We have all heard this famous Shakespearean quote penned for King Richard III who - upon losing his horse in battle - falls into a rage, killing everything in his path as he seeks a mount.
That quote has become a battle-cry of sorts for people who have urgent need of something which may normally seem insignificant, but suddenly looms large.
In the world of jewelry, as we absorb our transformed world of quarantine and social distancing, these trinkets and baubles that were very important mere months ago have logically taken a back-seat to the more significant topics of basic supplies, finances and family health & safety.
Image credit, Americanmagazine.org
Should we be ashamed to admit that we miss the bling?
Isn’t one of the attractions of eating dinner in a crowded restaurant seeing the bright flash from a ladies ring, or sparkle from her ear?
Noticing an elegant watch on the man standing at the bar or the stunning pendant adorning the woman crossing the floor. These are seemingly insignificant things that can suddenly loom large when they go absent from your life.
Image credit, Gentlemen's Journal
Sure, we can google images, shop catalogs, go to our favorite online jewelry discussion forums, or even open the cases we have in our homes; these are nice (albeit brief) escapes.
But immersing oneself in the crowd while attending a symphony, or using your opera glasses to surreptitiously snoop on jewelry across the theater, or watching a parade of interesting pieces go by as people board the plane - these little thrills are now missing in our lives.
Yes, it's understood we must prioritize a #slowthecurve reality so these things cannot compare with the truly substantive things that connect us all. But, given the current state of affairs you couldn’t blame someone for crying out -
“Some Bling, Some Bling! My Kingdom for some Bling!”
Image credit, Drraylevy.com
We can only hope for a return from our current winter of discontent to something made glorious sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, find your nicest pieces - and send pics.
It has been several weeks since the government asked us to stay inside, avoiding contact with the outside world.
Our dependence on video conferencing using FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts and other platforms seems to have gone up. Our collective human tolerance for a more "casual" version of ourselves has also risen proportionately.
It can be nice, even refreshing, for men to go a few days without shaving, and women to eschew the full make-up and carefully chosen outfits they might have insisted on wearing a few weeks ago. A video ‘happy hour’ with friends isn't the dress-up affair it tends to be in public. It's more comfortable in house pants, a sweatshirt and sporting hair that's left tamed, but not styled.
Image credit, Marvel
Now that barbers are closed I have seen scores of men taking shavers to their heads. Put simply, we've have allowed out true selves to shine a bit more, and the trappings of our existence to matter a bit less. I believe this is a good thing in the long run!
For years we've seen a tendency on social media to put forward the ‘best’ of each person. It can make the observer’s life seem mundane and uninspiring, compared to the glamorous insta, face and pinnings of others.
But, I can’t help but think…maybe our jewelry is getting lonely?
Imagine our every-day bling left in dark jewelry boxes for weeks now. Our fancier pieces lying in the dark, with no recourse but to out-last the quarantine.
NO! I say.
I'm speaking up for those lovely and valued pieces of our lives. Find a way, ladies and gentlemen, to make your jewelry feel loved during this time!
Schedule a romantic dinner date, in your house, with your spouse, significant other or roomie. Insist on dressing-up, wearing your beautiful watches, necklaces, earrings and pendants. Take pictures, post them on social media and recapture a flavor of the finer times of life!
Image credit, Pinterest
If you want to go big: Share recipes and schedule a weekly dinner date via Zoom with friends. Create the same appetizers and entree'. Decide on the same wine and dessert. Put your friends on the table with you... Talk, laugh and exchange stories over your silver and crystal - enjoying the same kind of dress-up company you once took for granted. Afterwards, be sure to post screenshots and selfies tagging one another.
Image credit, Wall Street Journal
Now, read the comments from those who have left their jewelry hidden away and see if you don't spark a movement.
Yes, we must live with social distancing and limit our exposure to the outside world for a while longer. But, as a jewelry advocate, I implore you - don’t quarantine your jewelry!
Here are four quick tips to keep your jewelry safe and healthy as you frequently wash and sanitize your hands.
1. Remove your jewelry
There are two reasons to remove your finger-blingers before scrubbing: On the one hand (so to speak) you don't want soapy suds to dull their sparkle. On the other hand (you saw that coming) you should be cleaning every part of your hands, including the skin normally covered by rings or bracelets. Develop a habit of placing your jewelry in sight, so you don't forget it, but not where it's in danger of dropping into a sink or waste-bin.
Photo credit, Clay Banks
2. Use alcohol-based hand-sanitizers
When selecting hand-sanitizer, choose one that's alcohol-based. The brands which use chlorine-based germicides can cause jewelry to tarnish, corrode and even crack, particularly sterling silver and nickel white golds. Experts say that an alcohol concentration between 60–95% is most effective at killing germs, and is completely safe for most (but not all) jewelry. Read on...
