strap with deployment buckle. Like many other unique and original timepieces, Stardust collection represents a limited edition of five hundred pieces.
Hidden universe
Another great detail of the Stardust model is a sapphire glass on the back side of the watch. The back case of Sothis timepiece being transparent makes it possible for the owner to observe the most amazing peculiarity of the watch - work of the movement. The Sothis constellation engraved on the back case creates the impression of the Milky Way passing before the eyes of an observer, which offers a perfect opportunity to draw an analogy between the watch movement and the universe.
I think Stardust watch by Sothis is a great stylized timepiece worth of the careful attention. Stardust watch is am amazing follower of the old astrological and astronomical traditions of watchmaking.
Carrera y Carrera is the most famous jewelry house in Spain. Nowadays it is one of five biggest world jewelry companies and the single company that creates jewelry pieces for Spanish royal family by their orders.
The history of Carrera y Carrera has begun more than a century ago. That was the time of Madrid flourishing - it was considered to be one of six most important cities of Europe. That time there were 320 rich Spanish aristocratic families and 270 of them lived in Madrid. In 1885 a young man Satorio Carrera left his native town and moved to Paris to realize his cherished dream. He opened a small jewelry workshop. It turned out to be a very profitable business. That was the reason his son continued it and became one of the most famous Spanish jewelers.
He created the unique style that laid foundation of Carrera y Carrera traditions. He created a lot of jewels with animalistic motives and became one of the creators of the style popular that time and called "animalier".
His favorite subjects were flowers, mysterious panthers and beautiful butterflies that were especially loved by aristocratic women. Later the next generation of famous family wanted to create something really special and different from jewels of other jewelry houses. They decided to combine jewelry art and sculpture in jewelry pieces. That combination was so great that it has become the company's visiting card. The first company's collection made a revolution in jewelry world. And it has always been a remarkable event.
Nowadays Manuel Carrera is called "Spanish Faberge". It's impossible to mix up Carrera jewels with somebody else's. Each collection of the House has its history and symbol.
Carrera y Carrera jewels have always been famous by unusual animalistic motives - among mostly loved company's animals are panthers, dolphins, swans, turtles, horses and even ladybirds.
Carrera y Carrera jewelers think that animals have become a kind of talismans that bring luck to their owners.
Nowadays there are more than 12 thousands jewelry designs. All jewels are launched in limited editions, and just imagine - each item has its own serial number.
The brand's know-how is combination of mat and polished surfaces of generous metals that increases the impression from refined design.
And you know today the House creates not only evening models but also for everyday wear.
Any great watch is remarkable for some unique functions, as well as special details of the timepiece that attract people's attention. In case of astro-watches, for example, it is whether a matter of their design related to astronomy or their functions. There must be something about the watch to make a customer purchase it, and it should work otherwise… nothing is going to come of it.
Christiaan van der Klaauw
Astronomical timepieces always featured mechanical movements: there is a long history of watchmaking behind them. Christiaan van der Klaauw is a Holland watchmaker who dealt with the mechanics. Even though now he is a maker of wristwatches, he started his career in 1974 with creating exclusive clocks. Christiaan van der Klaauw's mechanical creations have always been characterized by timeless design, which is not an exaggeration at all.
It is enough to take a close look at his watches to understand that these mechanical masterpieces won't be out of date, say, in a hundred years from now. Van der Klaauw has always been keen on the astronomy and the watches that he makes are a result of his old interest. His passion for astronomy and his inimitable skill of watchmaker have become the trademarks of his Company.
Van der Klaauw's absolutely unbelievable creation is called Planetarium 2000. This timepiece represents the tiniest planetarium in the whole world! As you know Planetarium is a screen where different celestial bodies, such as stars, planets etc. are displayed. These celestial bodies move in a realistic way to render the motion of heaven, in other words, the revolution of the planets around the sun. Well, in our case it is our solar system.
This tiny mechanical planetarium is considered to be a step forward in mechanical watchmaking not just because of its movement, yet its perfect design. To give you the idea of the Planetarium's specific features, I will list them below:
Does your loved one prefer wearing jewels with semiprecious stones? Are you going to make a great gift for her - but don't know what to choose?
You know, it's possible to devote a lot of pages to any of gems. The history of every semiprecious stone is not just very interesting but useful. Precious stones or gems are known for a great number of years.
A gem has had three main designations:
According to an old legend there was just initial stone sky - the protector of the world at the very beginning. It was split when evil came to the Earth. Small pieces fell on the Earth as gems.
Since that time, a gem, being a piece of firm sky, protects its wearer, takes care of him/her and brings joy and pleasure those around the person.
Moreover, money becomes cheaper with time but everything is on the contrary with gems. Often small jewelry pieces are equivalents of big a capital that is comfortable to keep and to give to the next generations.
Love for jewelry has arisen in the early childhood. Being a small girl, she looks at her mother's jewelry with admiration and tries on mom's golden earrings, rings and shining bracelets. With the increase of years this passion doesn't disappear.
Jewelry made of gold remains one of the greatest gifts for a loved one. In addition, every woman always wants to add something special into her jewelry box.