Photo credit, Anna Earl
3. Protect pearls and corals
Most jewelry can be exposed to alcohol-based hand-sanitizer, but remove all pearls and corals. Alcohol can cause color-change and loss of luster. Pearl and coral lovers already follow this rule with perfumes and hairspray - it should be extended to hand sanitizers as well. In fact, you should wait for your hands to dray completely before putting those items back on.
Photo credit, Alex Maloney
4. Rock a regular routine
Clean all of your daily-wear rings and bracelets with regularity (we suggest once per week). This can be done by soaking them in warm-water and dish-washing soap, scrubbing with a soft-brush to remove any detritus that has collected underneath or in hard-to-get-to areas, rinsing with cold water and letting them towel-dry.
Photo credit, mom4real.com
Follow instructions and store safely
Never expose colored gemstones to chemicals, solvents or ultrasonics without knowing their specific cleaning requirements.
And when you remove jewelry to store, whether short or long-term, be sure to place each piece in a soft bag so it doesn't rub or knock against other pieces.
Follow these tips to protect your jewelry while also protecting your health.
Jewelry and fashion are constantly changing. People may not be gathering en masse right now due to the world situation, but we've kept our eye on the evolution of style, regionally and globally.
From last year's final runway expositions to televised entertainment and celebrity fashion, here are trends that have enjoyed a groundswell of popularity through the first quarter of 2020.
1. Layered jewelry
Traditional layering sees chains, bracelets and bangles of similar style combined together. In 2020 we have seen a breakaway from homogeneous layering to combinations of diverse lengths, thicknesses and styles. That can look great as long as the combination make design-sense and use the same flow as the outfit being worn. For example, we wouldn't recommend layering warm and cool themed jewelry together, unless that's a reflection of the clothing choices.
Image credit, Standard.co.uk
2. Chokers
As you're considering how to layer that neck-wear, it may be helpful to know chokers are definitely in style now. They come in many different iterations, from petite to bold. Chokers have always captured attention by highlighting the neck. From delicate chains to leather bands to complex fashion, chokers have experienced a surge in popularity this year.
Image credit, Glowsly.com
3. Pearls
Pearls are back in style, and not just for jewelry. Many accessories are also pearl-studded. Their great versatility means they're just as happy on a purse or belt right now, as they were on Queen Elizabeth's neck over 400 years ago. Around 15% of couples choose something other than a diamond for engagement and pearls are a popular choice. The most publicized recent example was Emma Stone's engagement to actor Dave McCary a few months ago in December, 2019.
Image credit, Elle.com
4. Natural materials
Organic designs are in style, and a number of jewelry designers have responded by putting natural stones, shells and minerals in their pieces, frequently unworked. Crystal healers have done this for many years in their own homemade applications. Now the long-presumed "energy" of different natural stones which have calming properties has become fashionable. It seems right to mention this now, since aquamarine, the birthstone of March, is seen as a powerful meditation tool, employed by crystal healers to guide an individual toward finding her or his core spirituality.
Image credit, Katarina Perez
5. Wildlife-inspired pieces
Finally, in keeping with natural, organic themes, the popularity of wildlife themed jewelry is on the rise. Whether it's a dolphin pendant, butterfly necklace or something more exotic, there's abundant creativity in the world of sealife, insect and animal-inspired jewelry.
Bookmark this Oscar-worthy collection of 2019 movies that include epic bling. There are more than a DOZEN hours of fun and distraction described below, with duration and trailers included (you’re welcome).
With so many people sheltered in place, this list is intended as a stay-at-home streaming menu.
Originally compiled by Amy Elliott of JCK as an Oscars prelude, the vivid verbal descriptions come from Laurie Brookins of Screen Chic, a career fashion journalist and stylist who has authored for The Hollywood Reporter, Town & Country, Ocean Drive, and a number of regional luxury lifestyle publications.
Ready? Set… Go!
Pop the popcorn. Grab a blanket and prepare for dazzling diamonds, jewelry, gemstones - even rhinestones (Hello Elton) - as you enjoy some of Hollywood’s best movies of 2019.
"Costume designer Arianne Phillips was nominated for her work in this 1969-set Quentin Tarantino film, and she indeed excels in capturing the mood of Los Angeles in this moment. Leonardo DiCaprio wears pinky rings and necklaces that a stylish star of that era would wear. Phillips worked with L.A.-based jewelry designer Stuart England on some pieces—while for Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, the jewelry was both of-the-moment and understated, much like Tate’s own style. The most poignant fact of the pieces Robbie wore is that some had once been owned by Tate: The late actress’s sister, Debra Tate, had given her blessing to Robbie playing the role and loaned the pieces to the production as a sign of her approval."
“Audiences eager for Downton Abbey’s return with a big-screen sequel weren’t disappointed, especially fans of the series’ costumes. The central plot point, a visit to the titular manor by King George V and Queen Mary, meant that costume designer Anna Robbins could pull out all the stops with the formal looks needed. That extended to the jewels seen in the film: not only a reproduction of Queen Mary’s famed Vladimir tiara from 1874, complete with the 15 emerald drops the queen had added to the tiara after she acquired it in 1921, but also the vintage diamond tiaras worn by Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, and Dame Maggie Smith, all dated between 1880 and 1910 and loaned by London-based jeweler Bentley & Skinner.”
“How do you reproduce the high-profile looks of a man known for his love of adornment? You secure the services of a jeweler that excels in craft, color, and a sense of whimsy, and that’s what costume designer Julian Day did when he reached out to Chopard to provide the jewels for Rocketman, the Elton John biopic. As the legendary singer/songwriter, Taron Egerton conveys how Elton embraced both his newfound wealth and the onstage character he had created, and the pricey Chopard jewels he wears—brooches, oversize diamond pendants, earrings from the jeweler’s Happy Hearts collection—also reflect that.”
“It’s a shame that costume designer Jany Temime wasn’t nominated for her work in Judy; she does such a great job at capturing the late-’60s look of Judy Garland, both onstage and off. That extends to the jewelry, especially the vintage button earrings you see Renée Zellweger wearing throughout the film. In interviews, Temime has talked about how this independent film ran on an incredibly tight budget, so she looked to a close resource for accessories, using the vintage jewelry, as well as silk scarves by Hermès and Dior she had inherited from her late mother.”
“A central role of a film’s costumes is to capture not just a story’s era but also the flavor of its theme, and that’s certainly true of Hustlers, a story that delves into the highs and lows of excess. With costumes designed by Mitchell Travers, the women in Hustlers define the success of their nefarious plans through the things they buy and how they adorn themselves, and in addition to name-checking brands like Gucci and Christian Louboutin, jewelry plays a central role in that idea. Here, the yellow gold is either piled on or just really prominent, from Jennifer Lopez’s nameplate hoop earrings to the “sexy” choker or multiple bangles worn by Constance Wu, the resulting look effectively communicates that everything is just a bit much.”
While it wasn’t nominated for an Oscar (so we don't have Laurie Brookins' expert overview) this fast-paced, frenetic film will be a breathless ride for jewelry fans. Adam Sandler plays a fast-talking New York City jeweler and compulsive gambler. As his debts mount, with angry collectors closing in, he must risk everything in hope of staying afloat and alive. When you watch this film The New Yorker described as “mesmerizing chaos," you'll have a two-hour escape back to the busy New York City streets we're all accustomed to. Just one warning - there’s an awful lot of “F!” going on in this movie. And I’m not referring to colorless diamonds. Know what I mean?
The age old question. As long as there have been proposals, fluttering feelings of "is she the right one?" there have, at the same time been the less romantic technical questions on hand. Will this ring fit her? What if it doesn't fit? Will that be a bad omen?
To solve most of these jewelry and engagement ring related queries, we have devised a system. One that can improve your chances at getting her finger size and style right on point.
Step 1 - Budget
Decide your budget. How much do you want to spend on an engagement ring. Traditionally, they say, you should spend about 3 months of your annual salary on an engagement ring. But, that may not always be the best bet.
You are the best judge of how much is just the right range for you. Once you have the right idea of what you want to spend...go to
Step 2 - Finding the right diamond size
Based on your budget, you will know how many carats you can expect to get. Prices can soar once you reach above the 1 carat diamond mark and can be significantly reduced, if you go for a 0.97 carat ring. Of course, if you're going all out, then ensure that you're getting the best quality ring for your budget.
Step 3 - Check the quality of a diamond
A diamond's cut, shape, size, color and grade all matter in determining its value.
To speed up the process, there is an automation service which allows you to custom pick just the right diamond for you. The diamond can cost anywhere from $73 to $703,000. To begin this interactive process, click here and start learning more about the different types of diamonds available.
Selecting your own diamond
If you are picking out your own diamond, go to a GIA certified or GIA graduated gemologist to get your diamond quality verified. We, at B2C Jewels have dedicated personal shoppers (GIA graduates) who will help you identify the right ring, shape, color and customization for your engagement ring at no additional cost.
Buying a diamond online
Many people feel they need to hold the piece before they purchase it and will avoid buying diamonds online. But with extra secure web servers and comfortable return policies, buying online is faster, easily customizable and you don't have to worry about the price, because as you will quickly see from your experience, online diamond buying is much more affordable than going to a traditional mom and pop shop.
There are many more tidbits as far as choosing the color or the variations of diamonds, which we will get to soon. But if you can't wait, feel free to contact us right away.