This season jewelry pieces made of gold with gems are very fashionable. Especially when they shine with all the colors of the rainbow and when they're in harmony with the outfit - be it a light summer dress or a business suit.
Thanks to its durability and rich color palette, citrine is widely used in jewelry pieces of any style.
They say that this light cheerful gem develops life ware and symbolizes brightness and life completeness.
Earrings or a ring with blue or beige topaz occupy a special place among jewelry pieces with gems.
Topaz is one of the most beautiful gems that first of all attracts by its special inner play of light, shine and plenty of color tints.
It's possible to find blueness of the sky and golden tints of sun light, some sparkling wine tints and light transparency of morning dew.
You know, topaz was considered to have some magic power. People believed that those who worn jewelry with this gem became generous and kind. Moreover, they were certain that it helped in career and love affairs.
Just look at this gorgeous topaz jewelry set. It certainly is great for a very romantic and tender woman.
Nobody's surprised anymore by the complicated watches of different kinds. Chronometers, tourbillions, moon phase indicators, repetition watches, eternal calendars etc. But I'm sure that nobody ever dreamt to have a special watch predicting the future.
"It is nonsense", you say and I would be of the same opinion if I didn't know they really exist. You can say: "It's a modern digital multifunctional innovation. It is another crafty invention of some Japanese watch brand." Wrong. The timepiece that I'm going to tell you about is a unique watch invented and created in the 19th century by the Spanish masters with use of technique of the glorified Damask art.
The signs on Zodiac that were used from time immemorial for predictions of the future, for behavior analysis and personal characteristics of people are placed on the bottom plate of this astrological timepiece.
The numerals indicating hours are engraved in the motionless ring symbolizing an orbit of a celestial body. The hands soaring in the space are slowly moving across the starry sky and the sun rotates around its axis keeping time with a second hand.
Speaking of the materials, it is 18 and 24 carat gold used for manufacturing of the Zodiac watch. 18 carat gold is made of an alloy of 24 carat gold and silver, having a greenish shade.
Other materials are browning copper, gold plated brass, wood.
of the inlaid pattern.
Another timepiece was made with the use of the same technique.
The numerals indicating hours and minutes are placed on the planets located around the crystal celestial star. Hands are moving across the starry sky from a planet to a planet, while sun is rotating around its axis keeping in time with a second hand.
Speaking of the materials, it is 18 and 24 carat gold used
for manufacturing of the Parade of planets watch.
18 carat gold is made of an alloy of 24 carat gold and silver, having a greenish shade. Other materials are browning copper, gold plated brass, wood.
I believe these astrological timepieces are going to give pleasure to both people who are fond of astrology and horology. In this case we could say that astrology and horology go hand in hand.
This is a great fusion of art and science, and what's more we shouldn't skip the aesthetical element. These amazing creations look beautiful and precious at the same time combining jewelry approach with the outstanding innovations.
They say that pearls bring longevity and luck. If it's true then luck is somewhere close because pearl is in fashion nowadays. And who else if not a Mikimoto jewelry company knows it very well. Nobody in the world has such a perfect pearl as Mikimoto.
Recently pearl was considered to be a customary attribute of old ladies-millionaires but has turned into a favorite toy of jewelers. Nowadays different colors of pearl are in fashion - black, grey, violet and especially yellow and pink. The most relevant are necklaces made of different pearls. As Mikimoto President Toyohiko Mikimoto says, it should be ideally for every woman to have a string of pearls from 80 to 182 cm length. Have you already guessed the reason? So, its happy owner will have the opportunity not only to turn her necklace around for several times but nicely tie it round her waist.
Of course not every fashion lady can have it: the simplest string of Tahitian or Philippine pearl costs several thousands of dollars. Of course if it's not from Mikimoto. Pearl from Mikimoto will cost you far more expensive. It can be easily explained: Mikimoto chooses only the best pearl for its jewelry pieces - only 3 per cent of general amount of pearl they grow on their special farms.
You know in 1839 the company's founder began growing pearl for the first time in the world. Since that time he is called the king of pearl. But Mikimoto company is famous not just by its pearl beauty and quality but by unusual execution of jewels from it. The company's craftsmen have learned how to put precious stones into pearls.
Mikimoto has a precise copy of a Greys Kelly necklace - it's a simple string of snow-white pearl of middle size costs 20 thousands of dollars.
It possible to choose other precise copies of jewels belonging to a Hollywood beauty who conquered the heart of Monaco's Prince. The basic motive of the collection is precious clasp in form of a scarlet rose. Mikimoto plays with this idea not only in a necklace but in earrings, rings and brooches.
You know Oscar de La Renta considers pearls to be an incarnation of femininity. The necklace created by his drawings is a combination of gorgeous pearls and platinum with hundreds of small diamonds. It's a real chic and elegancy. But Carolina Herrera is certain that it's just impossible to manage without pearls in evening outfits for women. She is the author of unusual necklace-collar: huge pearls of irregular shape remind islands that are lost in the ocean of very small emeralds and diamonds.